Digestive Disorders
Q. What is a digestive disorder?
A. Digestive diseases range from the occasional upset stomach to more life-threatening
conditions, like colon cancer.
[ top of page ]
Q. What is the digestive system?
A. Your digestive system includes your mouth, esophagus, stomach, small
intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder and pancreas.
[ top of page ]
Q. How do I know if I’m at risk for a digestive disorder?
A. Most digestive diseases are very complex, with slight symptoms, and
the causes of many remain unknown. They may be inherited or develop from
multiple factors such as stress, fatigue, diet or smoking. Abusing alcohol
imposes the greatest risk for digestive diseases. Although digestive disorders
can affect people of any age, many of these problems occur more frequently
in older people.
[ top of page ]
Q. Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk of having a digestive
disorder?
A. In general, eating a diet high in fiber will lower your risk for digestive
disorders, and may also improve a variety of conditions, like chronic
constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticular disease, irritable bowl syndrome
and colorectal cancer. The American
College of Gastroenterology recommends eating 20-35
grams of fiber per day—about twice the amount of fiber the average
American eats each day. It’s important to increase fiber levels
in your diet gradually and to increase your fluid intake (water, soup,
broth, juices) as you increase fiber. Quitting smoking, limiting your
consumption of alcohol and managing your stress level will also reduce
your risk of developing or aggravating digestive disorders.
[ top of page ]
Q. Should I increase my fiber levels in my diet if I have a digestive
disorder?
A. If you have ever received medical treatment for a digestive problem,
you should check with your doctor to find out if a high-fiber diet is
the right choice for you.
[ top of page ]
Q. For more information about this condition, where should I go?
A. If you more information about this condition, you can check the following
websites:
American College of Gastroenterology
Discovery
Health.com
Medline
Plus
National
Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
[ top of page ]
|
