Digestive System

 Print This Post

7.13   Complications – (i) Abdominal Bloating; (ii) Lethargy, particularly within an hour or two of eating; (iii) Mental fogginess and low mood; (iv) Mucus or catarrh in the throat, nose or sinuses; (v) Childhood problems such as colic, glue ear, ear infections and recurrent tonsillitis; (vi) Fluid retention; (vii) Eczema; (viii) Headaches and migraines (ix) Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS); (x) Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s Disease; (xi) Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD).

7.14   Message – Good health begins on the inside. Diseases enter through the mouth. So look after your digestive system – eat healthy nutritious diet, do regular exercise and most importantly do not ignore indigestion symptoms.

 Some Common Disorders of the Digestive System

7.15   The two most common disorders of the digestive system are constipation and diarrhea. Other common problems are: –

7.16   Gastric Ulcers – During digestion, the stomach produces hydrochloric acid and enzyme pepsin (a digestive protein), which are powerful digestive juices. Normally, mucus secretions protect the body from harmful effects of these juices. But when a wrong or spicy food is eaten, or tobacco is used, or an overdose of aspirin etc is taken, then there is an overproduction of digestive juices, which break down stomach tissues resulting in an open sore, a gastric ulcer. If the sore creates damage to the blood vessels in the stomach wall, a bleeding ulcer can develop.

7.17   Stomachache – When a person complains of a stomachache, the pain is actually in the intestines. Consuming contaminated food and/or water can cause painful cramps in the intestines.