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Love Your Gut

by Liz D'Arcy-Evans, Senior Practice Nurse 

 

Digestive Disorders

There are around 25 different conditions relating to the digestive system.

Some may resolve spontaneously and be relatively minor and others may be life-changing and require long term support and treatment.

These are some of the most common digestive problems -:

  • Constipation
  • Coeliac Disease
  • Crohns Disease + Ulcerative Colitis
  • Diarrhoea
  • Gallstones
  • Haemorrhoids
  • Heartburn and acid reflux
  • Indigestion
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Bowel Cancer

It is advisable to see a doctor if you experience any of the following -:

  • Abdominal pain before or after meals
  • Feelings of fullness, bloating or flatulence
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Heartburn or regurgitation
  • Pain or difficulty in swallowing
  • Reduced appetite
  • Continuing, unexplained weight loss
  • Indigestion developing for the first time or in later life
  • Diarrhoea, constipation or altered bowel habit
  • Change in stools especially if they become black, dark red, pale or contain mucous
  • Bleeding when you pass a stool
  • Feeling that your bowels are not emptying completely
  • Generally feeling tired, lethargic or unwell in association with any abdominal symptoms.

Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to see the doctor- remember the embarrassment is temporary but if you ignore a symptom it could lead to a much bigger and more serious problem.

Common Digestive Problems

 

Coeliac Disease

This is caused by a sensitivity to gluten – the protein found in wheat, barley and rye.  This a cause damage to the lining of the small intestine.  Coeliac disease affects around 1% of people and may go undiagnosed for a long time.  The symptoms vary tremendously but can include diarrhoea and vomiting, weight loss or failure to gain weight, abdominal pain and mouth ulcers.  The treatment is to remove gluten from the diet.

Chron’s Disease

This causes inflammation in the gut and is referred to as inflammatory bowel disease along with Ulcerative Colitis.  Chron’s disease affects around 1:1000 people and is  usually diagnosed between the ages of 15-40 yrs of age. The cause is unknown although there may be a genetic link.  The incidence is slightly higher is smokers but there does not seem to be any specific link to diet.  The symptoms include pain, diarrhoea, fatigue, loos of appetite and ulcers.  The treatment focuses on reducing the inflammation through diet and drug therapy.  Surgery may be necessary in a large number of cases.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

This is a medical term given to a collection of otherwise unexplained symptoms relating to a disturbance of the large intestine. Around one third of the population will be affected at some time in their life.  It can be a distressing and painful condition which must be properly diagnosed by a medical professional.  Symptoms include abdominal pain and spasms, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal bloating, rumbling noises and excessive flatulence, urgency, incontinence and a sensation of incomplete bowel movement.

Women suffer more than men and younger people more than older. IBS is often associated with stress and life changes.  The treatment varies from person to person and includes making dietary changes and taking anti-spasmodic drugs.  Complementary therapies such as acupuncture and homeopathy can be beneficial to sufferers as can taking probiotics.

Bowel Cancer

This may develop from polyps and then invade the intestinal wall and may then spread to lymph nodes and other organs.  Symptoms include blood in stools, change in bowel habit and abdominal pain. The disease may be hereditary and also may be linked to a low intake of dietary fibre and high intake of animal fat.  Treatment is with surgery and chemotherapy and or radiotherapy.

How to Keep your Gut Healthy

As your digestive systems main function is to process and absorb nutrients from food it is very important that it has the right food to keep it functioning well.

Good Gut Food

Make sure that you have a balanced diet including high fibre foods such as fruit and vegetables ( 5 a day) and oats and beans, moderate amounts of meat, fish, eggs, milk and other dairy foods. Choose lower fat varieties where possible. 

Don’t rush meals to allow foods to be digested properly.

Limit alcohol intake as in excess it can irritate the stomach lining.  Keep to 2-3 units per day for women and 3-4 units per day for men.

Pre-biotic foods help to feed the good bacteria in the intestines – these include leeks, bananas, onions, beans and pulses.  Probiotic drinks are useful for topping up essential bacteria.

Keep well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids – 2 litres per day is good to aim for.

Five portions of fruit and veg are very important in preventing certain cancers, heart disease and strokes.  Aim for a rainbow of different colours.

Try eating wholegrain varieties of rice, pasta, bread and cereal as these contain valuable fibre, minerals and antioxidants.

Get Gut Active !

Regular exercise can greatly improve your digestive health.

Carrying extra weight around the midriff can affect the digestive system by putting pressure on the stomach and causing heartburn and possibly ulceration.

Constipation and piles are linked to obesity.

It is thought that 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 times per week can reduce the risk of bowel cancer.

Try varying the activity that you do and include exercise as part of your daily routine.

Lifestyle Tips for Good Gut Health

Try and de-stress as much as possible – make time to relax and unwind.

Sleep well by cutting down on alcohol, caffeine and fatty foods before bedtime, this will in turn improve bowel function.

Smoking can contribute to many changes in the digestive system and may increase heartburn and peptic ulcers, Chron’s disease, gallstones and cancer so try to cut down or give up.