What is Acute Pancreatitis?
Acute Pancreatitis
The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach and close to the duodenum. It secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine through a tube called the pancreatic duct. These digestive enzymes help digest proteins, fats and carbohydrates in food. Another function of the pancreas is to release hormones called insulin and glycogen into the bloodstream, which help the body use the glucose it takes from food for energy. In the normal digestive process, digestive enzymes do not become active until they reach the small intestine, where they begin digesting food. Pancreatitis is a condition when the enzymes become active in the pancreas, digesting the gland itself and causing inflammation. There are two different types of pancreatitis; acute and chronic.
Acute pancreatitis is when the symptoms come on suddenly and lasts for a short amount of time. Even though some people have more than one attack and recover completely after each, acute pancreatitis can be severe and even life threatening with many complications. Even though there were no exclusive causes for the condition, it is known that a couple of causes, such as too much alcohol and gallstones can be the cause of acute pancreatitis. If gallstones and alcohol use are ruled out, other causes can be found and a treatment can begin. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis include:
- Upper abdominal pain that may last for a few days
- Rapid pulse
- A tender and swollen abdomen
- Nausea
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Low Blood Pressure (in severe cases)
- Dehydration (in severe cases)
Diagnostic tests for acute pancreatitis include an assessment of your medical history, a physical exam and blood tests. Your doctor will also look for changes in blood bicarbonate, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and glucose. A CAT (computerized axial tomography) scan to look for inflammation and damage to the pancreas as well as an abdominal ultrasound to look for gallstones may also be ordered. Treatment depends on the severity of the attacks themselves and is designed to prevent complications and support vital bodily functions. Pancreatitis treatment includes hospitalization and surgery to remove any pancreatic pseudo cysts if they are involved. In severe cases, may also require a process called total parenteral nutrition. Total parenteral nutrition is when a person is fed through an IV that bypasses the digestive tract. In the case of acute pancreatitis, TPN is often required for a length of 3 to 6 weeks while the pancreas slowly heals. The patient is also advised not to drink alcohol and not to eat large meals before he or she leaves the hospital. Preventative measures are also planned to avoid future attacks once the cause is found and after all signs of acute pancreatitis are gone. Other tests may be necessary if no cause has been found. Pancreatitis that is caused by gallstones require surgery to remove the gallstones. Acute pancreatitis can be a serious issue, and should be taken care of immediately
Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms And Facts
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (also known by it’s in initials IBD), is the general name given for diseases that cause inflamation in the small and large intestines. Ulcerative Colitis is one of the diseases that is classified as an IBD. It is a chronic and serious condition where ulcers develop in the lining of the colon. It is also very difficult to diagnose because ulcerative colitis symptoms are very similar to another IBD by the name of Crohn’s Disease.
There are many theories as to the cause of ulcerative colitis. Even though it is found that people with the disease have abnormalities of the immune system, it is not known if these abnormalities are the cause or the result of ulcerative colitis. It is believed that the body’s immune system reacts abnormally to the bacteria in the digestive tract. Contrary to prior beliefs and theories, is not caused by emotional distress or sensitivity to certain foods or food products. However, it is known that these factors may trigger the symptoms of some people. It is also known that the stress of living with the disease may also contribute to the worsening of ulcerative colitis symptoms.
Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms
The common ulcerative colitis symptoms include diarrhea containing blood, abdominal cramps, anemia, weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, loss of body fluids and nutrients and rectal bleeding as well as joint pain, delayed growth (in children), anemia and skin lesions. Symptoms vary from mild to severe.
There are several tests to determine the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis including blood tests, stool samples and a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. Ulcerative colitis reatment includes drug therapy, hospitalization and surgery. Drug therapy includes Aminosalicylates, Corticosteroids and Immunomodulators and it helps induce and maintain remission as well as improve the quality of life for people with ulcerative colitis symptoms. Hospitalization is required if the symptoms are severe enough including severe bleeding or severe diarrhea that causes dehydration. When hospitalized, the doctor will try to stop diarrhea and loss of blood, fluids, and mineral salts by a special diet, feeding through a vein, medications, or sometimes surgery. If there is mass bleeding or if the ulcerative colitis symptoms are unresponsive to the drug therapy, surgery may be necessary to remove the colon. There are two options available and among them are Ileoanal anastomosis and Ileostomy.
Ileoanal anastomosis is a procedure that includes the removal of the colon and the inside of the rectum, leaving the outer muscles of the rectum. The surgeon then attaches the ileum to the inside of the rectum and the anus, creating a pouch. This pouch serves as a reservoir that collects the waste and gets passed through the anus in the usual manner.
An ileostomy is a procedure when the surgeon creates a small opening in the abdomen, called a stoma, and attaches the end of the small intestine, called the ileum, to it. Waste is carried out of that stoma an into a specially made bag that is attached to the patient’s abdomen. The patient empties that bag when it is needed.
It is important to note that if you show any ulcerative colitis symptoms, you should immediately see your doctor for proper ulcerative colitis treatment.
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac Disease
Known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy, celiac sprue or nontropical sprue, celiac disease is a serious condition where people suffer from painful and undesirable symptoms when they consume the protein gluten. Gluten is found in food producers such as wheat, barley, rye and other foods. In a normal small intestine, finger like protrusions located in the lining, called villi, normally allow nutrients from food to be absorbed into the bloodstream. In a person with celiac disease, these villi become damaged or destroyed upon the ingestion of gluten. Without healthy villi to properly absorb nutrients, a person can become malnourished. Celiac disease is considered an auto immune disorder as well as a malabsorbtion disorder due to the nutrients not being absorbed. It is a generic disease that is triggered by severe emotional stress, surgery, pregnancy or viral infection.
Celiac disease is very difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are varied with different people. Celiac disease symptoms often mimic other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, parasite infections, a nervous condition, anemia, gastric ulcers, skin disorders or Chrohns Disease. Symptoms for celiac disease include:
- Weight loss / weight gain
- Pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool
- Chronic diarrhea
- Recurring abdominal bloating and pain
- Gas
- Fatigue
- Unexplained anemia
- Osteoporosis, osteopenia
- Bone or joint pain
- Infertility, recurrent miscarriage
- Missed menstrual periods (often because of excessive weight loss)
- Seizures
- Tingling numbness in the legs (from nerve damage)
- Behavioral changes
- Muscle cramps
- Pale sores inside the mouth, called aphthous ulcers
- Itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis
- Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel
- Failure to thrive in infants
- Delayed Growth
Symptoms of celiac disease may appear in childhood or adulthood; however, some people may not have any symptoms at all. It is noted that symptoms may occur outside the digestive tract as well as inside it.
Before the diagnostic test is done for celiac disease, patients are advised to eat a normal diet that includes food products containing gluten in ensure a proper diagnosis. Tests for the disease include e a blood tests that measures anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTGA), IgA anti-endomysium antibodies (AEA), Immunoglobulin A (IgA) and possible a Complete Blood Count (CBC) (to look for anemia). More tests will be done to confirm the diagnosis if celiac disease is suspected due to the symptoms and the blood tests. Further tests include a biopsy of a tissue that is taken out of the small intestine. Other tests include a CRP (C-Reactive protein) to evaluate inflammation, a CMP (complete metabolic panel) to determine electrolyte, protein, and calcium levels, and to verify the status of the kidney and liver, Vitamin D, E, and B12 levels to measure vitamin deficiencies, an evaluation of stool fat, to help evaluate malabsorption as well as an ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) to evaluate inflammation.
People with celiac disease do not have to take any special medication, go to frequent doctors visits or even have surgery. Treatment for the disease includes a diet the is free of gluten and it is considered difficult at first because so many food products contain this protein. However there are still many products available that are gluten free which the person suffering from celiac disease can still enjoy.
What Is Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a common condition when the appendix, a worm shaped pouch that is attached to the beginning of the large intestine with no known real function inside the body, gets inflamed. Even though it is a small organ of no real significance, Appendicitis can be a life threatening disease if left untreated and it can occur when the appendix becomes blocked by a foreign body, cancer, fecal matter or when the appendix responds by swelling due to an infection occurring elsewhere in the body.
Symptoms of Appendicitis are:
- Inability to pass gas
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal swelling
- Abdominal pain that is located first around the area of the belly button and moves to the lower right side. Pain may intensify when the patient is moving, taking deep breaths, coughing, or sneezing and the area may become tender.
- Low fever that begins after other symptoms
Other people with special conditions may simply experience a general feeling of being unwell. Among those include:
- Diabetics
- Cancer patients or those receiving chemotherapy
- Women who are pregnant
- Infants and young children
- The elderly
- People who use steroids or other immunosuppressive therapy
- Transplanted organ recipients
- People with HIV
- People who are obese
Because of conditions such as Crohn’s disease, ovarian cysts, kidney stones and ectopic pregnancies that have similar symptoms, appendicitis is difficult to diagnose. However, several tests are done to rule the other diseases out. Tests include blood, urine and imaging tests as well as an abdominal examination that includes feeling the area that is tender for abdominal rigidity as well as stiffened abdominal muscles in response to pressure over the inflamed appendix.
Appendicitis is treated with surgery to remove the appendix called an appendectomy once the diagnose for the disease is made. An appendectomy has two options. One of the options consist of the use a laparoscope, which requires three to four small incisions while the other consists of an incision that is made in the right lower part of the abdomen. The recovery is generally easy and requires 4 to 6 weeks.
If you experience any of the symptoms of appendicitis, please seek emergency medical care immediately. Even though there is no known way to prevent appendicitis, it is found that people who eat foods high in fiber, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, are less likely to develop the disease.
About Acid Reflux
Acid Reflux Disease, known as Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, is a common condition where the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) weakens and gastric acids reflux from the stomach into the esophagus. Even though it is common it has several distressing symptoms and it could lead to serious ailments such as ulcers, respiratory infections and esophageal cancer if it is left untreated.
The most common symptom of GERD is heartburn that is persistant, painful and occurs in the lower esophagus, behind the sternum. However, there are also other symptoms of reflux and all symptoms are experienced in connection with heavy lifting, after eating a large meal, bending over and lying on your back or on your right side. Other symptoms include:
- Chest Pain
- Asthma, hoarseness and dental erosion due to the acidic juices making their way to the throat and mouth as well as the air passages into the lungs
- A chronic cough or recurrent pneumonia
- Difficulty swallowing
- Regurgitation of acid into the throat while bending over or sleeping
Symptoms of acid reflux that are experienced in adults are also experienced in infants and small children. However, they may also experience other symptoms. Among these symptoms include:
- Irritability
- Failure to thrive
- Infant arching his or her back while feeding
- Posturing episodes that are often mistaken for seizures
- Recurrent abdominal pain
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Sleep Apnea
Even though there are no known causes for GERD, there are contributing factors to the disease. Among these contributing factors include:
- Obesity
- Antihistimines and other medications
- Alcohol and tobacco use
- A diet consisting of fried or fatty foods, dairy, garlic and onions and chocolate, citrus foods, tomatoes, spicy foods and mint flavorings as well as beverages containing caffeine.
- Other conditions such as pregnancy, rapid weight gain, Hiatal hernia or diabetes
- Eating large meals or soon before bedtime
Reflux symptoms can be releved by making simple lifestyle changes such as changing your diet, losing weight and changing your sleeping position. However, if your symptoms are peresistent and if it interferes with your work, sleep or other activities, it is advisable that you see your physician. Go to the nearest emergency room at your local hospital imediately if you are experiencing vomiting blood, difficulty swallowing, dark and tarry stools, or severe chest pain or pressure, especially if it radiates to your arm, neck, or back.
Diverticulitis Facts
Diverticulosis is a condition when the colon develops weak spots and small bulges occur. These spots are called diverticula and when the diverticula gets inflamed or infected, it is called diverticulitus. Diverticulosis affects about 10-25 percent of people with diverticulosis.
The cause of diverticulosis is often believed to be a low fiber diet. A low fiber diet makes stool harder to pass through and therefore it causes increased pressure in the colon. This pressure causes the weak spots to bulge forming the diverticula.
There may or may not be symptoms of diverticulosis. Symptoms of diverticulosis may include:
* Abdominal pain on the lower left hand side that can vary from mild to severe.
* Fever and chills
* Rectal bleeding
* Nausea and vomiting
The infection inside the colon can vary from a minor inflammation or a major infection. If it is not treated, complications will arise from diverticulitis and these complications include:
* Abscesses can be formed because of the infected contents of the pouch
* Perforation of the pouch, which will cause intestinal waste to leak into the abdominal cavity
* Peritonitis can occur if the infection spreads to the peritoneal cavity
* Fistulas may occur
* Intestinal obstruction
Depending on the severity of the attack, treatment for diverticulitis can vary from liquid diet will help allow the colon to heal while fruits, vegetables and whole grains are avoided, to hospitalization and possibly surgery. Surgery for diverticulitis consists of partial removal and resectioning of the colon.
Diverticulitis is a condition that can be prevented by following a high fiber diet that includes fruits, vegetables and whole grains. You should aim to have 25 grams of fiber in your diet every day. Popcorn, seeds, and peanuts can get stuck in one of the pouches and should be avoided. Fatty foods should also be avoided and you should make sure that you drink a lot of water. A good exercise program will also be helpful.
If you experience any symptoms of diverticulitus, see your doctor for proper treatment.
