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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISORDERS

Anorexia

- is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight.

- they continue to feel hunger, but deny themselves all but very small quantities of food

ACID REFLUX - A backflow of contents of the stomach into the esophagus that is often the result of incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter

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• Appendicitis – inflammation of appendix– Due to blockage or bacterial infection– Can rupture and spread to abdomen

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• Bulimia• is an illness in which a person binges on food or

has regular episodes of overeating and feels a loss of control. The affected person then uses various methods -- such as vomiting or laxative abuse -- to prevent weight gain.

• Many (but not all) people with bulimia also have anorexia nervosa.

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• Constipation– Difficulty in passing stools, or an

incomplete or infrequent passage of hard stools due to too much water being absorbed in the large intestine

• Diarrhea– Frequent passage of loose, watery stools

because not enough water is absorbed from food as it is passing through

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– Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the final phase of chronic liver disease.

– Common causes: Hepatitis C infection (long-term infection), long-term alcohol abuse, autoimmune inflammation of the liver

- Symptoms can include abdominal pain, confusion, impotence, vomiting, weakness, weight loss, mild jaundice

Cirrhosis

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Colorectal Cancer

– Presence of a malignant tumor in the large intestine

• You have a higher risk for colon cancer if you:– Are older than 60– Eat a diet high in red or processed meats– Have cancer elsewhere in the body– Have colorectal polyps– Have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or

ulcerative colitis)– Have a family history of colon cancer– Have a personal history of breast cancer

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Crohn’s Disease

– Digestive tract inflammation of a chronic nature causing fever, cramping, diarrhea, weight loss, and anorexia

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Gallstones

• Bile is squirted out of the gallbladder & into the duodenum after eating a meal with fats in it.

• Bile is very concentrated & becomes dilute when used.

• Bile will sometimes form hard crystals that join to form stones.

• These stones may become caught in the bile duct & it is very painful.

PICTURE OF GALLSTONES

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Hemorrhoids

– Hemorrhoids are painful, swollen veins – They result from increased pressure in the veins of

the anus. The pressure causes the veins to swell, making them painful, particularly when you are sitting

– Common causes are straining during bowel movements, constipation, sitting for long periods of time, anal infections

– are very common, especially during pregnancy and after childbirth

– Symptoms are anal itch and pain, pain during bowel movement, blood in stool

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Hepatitis

– infection/inflammation of the liver– May be caused by virus– Common in intravenous drug users– Symptoms: tired, jaundice, dark urine,

enlarged liver

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Hernia

- is usually a sac formed by the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). The sac comes through a hole or weak area in the fascia, the strong layer of the abdominal wall that surrounds the muscle

- sometimes hernias occur with heavy lifting. Hernias may be present at birth, but the bulging may not be noticeable until later in life. Some patients may have a family history of hernias.

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Pancreatitis

• is inflammation of the pancreas

• acute pancreatitis is sudden swelling and inflammation of the pancreas.

• Most of the time, the enzymes are only active after they reach the small intestine, where they are needed to digest food.

• When these enzymes somehow become active inside the pancreas, they eat (and digest) the tissue of the pancreas. This causes swelling, bleeding (hemorrhage), and damage to the pancreas and its blood vessels.

• Acute pancreatitis affects men more often than women. Certain diseases, surgeries, and habits make you more likely to develop this condition.

• The condition is most often caused by alcoholism and alcohol abuse

• Symptoms may include: abdominal pain, chills, clammy skin, fever, mild jaundice, nausea, sweating, weakness, weight loss, vomiting

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• Chronic pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that does not heal or improve, gets worse over time, and leads to permanent damage.

• When inflammation and scarring of the pancreas occur, the organ is no longer able to make the right amount of these enzymes. As a result, your body may be unable to digest fat and other important parts of food.

• Damage to the portions of the pancreas that make insulin may lead to diabetes.

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• The condition is most often caused by alcohol abuse over many years. Repeat episodes of acute pancreatitis can lead to chronic pancreatitis. Genetics may be a factor in some cases. Sometimes the cause is not known

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– Caused by inflammation/death of membranes covering instestinal walls &/or stomach and results in a hole

– May be caused by producing extra gastric juice, smoking, irregular meals, excess alcohol consumption

Peptic Ulcers

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PEPTIC ULCERS (Continued)

• Peptic ulcer descriptions– Acute or chronic– Singular or clustered– Shallow or deep

• Symptoms of an ulcer– Gnawing pain at the site– Heartburn or indigestion– Nausea and vomiting– Bloated feeling after eating

ULCER (STOMACH)

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– Chronic inflammatory condition resulting in a break in the continuity of the mucous membrane lining of the colon in the form of ulcers

• Characterized by large watery diarrheal stools containing mucus, pus, or blood

Ulcerative Colitis

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Volvulus

– A rotation of loops of bowel causing a twisting on itself that results in an intestinal obstruction