Digestion System and Subsequent Diseases and Problems - Case Study Example

Digestion System and Subsequent Diseases/ problems: A Case Study on Ingestion Introduction Digestion is the process of refining large particles of food by physical and chemical refinement and subsequent absorption of resultant nutrients from the process. Digestive system is made up of organs that function inclusively in the process of conversion of food to the usable energy and nutrients in the body. Food will go through alimentary canal commonly called gastrointestinal tract (GI). Alimentary canal is made up of few major parts including; esophagus, small and large intestines, pharynx and oral cavity. The accessory parts include the teeth, tongue, saliva, pancreas, gall bladder and others. Physiology of the Digestive System; Secretion—the production of liquid from within the body to help in different functions of digestion process. The fluids secreted by the body includes the saliva, mucus, hydrochloric acid, enzymes and bile. Specifically, mucus helps by protecting the wall from corrosion by the harsh hydrochloric acid as well as lubricating the whole system. Saliva on the other hand produces enzymes that contributes to digestion apart from the softening of food in the mouth. Absorption—the intake of food nutrients to the blood stream. This can only happen after the food has been reduced to smaller and very fine particles. Alcoholic contents and water starts being absorbed in the stomach but major absorption takes place in the small intestines owing to its long size as well as the processes like segmentations. Vitamin B and K gets absorbed in the large intestines and so is water. Excretion—the removal of majorly solid waste from the body. It is the end function of the digestive system and is performed by the anus, skin or urethra. It is a voluntary process that is controlled by the brain[Dig13]. Ingestion—the intake of food through the mouth by swallowing. This process begins at the mouth as it is the only opening that allows normal intake of food. Generally, this is the process of eating. Digestion—the turning of food into chemical components. It begins with the mechanical breakdown of food particles in the mouth through chewing of food and mixing of food in the stomach as well as the intestines. Liver then produces bile which further helps in breakdown of fats into molecules. This process of chemical digestion begins at the mouth at the release of salivary amylase for carbohydrates. Major chemical digestion happens in the small intestines owing to the pancreatic juice which can digest proteins, nucleic acid and lipids[Bea96]. Digestive System Anatomy Esophagus—an organ that transcends through the neck to the chest strengthened with muscles, which help in the forcing of food downwards to the stomach by peristalsis. This process happens even if the person is held upside down[Tor90]. Stomach—a pocket that helps in the holding and digestion of food through release of enzymes and acid. Gallbladder—it helps by keeping bile produced by the liver Liver—just like indicated above, it helps by producing blood, which is latter on used to break down proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Liver also helps in detoxifying blood. Small intestines—form a channel through which food from the stomach passes through and in the process, food gets broken down. Absorption of major nutrients also begins at this part by the help of segmentation process. Large intestines—absorption of water takes place here. It also contains many bacteria that help in decomposing food into waste as they produce from these food nutrients and electrolytes for the use by the body. Rectum—stores waste awaiting removal from the body. Mouth—helps in digestion by producing enzymes like salivary amylase that too, helps in digestion process. It also has teeth, which helps in the mechanical breakdown of food into finer particles for the action of enzymes. The mouth also houses the tongue that helps in turning of food and mixing it with saliva. Pancreas—secretes digestive enzymes called pancreatic juice to the small intestines to finish up the process of chemical digestion. Salivary glands-they are 3 sets of accessory organs in the mouth that produce the saliva which helps in moistening of food and initial digestion process of carbohydrates in the mouth[Smi10]. Problems of the Digestive System Indigestion, Diarrhea, Constipation, Acid reflux, Food poisoning, Flatulence, Celiac disease, Hepatitis, Crohn’s disease, Diabetes, Cirrhosis, Cancer. This article will focus on ingestion as the case study. Indigestion Indigestion (dyspepsia) is a condition that is common to most people at one given time. It causes a lot of discomfort to the stomach making the patient to have a feeling of being full even without eating anything of a size that should make one feel full. Severe cases of this condition results to heartburn, bloating nauseating and a strong urge to throw up. Possible cause may originate from inappropriate eating habits[Ric12]. GERD by itself is reported to affect over 68 million Americans each year while peptic ulcer alone troubled over 14. 5 million people by the year 2007 Common Symptoms The feeling of fullness even after very light meals hence not being able to eat all the meal which is ordinarily normal size given ones eating habit. Feeling of the esophagus burn and stomach burn, heartburn, bloat. Nauseating and a feel to throwing up. Vomiting of blood Loss of weight Black stools Trouble during swallowing of food[Wha12]. Causes of Indigestion Unhealthy eating habits like; eating more than needed, eating too fast, eating too much fatty foods and sleeping immediately after meals. Smoking, overconsumption of alcoholic drinks Negative reactions to medical prescription like non-steroidal ones. Antiflamatory drugs like aspirins can also contribute to this condition[Nat12]. However, it should be noted by the concerned victims, readers and researchers that indigestion sometimes does not show its most likely cause. In other words, cause cannot be found a case referred to as functional dyspepsia. This dyspepsia is reported to be caused by abnormal squeezing effect of the muscles in the stomach in a bid to digest and force food into the small intestines. It may also act as a symptom of serious problems in the upper digestive tract or even a disease of the digestive system. The digestive system diseases may include: gastric cancer, esophagus or throat cancer, peptic ulcers which presents itself as sores in the stomach lining or esophagus lining and or acid influx disease. Diagnosis of Indigestion Diagnosis may include the doctor or the health expert asking the patient about his or her eating habits as well as the normal heath routine questions like the medical history. This is then followed by physical and ex ray examination of the abdominal regions to ascertain the problem. Other procedures may include taking blood samples, feaces samples for peptic bacteria test, and breathe test. Another procedure called endoscopy that is used to test for GERD, ulcers, cancerous infections and others. This operation may be conducted on the thoracic area to shed more light on the case under investigation. This procedure may require that the practitioner may enter a camera through the esophagus through to the stomach. The procedure helps in collection of tissue samples and viewing of the walls of the respective organs and should be conducted carefully and gently when the patient is unconscious. Treatment for Indigestion Medications that are commonly used for the treatment of this problem includes over the counter antacids like the Maalox and Mylanta. They however may pose allergic reaction to the patient consuming them. Therefore, the patient should be examined for any possible negative reactions to the medications before they are administered to him or her. H2 receptor antagonists like zantac may also be used instead to reduce acidity of the stomach. However, they also have negative effects like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and headache. For this reason, they should also be administered with precaution or with measures put in place to take care of the side effects. Prokinetics like medications Reglan and Motilium, may also be used to enhance digestive tract’s muscle actions of contraction. This too has the problem of either anxiety, fatigue, depression or all. Such prescriptions should therefore be made with the effects in mind. There is also evidence that Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), like Prilosec, do lower the effect of stomach acid. They too are strong and may cause nausea, dehydration, loss of appetite as well as running stomach. This case may be worse if not checked since in addition to the above side effects, its use may also result into abdominal pain, cough, headache, backache, and dizziness. It should be noted that the drugs above treat only specific causes of indigestion. For example, PPIs and H2 drugs are normally used to treat peptic ulcers but the causing bacteria must not be bacterium H. Pylori as this may require the above drug to be used together with some other antibiotics for effective results and with minimum side effects. Care for the patient with indigestion problem Patients with this problem can be relieved from this problem by simply following the basic healthy lifestyle. This may not even require the condition to be treated for example there may be no medication needed. The patient or even the person who wishes to avoid indigestion should eat smaller quantity of food but regularly in the course of the day. This gives the system to digest and clear the ingested food. It does also not allow the stomach or the digestive system to have certain moments of lows and highs with severe effects of hydrochloric acid during lows and overworking the system during the highs. The patient should be given non-spicy foodstuff, non-oily as this will catalyze heartburn. This, the patient should be given slowly and encouraged not to lie down immediately after the meal. For drunkards and smokers, they should be taken through the rehabilitation process to help them avoid both smoking and alcohol abuse. Stopping of smoking altogether may help a lot with this. For obese persons, services of therapists should be sought to help in the losing of unneeded weight. Other precautions should include reducing amount of coffee taken per day and the same applies for other soft drinks. Another care should be simply getting much rest as needed and insisting on being given alternative drugs to those that contribute to corrosion of the GI walls. Challenges in the care for patients with ingestion problems Managing patients who suffer from digestive problems pose a big challenge to the people concerned. This is most severe if the cause of ingestion is cancer. This will require chemotherapy which should be frequent and regular and leads to loss of weight, appetite, puking and many other side effects which may make the patient to lose hope [Lav13]. For other causes, just making sure the patient follows the strict guideline to the prescription poses a challenges since most tend to relapse to their old unhealthy habits[Fes12]. Monitoring however requires therapeutic approach on a continuous basis to lower the chances of relapse and to detect any changes whether improvement or worsening of the condition for remedial action. Monitoring should also focus on the negative reaction to the drugs for correction strategies. Justification for the change of lifestyle above According to the effect of ingestion as shown above, it is evidently true that this condition may be fatal in acute and serious cases. The data from the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearing house, shows that digestive diseases affect 60 to 70 million Americans every year. This is a figure big enough that if can allow themselves to experience acute cases of the same, then obviously, there is a bigger problem. With these simple lifestyle changes, there is an eminent big save of the resources both monetary and time spend on trying to cure it. GERD alone was tested positive in more than 20 percent of the American population in the year 2004, while peptic related cases/ disease affected over 14.5 Million American people in the year 2007[Dig12]. This, if can be saved then the better. Bibliography Dig13: , (Anatomy and Physiology, 2013), Bea96: , (Beashel & Taylor, 1996), Tor90: , (Tortora & Anagnostakos, 1990), Smi10: , (Smith & Morton, 2010), Ric12: , (Rice, 2012), Wha12: , (Anon., 2012), Nat12: , (Medlineplus, 2012), Lav13: , (Lavine, et al., 2013), Fes12: , (Fessier & Havrilla, 2012), Dig12: , (Anon., 2012), Read More