Category Archives: Gastroenterology

What Causes Colitis

Inflammation of the colonic mucosa can be triggered by infection, immune dysregulation, impaired blood supply, drugs or radiation. Diet and lifestyle: High intakes of red meat, emulsifiers and sweets, together with smoking and obesity, are considered modern “Western-style” pro-inflammatory factors. Infection: Salmonella, Shigella, Clostridioides difficile, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Entamoeba histolytica directly invade the epithelium, causing acute diarrhoea and bloody stools. Immune factors: Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are autoimmune disorders in which genetically susceptible individuals mount an abnormal T-cell response that continuously attacks the bowel wall. Microbial dysbiosis: Long-term antibiotics and a high-fat, low-fibre diet reduce protective flora and increase... Learn more

Related articles：

  1. What Causes Reflux Esophagitis
  2. How Did You Catch Gastroenteritis?
  3. What Chronic Diarrhea Is Telling You
  4. Symptoms of Indigestion
  5. Symptoms of Chronic Gastritis
  6. Symptoms of Gastroptosis

What Causes Reflux Esophagitis

The core issue is retrograde flow of gastric contents (acid, pepsin, bile) into the esophagus, leading to mucosal erosion. Key mechanisms include: Reduced lower-esophageal-sphincter (LES) pressure or frequent transient LES relaxations (TLESRs) that disable the anti-reflux barrier Hiatus hernia, which weakens the diaphragmatic crus and creates an acid pocket Impaired esophageal clearance (weak peristalsis, reduced saliva) that prolongs acid exposure A damaged mucosal barrier (widened intercellular spaces, thinner mucus layer) lowering resistance to aggressive factors Obesity, pregnancy, late-night meals, high-fat diet, smoking, alcohol and drugs such as aspirin raise intra-abdominal pressure or directly relax the sphincter, aggravating reflux. Chronic reflux... Learn more

Related articles：

  1. What Causes Colitis
  2. How Did You Catch Gastroenteritis?
  3. What Chronic Diarrhea Is Telling You
  4. Symptoms of Indigestion
  5. Symptoms of Chronic Gastritis
  6. Symptoms of Gastroptosis

Symptoms of Chronic Gastritis

Chronic gastritis is often silent; when symptoms appear, recurrent upper-abdominal discomfort dominates: Vague pain, burning or bloating in the epigastrium or left upper quadrant, sometimes worse or better after meals Early satiety: feeling full after only a few bites, preventing completion of a normal meal Post-prandial fullness lasting >1 h, scarcely relieved by belching or position change Frequent belching, often sour or bitter Nausea or occasional retching; vomitus is gastric content without bile or blood Upper epigastric heat: a heartburn-like sensation located higher, easily confused with reflux Loss of appetite, thick tongue coating, halitosis and other ancillary complaints Symptoms may... Learn more

Related articles：

  1. What are the symptoms of gastritis?
  2. What Chronic Diarrhea Is Telling You
  3. Symptoms of Indigestion
  4. What are the symptoms of a gastric ulcer?
  5. Symptoms of Pancreatitis
  6. How Did You Catch Gastroenteritis?

Symptoms of Indigestion

Indigestion centers on recurrent upper-abdominal discomfort. Common features include: Vague pain, burning, or bloating in the epigastrium or left upper quadrant, starting within 1 h after meals or sometimes worsening when the stomach is empty Early satiety: feeling full after only a few bites, preventing completion of a normal meal Post-prandial fullness: bloating persists >1 h after eating and is scarcely relieved by belching or position change Epigastric distension and belching: a subjective sense of abdominal swelling with frequent sour-tasting eructations Nausea or occasional retching; vomitus is usually gastric content without bile or blood Upper epigastric heat: a heartburn-like sensation... Learn more

Related articles：

  1. Symptoms of Chronic Gastritis
  2. Symptoms of Gastroptosis
  3. Symptoms of Alcoholic Liver Disease
  4. What Are the Symptoms of Bile Reflux Gastritis
  5. What Are the Symptoms of Cholecystitis
  6. How Did You Catch Gastroenteritis?

Symptoms of Pancreatitis

The clinical picture differs between acute and chronic disease, but both revolve around upper-abdominal pain and disturbed digestion. Acute pancreatitis begins with sudden, severe epigastric or left-upper-quadrant pain that bores through to the back; eating worsens it and antispasmodics give little relief. Most patients vomit repeatedly yet still feel bloated. Fever > 38 °C, tachycardia and, in severe cases, hypotension or shock may appear within 48 h. Bluish periumbilical (Cullen) or flank (Grey-Turner) bruising signals haemorrhagic-necrotic pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis causes recurring or persistent upper-abdominal pain that is aggravated by meals and by lying supine; sitting forward or hugging the knees... Learn more

Related articles：

  1. What are the symptoms of a gastric ulcer?
  2. Symptoms of Chronic Gastritis
  3. Symptoms of Gastroptosis
  4. Symptoms of Alcoholic Liver Disease
  5. What Are the Symptoms of Bile Reflux Gastritis
  6. What Are the Symptoms of Cholecystitis