It is estimated that some form of digestive disorder affects more than 100 million people in the United States. For some people, digestive disorders are a source of irritation and discomfort that may cause them to drastically limit their lifestyles such as missing days of work. For others, the disorders may be extremely crippling and at times even fatal.
What does the digestive system do and why is it important?
The walls of the small intestine absorb the digested nutrients into the bloodstream. The blood delivers the nutrients to the rest of the body, Large intestine. The waste products of the digestive process include undigested parts of food and older cells from the GI tract lining.
Common Digestive Disorders and Symptoms
Common digestive problems include heartburn/GERD, IBD, and IBS. Symptoms may include:
- bloating
- diarrhea
- gas,
- stomach pain
- stomach cramps
Treatment
Treatment includes a combination of medication and lifestyle changes.Your doctor will be able to best advise treatment for disorders of the liver and digestive tract, including the stomach, duodenum, gallbladder, biliary tract, pancreas, small intestine and colon.
