Stomach upsetting - Causes, symptoms and treatment. MF.

What do you think means an upset stomach?

With the help of a small survey of acquaintances, I managed to find out that 90% equate this concept to the terms "liquid stool".The remaining 10% is not considered.they were doctors, like me. So, if the main upset of your stomach is a loose stool( diarrhea, diarrhea), your problem is described in more detail in the article Diarrhea. More articles on gastrointestinal disorders: bloating, abdominal pain, indigestion, vomiting.

And meanwhile, if a patient comes to me complaining of a stomach upset, I will have nothing to say to him: "Dear Ivan Ivanovich." Meanwhile, what you consider a stomach disorder and what I think is the difference.just talk about how you feel. "

Let's dwell on the causes of anxiety associated with the stomach. Stomach disorders can be characterized as symptoms in which there is a violation of the basic functions of the stomach, such as promoting food and secretion of glands for digestion. This is manifested by pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, bloating, a feeling of overflow in the stomach, heartburn, belching, vomiting, regurgitation.

Allocate functional and organic disorders of the stomach functions .In case of organic disturbances, during the examination it is possible to find the specific cause of the violation of functions. For example, an ulcer in the wall of the stomach. With functional disorders, an obvious cause can not be identified. It should be noted that functional disorders are frequent, and are found in about a third of the population.

Causes of stomach upset

The causes of functional disorders are acute and chronic stressful situations, lack of diet, long breaks in eating, overeating, imbalance of diet( eating excess fatty, fried, spicy, sweet food), as well as a sharp change in diet andabuse of unusual exotic food.

Alcohol and smoking play an important role. Alcohol has a direct irritant effect on the gastric mucosa. And smoking, in addition, contributes to the lack of blood supply to the walls of the stomach due to the general vasospasm due to the action of nicotine.

Its contribution is made by such external factors as ionizing radiation, climate change.

Diseases accompanied by a stomach disorder

Organic diseases, as already mentioned, have a very specific basis for gastrointestinal disorders. And all of the above factors only contribute to this. First of all, I would mention the infectious factor. It is established that almost 30% of the population are infected with Helikobakter Pilori. This is a bacterium discovered in 1983 by a group of Australian scientists( for which they, incidentally, even received a Nobel Prize).It is proved that it is the main cause of gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum. The fact is that this microbe has learned to adapt to the most powerful protection of the stomach - hydrochloric acid. It produces an enzyme that breaks it around the bacteria. After that it is introduced under the mucous membrane of the stomach and multiplies there. And the mucous membrane, damaged by such an invasion, is very vulnerable and easily exposed to inflammation and ulceration.

Treatment of this infection is long, multicomponent, but effective. True, this does not save you from re-infection.

We will consider the most frequent diseases of the stomach that arise under the influence of these factors. This is GERD( gastroesophageal reflux disease), gastritis( chronic and acute), peptic ulcer of the stomach and / or duodenum.

Gastroesophageal reflux Disease is a condition in which the contents of the stomach return to the esophagus. Hydrochloric acid has a damaging effect on the unprotected mucosa of the esophagus, causing inflammation and ulceration. What disorders does the patient feel when doing this? He is worried about heartburn, worse after eating, taking carbonated drinks and alcohol;belching and regurgitation, and chest pain when swallowing food. The main cause is the weakening of the muscles in the place of passage of the esophagus into the stomach, so the lower esophageal sphincter. This is a group of muscles, which as a tightly compressed ring normally skip food in only one direction. If the ring is not tightly compressed, then, with increased intra-abdominal pressure( with flatulence, pregnancy, pathology of other organs), or with increased pressure in the stomach( overeating, abuse of carbonated drinks, increased muscle tone at the outlet of their stomach), food along with gastric juiceis thrown back into the esophagus.
Chronic gastritis in 90% of cases is caused by Helicobacter pylori. In this case, there are pains in the projection of the stomach during meals, a decrease in appetite, belching and heartburn, and sometimes anemia.

The appearance of in stomach and duodenal ulcer , apart from Helicobacter pylori, is promoted by increasing the acidity of gastric juice, taking anesthetic preparations of a group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs( aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, analgin and others), and reducing the protective factors of the body as a whole and the mucosain particular, about what it is written above. There are complaints of pain in the upper half of the abdomen( sometimes very strong, cutting - "dagger"), "hungry", nocturnal pains, nausea and vomiting, pallor and darkening of the stool. The most serious complication of peptic ulcer is perforation of the ulcer( that is, the appearance of a through defect in the wall of the stomach, and bleeding, which can be quite strong.) Long-term ulcer, due to the constant irritation of gastric juice and food, is prone to degenerationin cancer. Therefore, in case of any suspicions, necessarily appear to the doctor

The structure of the gastrointestinal tract

Examination for stomach disorders

The main weapon of the doctor when diagnosed in the case of the illGastroduodenal is FibroEzofagoGastroDuodenoScopy ( FGDS) is a visual method of investigation in which an optical device can see the walls of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum and take a small piece of the mucous membrane for analysis, which is popularly called a "light bulb".very reliable, safe, affordable. On the basis of data obtained at the PHAGS, a diagnosis is made, which means that treatment is prescribed. With the functional states of the organs, the doctor will see an absolutely normal picture;with organic - and inflammation, and ulcers, and weak muscle work, and a cancerous tumor at the earliest stage. A biopsy, which is carried out with this, will help to further clarify the diagnosis. The doctor will take a piece of tissue from the most suspicious area and examine it under a microscope.

The general analysis of blood is able to tell about a lot. With disorders of the stomach, it helps to identify signs of inflammation, anemia. Sometimes, to exclude gastrointestinal bleeding, it is required to check feces for latent blood. To identify Helicobacter pylori, a respiratory test is performed or blood is taken to determine antibodies to this bacterium.

Diseases of the stomach must also be distinguished from diseases of organs other than the gastrointestinal tract.

So, pain in the epigastric region may be the first sign of myocardial infarction. In this case, pain is not associated with eating, but depends directly on the presence and intensity of physical exertion. For an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe an ECG and immediately send the patient to the hospital. It should be noted that some drugs used in cardiovascular disease are contraindicated in patients with stomach diseases. Therefore, it is worthwhile to entrust the treatment to a professional.

Also, pain in the projection of the stomach can appear with a diaphragmatic hernia. But more often the pain appears behind the sternum, without strict periodicity, but is associated with eating. There is a burning sensation in the esophagus and behind the breastbone during and immediately after eating. Often in this case, pain is given in the back, the left shoulder. To clarify this diagnosis, an X-ray examination is required.

Treatment of gastrointestinal disorders

The tactics for treating stomach diseases are determined by the doctor on the basis of the examination and the results of the examination. How can you help yourself on your own before visiting a specialist? First, give up bad habits. Secondly, compliance with diet and diet. The intake of food should be regular, small portions, but frequent. Avoid dishes that cause increased juice in the stomach, such as boiling broths, ears, fried meat, coffee, etc. It is necessary to limit the use of dishes containing a lot of fiber, as well as containing acids and irritants( cabbage, turnip, radish, sorrel, onions, radish, sour fruits and berries, mushrooms, etc.).Methods of cooking must also be as gentle as possible. Preference should be given to steamed, boiled, in extreme cases, stewed food of liquid and mushy consistency. We exclude very cold and very hot dishes.

Of the non-drug treatments for stomach diseases, the most effective method I would call infusion or decoction of flaxseed. Possessing an enveloping effect, this folk remedy calms the pain without causing excessive gassing or constipation.

Drugs are prescribed only by a doctor. Each of them has contraindications and side effects, doses are also selected individually. Before taking a doctor, you can take once a group of antacids( Almagel, Maalox, Gaviscon).Be sure to stop taking pain medications!

If the doctor diagnosed an erosive gastritis or peptic ulcer disease, be prepared for prolonged treatment. As described above, the main culprit of the disease( Helicobacter pylori) is a bacterium. This infection is well treatable with antibiotics. But because of its location in the submucosa, not all drugs can get there. Therefore, at least 2 antibiotics are included in the treatment regimen, which will need to be taken about two weeks. There are several standard schemes that the doctor applies depending on the specific disease pattern. Their effectiveness is from 70 to 98%.

I repeat that self-treatment without assessing the severity of the patient's condition by a doctor can be unsafe. Only a doctor can distinguish a functional disease from an organic one. Minor symptoms may include ulcers or cancer. Cancers diagnosed at an early stage are cured completely by .A peptic ulcer, in case of complication, can lead to death due to bleeding when the ulcer is ruptured, when it is penetrated( breakthrough) into the abdominal cavity and the development of peritonitis( inflammation of the peritoneum).

To which doctor to apply for stomach disorders

The diseases listed above are in the competence of a physician and gastroenterologist( specialist in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract).

Immediate contact with a specialist is required if the intensity of pain increases, indomitable vomiting occurs, if there is blood in the vomit, a liquid stool of black color appears. All this is a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding. Also, you should see the doctor if the pain is long, poorly controlled by the usual drugs, accompanied by weakness, weight loss.

I note that you should not underestimate the symptoms of stomach disease. Any pain and discomfort is a signal of failure of the body. If the cause of indigestion is not eliminated, the whole digestive cycle is disrupted. In the stomach, the food is not digested enough, therefore, the load on the intestine increases. He receives coarser than usual food fragments, which can injure his walls, alter the production of intestinal enzymes, etc.

As O. Khayyam wrote: "... It is better to starve than anything that is. ..".Take care of your stomach.

Doctor therapist Nalivaykina Anna Mikhailovna