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G.I. Disorders

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Gastrointestinal Disorders (GI) is a digestive disorder that interferes with the workings of the intestine. GI generally falls into two categories — functional and inflammatory...

Functional GI disorders, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), chronic diarrhea, constipation and intestinal pain, are characterized by symptoms and not by a visible sign of disease or injury. Inflammatory GI disorders include Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis.

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IBS known as functional gastrointestinal disorders is one of the most common chronic gastrointestinal illnesses. Although a gastrointestinal disorder, IBS has long been dismissed as a pychosomatic condition because a person\'s psychological disposition, such as anxiety and stress, may induce a feeling of constipation or diarrhea. Other symptoms of IBS, besides diarrhea and constipation, and abdominal pain, are bloating, gas, urgency to defecate, and a feeling of incomplete evacuation after a bowel movement. Studies have shown that IBS affects 3 to 22 percent of persons worldwide and its symptoms are reported by 12 percent of Americans. Women are three times more likely than men to develop IBS, and most IBS sufferers experience their first symptoms before their mid-thirties. The chronic discomfort and embarrassment of IBS besets the lives of millions of Americans every day, hindering social outings, regular work schedules, and family time. Americans spend $ 8 billion each year on medical costs related to IBS.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBD), a prominent GI Disorder usually begins in early adulthood and results in recurring cramping, pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen; bloating; diarrhea; constipation; or alternating diarrhea and constipation. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and can occur daily or periodically. The syndrome affects 25 to 45 million Americans, about two-thirds of them women, according to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Milwaukee. Doctors suggest that hormones seem to be a contributing factor in this disease. Dr. Lawrence J. Brandt, the chief of gastroenterology at the Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx agrees that during some phases of the menstrual cycle, intestinal activity is not normal as it is slower in some women and faster in others. Dr. Brandt believes that there is a clear relationship between hormones and IBD but it could not be considered a hormonally mediated disease.

All GI disorders can lead to anorexia because patients associate eating with unpleasant symptoms and so eat less. Adequate intake of a balanced diet is the goal of patients with IBD. Foods valuable to the diet such as dairy products may have been avoided, as some patients find their symptoms worsened, resulting in deficiency of calcium, protein and vitamin D. For IBS, certain foods and beverages may aggravate symptoms. Some common instigators are fried, fatty and spicy foods; alcohol and caffeine; chocolate; carbonated liquids; dairy products with lactose; sweeteners like sorbitol; wheat products; beans, broccoli and cabbage. Medications and vitamins can also be irritants. Doctors recommend increasing fiber or taking supplements like psyllium.

');document.writeln('Sources:
');document.writeln('1. Crohn\'s and Colitis Foundation of America, Inc. 1996-2002.
');document.writeln('2. Wilkinson, Donna “Among This Ailment\'s Symptoms: Acute Embarrassment”, June 22, 2003, The New York Times');