Digestive System Diseases/complications

Alex Ford, Jenna Volpe, Alexa Mastriano, & Alexis Tomaszewski

Crohn’s Disease Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Inflammation of lining of Digestive system. Can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, and even

malnutrition. Inflammation often spreads deep into the layers of the affected

bowl tissues. Most common places for Crohn’s disease are the colon, and the

last part of the small intestines (ileum) Symptoms: Diarrhea, abdominal pain, blood in stool, ulcers,

reduced appetite, weight loss, and many more. (Children can have growth problems.

Risk Factors : Age, Ethnicity, family history, cigarette smoking, and environment.

Complications: Bowel obstruction, Ulcers, Fistulas, Anal Fissure, Malnutrition, colon cancer, and many other problems.

Crohn’s Disease (cont.) There is no cure for Crohn’s Disease. Treatments for this disease includes Anti- inflammatory drugs,

Immune system suppressors, Antibiotics, and surgery.

Appendicitis Inflammation of appendix. Inflammation is due from the build-up of thick mucus within the

appendix or to stool that enters the appendix from the cecum. (The end of the large intestines) or from the swelling of the lymphatic tissue blocking the opening of the appendix.

Pain begins around navel and shifts down to your lower right abdomen. (pain increases over a period of 12-18 hours)

Between ages 10-30; Most common. Symptoms: Abdominal Pain(right side), increasing pain, Tenderness

in right abdomen, Nausea, vomiting, constipation, low-grade fever, etc.

Complications: ruptured appendix, and a pocket of pus that forms in the abdomen.

Treatments: Surgery (Appendectomy) and Draining an abscess before appendix surgery. (to keep it under control)

Appendicitis (cont.)http://youtu.be/3bzX5PxdJGY

Pancreatic Cancer Pancreatic cancer is a disease where cancerous cells form in the

tissues of the pancreas. Spreads rapidly even when detected early. Symptoms: Upper abdominal pain that goes to your back, yellowing

of skin (jaundice), loss of appetite, weight loss, depression, blood clots, etc.

Risk Factors: Smoking, Family history, Chronic Pancreatitis, Race, Diabetes, Obesity, Age, and genetic syndromes.

Stages of Pancreatic Cancer

Stage 1 Stage 2

Stage 3 Stage 4

Treatments Various treatments for Pancreatic Cancer such as surgery,

chemotherapy, and Radiation. Pancreatic cancer can be described as: Resectable- Cancer hasn’t spread and might all be removable. (only

10% of patient’s cancer is resectable) Locally advanced(nonresectable)- the cancer has spread into the

blood vessels, tumor can not be removed safely. Metastatic- Spread to other organs, surgery will not help. If resectable they undergo a procedure called “Whipple Procedure”, a

very difficult and complicated procedure. Cancer is often diagnosed after it has advanced and spread. Later throughout the cancer, chemotherapy helps by controlling the

painful and uncomfortable symptoms. Lowest survival rate.

Celiac Disease A condition that damages the lining of the small intestines(small

hair like projections; villi) and prevents it from absorbing parts of food to maintain a healthy body.

Immune reaction to gluten. Intestinal damage can cause weight loss, bloating, and diarrhea,

eventually your brain, nervous system, liver, and other organs can be deprived due to vital nourishment.

Only about 1/3 of people diagnosed experience diarrhea, others experience more serious symptoms. (Anemia, osteoporosis, etc.)

Complications: Malnutrition, Loss of calcium and bone density,

infertility and miscarriage, lactose intolerance, and cancer. Treatments: Strict gluten-free diet.

Colon Cancer Cancer in the large intestines (colon) Begin as small benign clumps of cells called adenomatous polyps, and

overtime they can become cancerous. Symptoms: diarrhea or constipation, rectal bleeding, abdominal

discomfort, weakness or fatigue, and weight loss. Causes: Precancerous growths in the colon, and inherited gene

mutations that increase the risk of colon cancer. Risk Factors: Old age, African-American race, personal history,

inflammatory intestinal conditions, family history, high-fat diet/low fiber, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, obesity, smoking, alcohol, and radiation.

Colon Cancer (cont.) Testing/Diagnosis Polyps produce a few to no symptoms. Doctors recommend regular

screening to detect and prevent polyps from turning into cancer. Colonoscopy- uses a long, flexible tube attached to a video camera

and monitor to view entire colon and rectum. If anything looks alarming, doctors will attach a tool to take tissue samples.

Treatments The type of treatment depends on the stage of the cancer, the three

main treatments are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Common disorder that affects your large intestines(colon) No permanent damage. Symptoms: Abdominal pain, cramping, bloated feeling, gas, diarrhea,

constipation, and mucus in stool. Causes: abnormalities in muscle contraction of the intestines,

abnormalities in nervous system, abnormal serotonin levels, or not the right balance of good bacteria, certain foods, stress, and hormones.

Risk Factors: Gender (more women are diagnosed), Age, and family history.

IBS (cont.) Treatments: Focuses on the relief of symptoms so you can live as normally as

possible. Can control mild symptoms by managing stress, and making changes

in your lifestyle and diet. If the symptoms are more moderate and severe, the doctor may

suggest fiber supplements, Anti-diarrheal medications, eliminating high-gas foods, Anticholinergic medications, Antidepressants medications, and counseling.

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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease(GERD)

Chronic digestive disease where stomach acid or bile flows back into your food pipe.

Symptoms: Chest pain, difficulty swallowing, dry cough, sore throat, acid reflux, sensation of lump in the throat, heartburn sometimes spreading to the throat alone with a sour taste in mouth.

Causes: frequent acid reflux- the esophageal sphincter opens and closes the valves when eating and drinking, with GERD the valve is weak or abnormal allowing acid to flow back.

The irritation of the lining of the esophagus can cause inflammation which can eventually lead to bleeding and breathing problems.

Risk Factors: Obesity, Hiatal Hernia, pregnancy, smoking, dry mouth, asthma, diabetes, delayed stomach emptying, connective tissue disorders, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Treatments: Medications and sometimes surgery.

GERD (cont.)