{"id":50,"date":"2017-10-21T05:42:29","date_gmt":"2017-10-21T05:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.4ahealthygut.com\/?p=50"},"modified":"2018-09-15T16:37:29","modified_gmt":"2018-09-15T16:37:29","slug":"common-digestive-system-diseases-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.4ahealthygut.com\/common-digestive-system-diseases-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Definitive Guide to the 7 Most Common Digestive System Diseases"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you give your digestive system as much credit as it deserves? Every ounce of energy that your body uses comes from the tireless work of your complex gastrointestinal (GI) tract.<\/p>\n

Being such an integral part of the human body, it\u2019s important to understand that the digestive system is susceptible to a number of different diseases.<\/p>\n

Even though between 60 to 70 million people<\/a><\/strong> are affected by a digestive system disease, it\u2019s something that\u2019s rarely spoken about and more often ignored.<\/p>\n

In this guide, we\u2019re going to explore some of the most common diseases that can plague your GI tract so you\u2019re better educated and prepared to take curative and preventative action.<\/p>\n

Before We Get Started\u2026<\/span><\/h2>\n

Comprised of 10 different organs, much of the digestive system still remains a mystery to modern science today.<\/p>\n

Of everything we know so far, here are a few fun facts to get started before we dive into the different diseases.<\/p>\n

1- When first born, we don\u2019t have the necessary bacteria to break down the food we eat. However, as we get older, the digestive system becomes home to more than 500 different species of bacteria<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

2- Contrary to popular belief, the stomach doesn\u2019t handle the bulk of the digestion process<\/a><\/strong>. Primarily responsible for mixing food with gastric juices, the stomach readies it for entry into the small intestines where the majority of digestion takes place.<\/p>\n

3- The stomach receives roughly two liters of hydrochloric acid from the cells of the inner wall each day. The same chemical that can be found in household cleaners and used to remove rust.<\/p>\n

4- Even though it\u2019s only 22 feet long and an inch wide, the small intestine has a surface area of about 2,700 square feet. That\u2019s as large as a tennis court!<\/p>\n

5- The digestive system is prone to more cancers and causes more cancer-related deaths than any other organ system in the human body.<\/p>\n

Understanding Digestive System Diseases<\/span><\/h2>\n

Simply put, a digestive system disease is a chronic condition that affects the normal functioning of the GI tract.<\/p>\n

With so many moving parts, the digestive tract can become home to dozens of different diseases.<\/p>\n

While the exact causes of some are easier to pinpoint, many can be the result of a combination of different factors such as lifestyle choices, diet, allergies, stress, bacterial infections, and genetics.<\/p>\n

Due to the number of diverse risk factors, the best way to catch diseases early on is by closely monitoring your body for symptoms (which we are going to cover shortly).<\/p>\n

When it comes to the GI tract, illnesses can be broken into two classes: functional GI disorders <\/strong>and structural GI disorders<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Functional GI Disorders<\/h3>\n

With functional disorders, the GI tract appears normal, but it doesn\u2019t function properly.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re primarily caused by mobility, sensation, or gut-brain dysfunctions and are the most common problems that affect the GI tract.<\/p>\n

Due to their unique nature, they\u2019re rarely able to be diagnosed with traditional testing.<\/p>\n

Structural GI Disorders<\/h3>\n

With structural disorders, the GI tract both appears and <\/em>functions abnormally. These are easier to diagnose through traditional testing methods and serve as the umbrella that almost all digestive diseases fall under.<\/p>\n

Common Digestive System Diseases, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments<\/span><\/h2>\n

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)<\/span><\/h2>\n

Unlike with inflammatory bowel syndrome, IBD causes chronic inflammation in different parts of the digestive tract that can last for weeks, months, or even years.<\/p>\n

While the exact cause is unknown, it\u2019s believed that genetics, gender, age, ethnicity, and smoking are the biggest contributing risk factors.<\/p>\n

Inflammation occurs when the body\u2019s immune system attacks the digestive tract even though no infection is present.<\/p>\n

The prolonged immune response disrupts the normal functioning of the digestive system, can cause severe pain, and in rare cases, can be fatal.<\/p>\n

IBD is actually broken up into two different types: Crohn\u2019s Disease <\/strong>and Ulcerative Colitis. <\/strong><\/p>\n

With ulcerative colitis, only the inner lining of the large intestine (colon) is affected and there are no interruptions along the inflamed tissue.<\/p>\n

Crohn\u2019s Disease, can appear anywhere along the GI tract and penetrates into all of the layers rather than just the inner.<\/p>\n

Unlike with ulcerative colitis, healthy tissue is also commonly found in inflamed areas with Crohn\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\"7<\/p>\n

Symptoms<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The symptoms can vary from person to person depending on how severe the inflammation is and where it\u2019s located. Here are some of the most common shared symptoms:<\/p>\n