Diseases Of The Stomach

Diseases of the stomach affect hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world, more particularly during the active years of a person's life. The causes greatly vary and can be generally divided into two categories - internal and external factors. Internal factors e.g. extremely high or extremely low levels of gastric acid and also a very slow paced process of emptying the stomach. External factors include stress, excessive consumption of tea, coffee, alcohol, smoking, and some medications particularly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. With that said, some of the diseases of the stomach include: -

- Dyspepsia - this is the commonest disease of the stomach that affects 60% of the population atleast once in a person's lifetime. It is characterized by a persistent or irregular pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen. It may lead to regurgitation i.e. reflux of contents of the stomach back to the esophagus and mouth, vomiting, bloating, and nausea.

- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) - another common stomach disease that is chronic. It leads to abnormal gastric reflux to the esophagus from the stomach and may end up damaging the esophagus. It is mostly characterized by heartburn, difficulties when swallowing, as well as regurgitation mostly when a meal is taken minutes before sleeping.

- Heartburn or pyrosis - generally affects around 10% of the total world's population at least once a year. It is characterized by a burning sensation in the esophagus just beneath the breastbone and may lead to bad breath, bitter or sour taste in the mouth, mouth ulcer, vomiting, and regurgitation.

- Gastritis - this is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach which mainly causes pain in the upper abdomen.

- Peptic ulcer - a sore that develops in the duodenum as well as the stomach's mucous membrane. It is more prevalent in men and is characterized by burning ache, continuous abdominal pain, abdominal fullness, bloating, weight loss, and loss of appetite.

- Helicobacter pylori infection - another common stomach disease that causes chronic low-level inflammation of the lining of the stomach. This infection is suspected to be the leading cause of stomach cancer, gastritis, and peptic ulcer.

- Stomach cancer - it is a kind of cancer that has abnormal cells growing in any part of the stomach and which might spread to other body organs through the lymphatic or circulatory systems. It is equally more prevalent in men and is characterized by poor digestion, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, black stools, unplanned weight loss, and difficulties when swallowing.

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