What You Should Know About Common Digestive System Diseases

There are many different digestive system diseases because our digestive system involves many organs. Any one of these organs can suffer damage that contributes to infection or disease or contract bacteria, a virus or a pathogen that contributes to a disease. There are several common diseases that occur within the digestive system they are: foodborne diseases, Celiac Disease, colon polyps, Hepatitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Diabetes, and a intolerance to lactose.

A foodborne illness is one that we can get when we eat either a food or consume a drink that has been contaminated by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. The symptoms of a foodborne illness can vary and range from abdominal cramping, dehydration, diarrhea, a fever, stomach ache, and also vomiting. The most common contributors to foodborne illness are harmful bacteria found in raw or undercooked food.

Usually a foodborne illness creates only mild illness, but occasionally a serious health infection can occur such as a strain of the bacteria known as E. Coli. This strain can lead to a rare disorder, in children that can cause kidney and other organ failure. Bacteria we ingest in our food can also cause a miscarriage of an unborn child, or death of the individual who has eaten the contaminated food. Individuals with compromised immune systems, young kids, the elderly and pregnant women and their unborn babies are those who are at the highest risk for foodborne diseases.

To help prevent the occurrence of foodborne disease, cook food properly by cooking at a high enough temperature for a long enough time period, wash all of your fruits and vegetables under running water before eating them, do not defrost food by leaving out on a counter, always use the refrigerator method of defrosting or use running water, or the microwave to defrost food and always wash your hands, cooking utensils, and surfaces where food touches with hot soapy water before and after preparing food on them.

Celiac disease occurs in individuals whose immune systems react to gluten contained in food items by attacking and damaging the lining of the small intestine. After a while, those with celiac disease can develop anemia, weak and brittle bones, and other health problems including infertility.

The individual needs to stop eating foods that contain gluten such as baking powders used in baking and cooking, anything made from barley, beer, most cereals, flour (bread, brown, durum, granary, whole-meal), gravy cubes, oats, pasta, rye, semolina, soy sauce, starchy vegetables, wheat and wheat germ. They should also avoid or limit gravy mixes, hot chocolate mixes, ice cream, instant coffee, prepared meats, sauce mixes, and soup.

Other items besides food ones can also contain small amounts of gluten such as aspirin, communion wafers, the glue on envelopes, Rolaids, the glue on the back of stamps, and Tylenol®.

Gluten allergies usually begin in childhood. Doctors recommend breast-feeding for the entire first 6 months to help avoid food allergies.

Colon polyps are small bumps of extra tissue that grow inside the large intestine (colon). Usually polyps are benign (not cancerous), but some large polyps can become cancerous.

Individuals over 50, those who have had polyps before, or who have a family history of polyps, or those who do not exercise or are overweight are at risk for colon polyps.

Hepatitis is a disease of the liver that causes the liver to swell resulting in the liver not being able to function properly. Viruses cause hepatitis.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is when the large bowel (colon) does not work properly. It is a group of symptoms and not really any one disease. Someone with IBS experiences pain or discomfort in the abdomen, which is relieved by having a bowel movement, and often has diarrhea, constipation or both. They may notice white mucus in their stools, and have a bloated abdomen.

Someone who is lactose intolerant cannot digest foods that contain lactose (sugar found in milk and foods made from milk). Cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and feeling sick to the stomach are all common symptoms of being lactose intolerant. It is important to avoid milk and foods made from milk including some boxed, canned, frozen or prepared foods that may have milk in them such as breads, cereals, lunchmeats, salad dressings, cake mixes, cookies, pancakes, biscuits and frozen dinners.