1. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISORDERS

2. Gastroesophageal Reflux: Symptoms Commonly called heartburn Burning sensation in the chest just behind the sternum Pain can rise in the chest and spread to the neck and throat.

3. Gastroesophageal Reflux: Cause The muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter relax and allow chyme to flow into esophagus.

4. Heart Burn

5. Gastroesophageal Reflux: Cause The muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter relax and allow chyme to flow into esophagus. The esophagus does not have the protective mucus that the stomach does. The acid causes a burning sensation.

6. Treatments: Gastroesophageal Reflux Eating smaller and more frequent meals Eating long before bedtime (or laying down) Antacids to neutralize acid that passes through the LES

7. Why would eating smaller meals help with gastroesophageal reflux?

8. Peptic Ulcer: Symptoms Abdominal pain-usually around 3 hrs after eating Bloating Nausea and vomiting-sometimes with blood Loss of appetite and weight

9. Peptic Ulcers

11. Peptic Ulcer Most cases are caused by a bacterial infection. The other cause is drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen. The bacterium invades the stomach cells and increases gastrin production with leads to more stomach acid secretion. The extra stomach acid eats away at the mucus layer and then starts eating away at the stomach lining. This decreases the production of mucus in the stomach thus allowing the acids to eat through the mucus layer and damage the stomach

12. Treatments: Peptic Ulcer Antibiotics are used to treat a bacterial infection. If it is overmedication of another drug, cessation is best treatment.

13. What mechanisms does the stomach have to protect the stomach cells from the stomach acid? Why does increased acid production throw this mechanism off?

14. Symptoms: Hepatitis Flu-like symptoms (muscle aches, fever, nausea, diarrhea, headache) Loss of appetite Dark urine Yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)

15. Hepatitis

16. Cause: Hepatitis Most cases are caused by a viral infection. (5 types – labed A through E) Can also be caused by excessive use of some drugs, alcohol In either case, Hepatitis is a catch- all term for a disease which causes severe inflammation of the liver.

17. Treatments: Hepatitis Unless symptoms become severe: rest, drink lots of fluids, avoid alcohol, eat a balanced diet. If severe, can treat with an anti-viral. Can prevent using vaccine.

18. Hemorrhoids: Symptoms Rectal itching Rectal pain Rectal bleeding May see bright red blood covering stool or on toilet paper.

19. Hemorrhoids: Causes Constipation Diarrhea Exercise Low-fiber diet Any other cause that leads to the inflammation of the blood vessels around the anus.

20. Hemorrhoid

22. Hemorrhoids: Treatment Eat more fiber, hydrate, aspirin and rest. If symptoms persist, then topical ointments, surgery, or ligation.

23. Gallstones: Symptoms No symptoms for a long time until they get large enough. “Gallstone attack” which causes intense pain in the upper right abdomen. Can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. These attacks often happen at night and after a fatty meal.

24. Gallstones: Causes High amounts of cholesterol in the bile which causes it to collect into stones. Risk factors for developing these stones includes being overweight, being close to or older than 40, being female, and being pre-menopausal.

25. Gall Stones

27. Treatment: Gallstones Drugs to dissolve the stones, can use ultrasonic waves to break them up (if a small amount of stones) They can be surgically removed.