Remember those cold rainy evenings where your favourite thing to do was drink a hot cup of tea and some spicy snacks while gossiping with your friends and family? All of that is a distant memory ever since your gut decided to go on a strike. Now, you can barely walk around the kitchen as the smell of food makes you want to vomit. Constant feeling of nausea along with excess gas, pain, and heartburn are not symptoms that should be neglected. These are your body’s cry for help as you may be suffering from a gastrointestinal condition.
The gastrointestinal tract starts from the mouth to the anus, including all the organs of the digestive system. The healthy functioning of the digestive system is important to break down food. If any part of the gastrointestinal tract isn’t functioning properly, you develop a gastrointestinal disease.
Here is a list of the 5 most common gastrointestinal issues for you to look out for:
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
IBS is a functional disorder noticed in both men and women. People suffering from IBS usually experience symptoms such as bloating, incomplete bowel movements, white mucus in the stool and pain. In addition to these symptoms, some people might experience both constipation and diarrhea. This chronic ailment affects 10% to 15% of people, worldwide. Out of this, only less than half of the people suffering from IBS seek medical help.
When people fail to get timely treatments, the condition is worsened. This also complicates the disease so much that what could have been treated using a simple method, would now require a complex medical procedure. If you or a loved one is experiencing the symptoms of IBS, reach out to SMILES Gastroenterology for the best IBS treatment in Bangalore.
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
Most of us have felt our stomach contents flowing back in our oesophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest. However, if this happens more than twice a week, you are probably experiencing GERD. This condition occurs when the oesophagus is continuously irritated with stomach acids. Various lifestyle choices like smoking, eating junk or fried food, consuming coffee or alcohol, pregnancy and obesity, can aggravate it. Usually, a few lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications help ease the symptoms. In worst-case scenarios, your doctor will suggest prescribed medicines or surgery.
Crohn’s Disease
This is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes severe inflammation in the GI tract. It can affect any part of the digestive system but it is commonly seen to affect the small intestine and colon the most. Though the exact cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown, various factors might be responsible for it. A few of the factors are family history, impaired immunity, presence of mycobacterium avium in the GI tract, and smoking, to name a few. Medication, lifestyle changes and a new dietary plan from a medical professional can help improve the condition. But if the condition gets worse with time, you will need to undergo surgery.
Ulcerative Colitis
This is another type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulcers in the large intestine. If left untreated, there are chances that the inflammation can spread to the other parts of the intestine as well. If you have a mild form of ulcerative colitis, proper medication and care can help treat it. However, if it is severe, your doctor might recommend other forms of treatment like surgery. At Smiles Gastroenterology Hospital, ulcerative colitis is treated after thoroughly examining your condition. We may suggest a combination of medications, lifestyle changes and surgery to treat it.
Constipation
This common condition can occur in all age groups, including children. If you have less than 3 bowel movements per week, pellet-like stool or have to strain to empty your bowel, it may be a symptom of constipation. Constipation is a chronic condition that is often neglected but needs to be treated. However, the treatment depends on the cause of constipation. There are many causes of constipation such as underlying medical conditions, poor diet, physical inactivity, medication or lifestyle changes. From laxatives to surgery, the treatment for chronic constipation varies. Visit a leading gastroenterology hospital like SMILES to get the appropriate treatment.
Gastrointestinal issues should not be taken lightly and need to be treated immediately. Smiles Gastroenterology Hospital is the first exclusive colorectal and digestive disorder centre in India. We have advanced facilities and state-of-the-art technology to treat various colorectal and digestive disorders. If you are looking for the best gastroenterologist in Bangalore, contact us today and book your appointment for a thorough and proper diagnosis.
