Don’t Ignore A Troubled Stomach
Posted on November 24, 2008, under Health.
The gastrointestinal tract is a very important organ-system in the body and is primarily responsible for intake, digestion, assimilation of nutrients and also excretion of fecal material.Because of its relatively large surface area cancers of the gastrointestinal tract are quite common.
Food pipe
Cause: Smoking, alcohol consumption and chronic heartburn due to reflux of acid from the stomach.
Symptoms: Difficulty in swallowing or feeling of the food being stuck in the chest while eating.
Stomach
Cause: Chronic infection by bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori.Other factors include smoking, alcohol consumption and family history.
Symptoms: Upper abdominal pain, anemia, dyspepsia or symptoms of vague indigestion.Though non-specific, these symptoms should not be ignored.
Large intestine or colon
Cause: Smoking, alcohol and more importantly family history.Also patients with any chronic inflammatory condition of the intestines often known as ulcerative colitis are prone to it.
Symptoms: Anemia, passage of altered blood in stool, acute constipation, weight loss and in case of cancer of the rectum, fresh blood in stool.Do not confuse the rectum bleeding with piles.
Gallbladder
Cause: Since gallstones and associated chronic inflammation of the gall balder are more common in women, hence the cancer affects them more.
Pancreatic
Cause: More common amongst elderly men, pancreatic cancer can be caused by alcohol consumption, smoking and family history.
Do not delay in seeking care of symptoms that are relatively new, progressive, not responding to usual home remedies and particularly if they are associated with weight loss or symptoms of anemia.
