What are digestive disorders?

In general, digestive disorders are caused by bad eating habits and everyday stress. Most times these problems present slightly bothersome symptoms, but if they are not treated they can become chronic disorders and diseases.

+ In most cases, common gastrointestinal problems are not easily detected by traditional medical diagnosis because they are not always organically caused. Disorders are caused by an alteration in the function of one or more organs in the digestive system. However, they are not always accompanied by the presence of a lesion or injury to an organ. Digestive problems are generally caused by external factors that harm the digestive system's function: stress, bad eating habits, irritating medications, chronic infections and the presence of bacteria in the digestive system, as in the case of peptic ulcers, which are caused by an infection with the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori .

Digestive diseases range from the occasional upset stomach to more health threatening disorders like ulcers that may need to be treated with surgery. Symptoms accompany disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, the liver, the gallbladder, and the pancreas. However, other parts of the body like the head, back, chest and legs can be affected by digestive disorder symptoms. Although digestive disorders are complex, they can be diagnosed by their symptoms, which sometimes make up the problem. In the case of advanced disorders with subtle symptoms, diagnosis requires a thorough and accurate medical examination.

∎ Symptoms. Stomach pain, nausea, indigestion, constipation, intestinal discomfort, diarrhea, intestinal inflammation, heartburn and acid stomach.

∎ Diseases. Dyspepsia, colon disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease, ulcers (peptic, gastric, duodenal), gastritis, hiatus hernia, gallstones, gastroenteritis, irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulitis.