Category Archives: Gastroenterology

What Chronic Diarrhea Is Telling You

Chronic diarrhea means >3 loose or watery stools per day for more than four weeks. It is not a disease itself but a common end-point of many mechanisms. Here is a rapid overview from cause to clinic. 1. Osmotic diarrhea Unabsorbed solutes (lactose, fructose, sorbitol, Mg-antacids) hold water in the lumen; stool output falls markedly when the patient stops eating the offending sugar or salt. 2. Secretory diarrhea The mucosa actively pours water and electrolytes into the gut; fasting does not stop the flood. Think hyperthyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, gastrinoma, VIPoma, bile-acid malabsorption or chronic alcohol abuse. 3. Malabsorption / steatorrhoea... Learn more

Related articles：

  1. What Abdominal Pain Is Telling You
  2. How Did You Catch Gastroenteritis?
  3. What are the symptoms of gastritis?
  4. What are the symptoms of a gastric ulcer?
  5. Why You May Suddenly Become Constipated After Years of Regularity

What Abdominal Pain Is Telling You

Stomach-ache is not just “tummy hurt”. The same spot can mean opposite diseases depending on how the pain feels and what comes with it. Here is a rapid field-map. 1. Map by quadrant Epigastrium: stomach, duodenum, gall-bladder, liver, pancreas Peri-umbilical: small bowel, early appendix, mesenteric nodes Right lower: appendix, right adnexa, right ureter Left lower: sigmoid colon, left adnexa, left ureter Flank / back: kidneys, retro-peritoneum Diffuse: obstruction, peritonitis, metabolic or functional disorders 2. Listen to the “voice” of pain Colicky (waves): spasm of hollow viscus – gastro-enteritis, stones, early obstruction Burning / dull: mucosal lesion – gastritis, reflux Sudden... Learn more

Related articles：

  1. What Chronic Diarrhea Is Telling You
  2. How Did You Catch Gastroenteritis?
  3. What are the symptoms of gastritis?
  4. What are the symptoms of a gastric ulcer?
  5. Why You May Suddenly Become Constipated After Years of Regularity

How Did You Catch Gastroenteritis?

a plain-language professional brief Gastroenteritis doesn’t “fall from the sky.” It happens when the lining of your stomach and intestines is overwhelmed by one or more “attack factors.” Below are the common routes and culprits, followed by a one-page table so you can spot your own risk points at a glance. 1. Microbes: public enemy No. 1 Viruses – norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus; spread faeco-orally or by droplets; famous for cruise-ship, school or nursing-home outbreaks. Bacteria – Salmonella, pathogenic E. coli, Shigella, Campylobacter; linked to under-cooked poultry, eggs, raw seafood or contaminated water. Parasites – Giardia, Cryptosporidium; hide in wild water,... Learn more

Related articles：

  1. What are the symptoms of gastritis?
  2. What are the symptoms of a gastric ulcer?
  3. Why You May Suddenly Become Constipated After Years of Regularity

Why You May Suddenly Become Constipated After Years of Regularity

1. Poor toilet habits Repeatedly ignoring the urge or “holding it in” lowers rectal sensitivity. Distractions (phones) or bad posture on the toilet weaken the defecation reflex. 2. Diet & fluid changes Low-calorie or low-residue diets, or < 25 g fibre day, reduce stool bulk. Drinking < 500–1 000 mL day lets the colon re-absorb too much water → hard, dry stool. 3. Sedentary lifestyle Long hours of sitting / bed rest lower abdominal-wall tone and colonic high-amplitude contractions → slow-transit constipation. 4. Stress & mood Anxiety, depression or high stress act through the brain–gut–microbiome axis to slow colonic motility... Learn more

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  2. What are the symptoms of gastritis?
  3. What are the symptoms of a gastric ulcer?

What are the symptoms of a gastric ulcer?

Symptoms of gastric ulcer are highly variable.The most typical is a burning epigastric pain that usually begins 30–60 min after meals and may last from a few minutes to several hours.Patients often report accompanying dyspepsia, weight loss, nausea or vomiting, and complications such as bleeding or perforation may occur.Severity parallels ulcer depth; some individuals have no symptoms (“silent ulcer”), while others present initially with haemorrhage or perforation. Typical pain characteristics Onset: 0.5–1 h post-prandial Relief: temporary with antacids Duration: minutes to hours Pattern: recurs over days or weeks Associated symptoms Post-prandial fullness, early satiety, belching Loss of appetite and unexplained... Learn more

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  1. What are the symptoms of gastritis?
  2. What are the symptoms of vas deferens stones?