Gastrointestinal system: GI system disorders

The gastrointestinal, or GI system, consists of different organs that work together to extract nutrients from the food we eat and then excrete what the body didn’t use in the form of waste.

Sometimes, these organs can malfunction due to disorders like hernias; gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD; ulcers; appendicitis; gallstones; and cancer.

Alright, let’s have a look at these disorders in detail, starting with hernias, which is when an organ pushes through an opening in the tissue that holds it in place.

Normally, abdominal organs are contained and protected within the abdominal cavity, which is lined by different layers of muscles and connective tissue that make up the abdominal wall.

Most hernias occur when there is a defect in the abdominal wall through which abdominal organs can bulge out.

There are several types of hernias, which are classified based on their location. There can be inguinal hernias, femoral hernias, umbilical hernias, and hiatal hernias.

Both inguinal and femoral hernias occur when a loop of intestines protrudes through the abdominal wall near the groin. An umbilical hernia occurs when a loop of intestines protrudes around the umbilicus.

A hiatal hernia occurs when an abdominal organ, usually the stomach, protrudes through the hiatus, which is an opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes.

Hiatal hernias allow stomach acids to move back into the esophagus, resulting in heartburn. Inguinal, femoral, and large umbilical hernias are treated surgically.

Hiatal hernias are treated with medications and therapeutic measures aimed at controlling heartburn, such as eating smaller meals several times a day; waiting a few hours after a meal before lying down; and refraining from smoking and consuming alcohol and coffee. If these measures are unsuccessful, surgery may be indicated.

In some more serious cases, the muscles of the abdominal wall may squeeze around a herniated organ, cutting off its blood supply. This is referred to as strangulated hernias, and it’s a surgical emergency.

Okay, now let’s have a look at gastrointestinal reflux disease, or GERD, which happens when too much gastric acid moves back into the esophagus.

This irritates the mucosa lining the esophagus and can lead to inflammation and painful swallowing if it occurs often.

Just like in hiatal hernias, GERD is treated with medications and therapeutic measures to reduce the occurrence of reflux, such as eating smaller meals several times a day; waiting a few hours after a meal before lying down; maintaining a healthy weight; and avoiding some foods and drinks that contain chocolate, coffee, and alcohol.

Sometimes, ulcers develop on the mucosa lining the gastrointestinal tract, which can happen when the protective layer of the mucosa wears off.

Most commonly, ulcers affect the mucosa of the stomach and part of the small intestinal, called the duodenum, which are called gastric or duodenal ulcers.

Risk factors for developing these ulcers include Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection, frequent use of some over-the-counter pain medications, highly concentrated alcohols, and smoking.

People with ulcers usually feel nauseous after a meal and may have episodes of stomach pain, which alternate with moments of relief.

Most ulcers are managed with medications, but sometimes surgery can be necessary to treat severe ones or those that extend deeper than the mucosa and begin to destroy the organ wall.

Another common GI disorder is appendicitis, which occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus. The appendix is a pouch-like sac that’s located where the small and large intestines join.