- Digestive system disorders

Digestive System Disorders

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Digestive system disorders include any of the various illnesses that affect the esophagus, stomach, liver, colon, or other parts of the digestive system of the human body.

Some digestive system disorders are physical disease processes (like appendicitis, Celiac disease, diverticulitis, stomach cancer, gall stones, or Crohn’s disease). Other digestive system disorders can be partially related to anxiety and stress disorders (like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, indigestion, diarrhea, and constipation.)

A few digestive system disorders are caused by physical injury (for instance, hernias), while others are the result of inflammation or infection of otherwise healthy organs (gall stones, kidney stones, appendicitis).

Digestive system disorders tend to be painful and the systems can be frightening or very inconvenient (diarrhea, blood in the stool or urine), but the most frequently diagnosed digestive system disorder is IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), which, while painful and inconvenient, is not dangerous and does not lead to more serious illness.

IBS is thought to be associated with anxiety and stress, and often occurs alongside other anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, general anxiety disorder, and/or depression. IBS is also associated with chronic pain illnesses like fibromyalgia, and with chronic fatigue syndrome.

A vital part of successful treatment of digestive disorders that overlap with anxiety and/or chronic pain disorders is getting an accurate diagnosis as early as possible, and then taking a multi-pronged approach to treatment that includes lifestyle and dietary changes, stress management, relaxation and pain reduction techniques, and cognitive therapy if needed.

Anyone experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms of digestive distress should seek the advice of a physician in order to rule out serious physical problems like cancer, ulcers, cystitis or gallbladder disease. If a digestive system disorder requiring medical or surgical treatment is diagnosed, the patient may be referred to a gastroenterologist who specializes in these conditions.

Once more serious digestive system disorders and disease processes have been ruled out (or treated appropriately), the patient can then devise a comprehensive treatment plan for the remaining symptoms.

Treatment of digestive system disorders that are stress or anxiety-related usually involves the active participation of the patient in pinpointing what triggers symptoms and in making the lifestyle and diet changes that bring symptoms under control.

Digestive system disorders are very common, but they should not be ignored. Even when a digestive system disorder is found to be anxiety or stress-related, the fact that the digestive system is reacting with painful physical symptoms is a signal that the stressful conditions or related mental health issues need to be taken seriously and addressed.

Anxiety, panic, and depression are very common emotional problems. Anxiety disorders alone make up 30% of all mental illnesses in the U.S. Depression is also at epidemic levels. Both anxiety disorders and depressive disorders can and do cause physical symptoms that often include gastrointestinal distress.

Many people avoid treating anxiety and depression out of fear of the social stigma attached or fear of the lifestyle changes that might be required, yet anxiety and depression are both very treatable conditions with a good prognosis for full recovery. Anxiety disorders in particular can often be completely eliminated with a fairly short course of therapy.

Once the stress and anxiety is minimized, eliminated, or effectively managed, the digestive system symptoms usually resolve naturally. The earlier treatment is started, the more quickly relief of symptoms can begin.