What does the stomach feel good for?
The state of the gastrointestinal tract is affected by heredity. Predisposition to many diseases (the same stomach ulcer, 12-colon) is transmitted genetically. Of great importance are the way of life, the diet, the quality of food, drinking water, the presence or absence of bad habits. Infectious diseases can also disturb balance. For example, if a person suffers an acute intestinal infection, the exchange of serotonin (an important hormone) in the intestinal wall is disrupted, and functional disorders of the colon develop. And more - from the attitude of man to himself. If he understands that he has a disease of the gastrointestinal tract and takes appropriate measures (goes to the doctor, refuses fatty foods, ceases to be nervous at work), the ailment may not develop. When a person does not change anything in his life, the disease will progress. The state of the digestive system depends on our attitude towards others. If you wake up with the constant idea that "someone is good, but I feel bad", this will inevitably lead to discomfort in the abdominal area. The environment in which he is brought up has a great influence on the child's digestive system. Is the person growing up in a nervous environment? First it manifests enuresis, stuttering. Then the appearance of gastroenterological diseases. I often come across cases when children are treated for a long time and without results from gastritis. Subsequently they bring me to the reception: they say, sort things out, no pills help. I talk with the child and find out that he has any unresolved conflicts - at home or at school.
What diseases of the digestive system disturb people most often?
According to WHO, manifestations of gastritis to some extent occur in 95% of the adult population of the globe. As for Ukraine, according to different sources - different figures. People who have problems with bile ducts, stomach and duodenal ulcers most often come to see me. Acid-dependent diseases of gastric juice on the esophagus and stomach are very common (for example, stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer, various gastritis). But in comparison with previous years, the "peak" of the incidence of these ailments has passed. Not least because of better methods of diagnosis and treatment. In the third millennium, gastroesophageal reflex disease (GERD) emerges as a leader. In different countries it affects from 20 to 40% of the population. A very common complaint is bloating. It can be associated with a violation of absorption of certain substances. So, on average, half of the adult population have lactase insufficiency (intolerance to milk and fermented milk products). There is also intolerance of some sugars, fructose, sorbitol (it is a part of sweet carbonated drinks, chewing gums), cereals. It is said that the common cause of gastritis and stomach ulcers is the presence of Helicobacter.
How does such a "settler" get to us and how dangerous is he?
Helicobacter pylori comes from the external environment, often in childhood. In children, the mucous membrane has a low acidity and does not withstand the attack of microorganisms. In addition, the children are inclined to grab everything with their hands and pull into their mouths. Gastritis associated with Helicobacter is a complex and urgent problem in gastroenterology. After all, it can serve as a trigger for the formation of tumors - both benign and malignant. Therefore Helicobacter is recognized as a carcinogen of the first degree. Fortunately, if in time to reveal it in the body, you can completely cure such a gastritis and prevent the appearance of cancer.
By what signals SOS can you determine that it's time to see a gastroenterologist?
When there is any discomfort: from bad breath (before or after meals - it does not matter) and plaque on the tongue until the appetite decreases or, on the contrary, excessive cravings for food, rumblings, belching, heartburn, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation or intestinal disorders, the general weakness of the body. Deterioration of appearance (gray, yellow or gray-yellow skin) appears even with neglected diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, when the person did not go to the doctor on time. When they say: "All diseases from nerves", - first of all, they mean the stomach and other digestive organs. Is the value of stress too exaggerated? In gastroenterology there is a concept of stress ulcers - when the disease appears under adverse psychological conditions. There is a direct relationship between the work of the brain and digestive organs. Therefore, under stress and a healthy person there are failures: someone has a pain in the abdomen, someone has an intestinal disorder. Everything depends on the type of person. Gastric ulcer is more often diagnosed in introverts - people who have mental pain in themselves. This is primarily men. After all, they often prefer to keep quiet about their troubles. Women are more likely to share problems with others - and in a conversation to relieve stress. Nowadays, the syndrome of the diffuse intestine is very common - a disease that occurs, as a rule, against a background of stresses and unresolved psychological problems. Therefore, paired with gastroenterologists should work and psychologists, psychotherapists. There is evidence that in our country most of the oncological diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are detected in stage III or even IV.
Is it real to "catch" the cancer at the initial stage?
Cancer is diagnosed at an early stage. The first and most simple test is the analysis of feces for the presence of hidden blood. If such an alarm signal is detected, endoscopy is mandatory. In the US, in Western Europe, people are routinely screened for oncological diseases. Therefore, the number of such ailments in developed countries decreased by 50%. In Ukraine, all is neglected, there are no state programs for the survey of the population. Therefore, alas, we are at the forefront in the number of cancers of the stomach and large intestine. People over the age of 45 should know: they need to undergo a prophylactic examination with a gastroenterologist (even if they never consulted a doctor). It is especially important to remember this to citizens who have had cases of cancer of the stomach or large intestine in the genus.
What modern methods of diagnosis of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract?
Improved methods of diagnosing gastritis and changes in the gastric mucosa. Previously, using a probe, you could only penetrate into the stomach for two minutes, make sure that there was no ulcer or tumor - and this was the end of the research. Modern endoscopy allows you to diagnose the mucosa: what is it predisposed to, what is the prevalence of gastritis. You can carry out endomicroscopy - a specialist assesses the condition of the stomach mucosa. Can examine it in a narrow-band spectrum - and identify the slightest deviations from the norm. There was a chromoendoscopy - when the gastric mucosa is stained and its altered areas are revealed. And such tests can be conducted in Ukraine. Endoscopy is a method of invasive (with intervention in the body), and therefore unloved by patients. With greater willingness go to ultrasound (ultrasound). But the diagnosis of gastritis with a 1009th probability can be made only by examining the gastric mucosa under a microscope. Endoscopy is performed for this purpose. The same way diagnoses problems of the esophagus, 12-humus. It is possible to examine the large intestine - "look" into it with the help of a colonoscope. However, for the introduction of such a device, some people have contraindications. They are assigned a virtual colonoscopy - examination of the entire colon due to the computer (the colonoscope is not inserted inside!). By the way, the PC is really at the service of medicine - according to the doctor's appointment, a person can actually perform a computer tomography of the abdominal cavity organs. X-ray methods are also developing. With their help, you can assess the state of the bile duct, gallbladder, pancreas. There are also tests of venous blood. On them it is possible to determine the level of enzymes that are produced in the liver, pancreas. But, unfortunately, the blood test can not absolutely accurately assess the production of gastric enzymes. The dark horse of medicine is the small intestine. This body is five meters long, fulfilling many important functions: and absorption (all that the body needs - micronutrients, vitamins, proteins, water), and the progression of the food lump to the large intestine. Until the beginning of the XXI century it was extremely difficult to survey. Now capsular enteroscopy has appeared - the only method that allows to inspect this longest organ. A person swallows a special capsule, on which a sensor with a radio signal is attached. The capsule is small, the size of a pharmacological pill. But it allows you to take thousands of pictures of the digestive system, including the small intestine. So you can identify the damage in it - and prescribe the appropriate treatment. It is possible to diagnose and violation of absorption of certain substances - with the help of hydrogen-respiratory tests. The concentration of hydrogen is tested in the exhaled air. Hydrogen is normally produced in the large intestine. If according to the analyzes this element is in the small intestine - there are impaired absorption. Respiratory tests can identify failures in the production of pancreatic enzymes. They are conducted like this. A person eats certain foods - and then exhales the air in a special pouch. According to the content analysis, conclusions are drawn about how the patient produces enzymes for digesting the same fats or carbohydrates. This procedure greatly facilitated the work of gastroenterologists in terms of identifying chronic pancreatitis with external secretory pancreatic insufficiency (when this body produces few enzymes). Respiratory tests can reveal the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the stomach. This is the so-called urease test. A person drinks a liquid containing urea. If there is a bacterium, it ferments the urea with the enzyme urease. Further, the exhaled air is examined - and the conclusion is made whether Helicobacter is "settled" in the stomach or not.
If you give up on the instructions of doctors and do not get treated - how will gastroenterological diseases affect the condition of other organs and systems?
If a person does not have enough enzymes to break down proteins, and he does not listen to the doctor's recommendations and still consumes a lot of protein foods, gout can develop (joint disease). Also, all diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are reflected in the emotional state. The person becomes irritable, can not concentrate, quickly gets tired. This affects his relationships with others, work, study. When atrophy of the stomach mucosa occurs B12 folic anemia. This is a very serious form of anemia, which requires serious treatment. In case of celiac disease (intolerance to cereals), girls have malfunctions of the menstrual cycle. Monthly come later than the prescribed age or completely absent. There are problems with conceiving or bearing a baby. Cleyacia often becomes the cause of male infertility - men do not produce enough sperm for fertilization of the egg. If there is a violation of calcium absorption, osteoporosis (a disease of the musculoskeletal system, leading to brittle bones) is possible, even in children.
Can I get rid of the intolerance of some products?
It depends on what food causes rejection. If this is intolerance to cereals, then you can not get rid of it. There is a life-long diet with the exception of cereals containing substances that negatively affect the tissue of the small intestine in such people. When sugar is not transferred, fructose, the situation is reparable. A diet is prescribed (usually for six months). Then, under the supervision of a doctor, a person enters the excluded foods into his diet. Now in the fashion position: "The doctor himself."
What is the result of self-diagnosis and great cleaning - blind probing, hydrocolonotherapy?
Many people themselves are diagnosed with dysbiosis, because they observe in themselves its symptoms - for example, bloating, problems with stools. But not always these disorders indicate exactly the violation of the intestinal microflora. Dysbacteriosis does not occur as often as they complain about it. It's good if a person consults a doctor. Many themselves are trying to treat their imaginary illness. Fortunately, our microflora has a high degree of protection, including from ourselves. Special damage from taking drugs with bifido or lactobacilli will not occur. But this will also bring little benefit. After all, without the help of a doctor, eradicating dysbiosis is like shooting a sparrow with a cannon. You can skip the beginning of a real disease. So self-medication is always a harm to oneself. In principle, blind probing is harmless. If a person releases his gallbladder and feels well after that - please, let him be cleaned for health. But it is not out of place to consult a gastroenterologist and undergo a diagnosis to identify and cure the disease. But hydrocolonotherapy (washing the intestine with a large volume of fluid, enema) - the procedure is aggressive and very dangerous. First, purification of the intestine occurs unnaturally. I have observed cases of disturbance of the microflora of the small intestine - colonization by its colon bacteria in people who have subjected themselves to such manipulation. In addition, in the large intestine there can be diverticula (local saccular protrusion of the walls of the small intestine), of which a person does not suspect. When feeding a large array of fluids, ruptures of diverticulum and inflammation are possible. The common phrase "We are what we eat" can not be better applied to the gastrointestinal tract.
How to eat properly to avoid disturbances in his work?
Food connects excess hydrochloric acid in the stomach. If a person eats regularly, hydrochloric acid does not have an aggressive effect on the gastric mucosa. Therefore, you need to eat several times a day - especially people predisposed to gastritis and peptic ulcer. Nutritionists have recently been focusing on eating in the morning. Be sure to have breakfast, and pretty tightly. After all, those who miss breakfast, risk getting zhelchekamennuyu disease, problems with the intestines. And the morning meal must necessarily contain fatty components - the same vegetable oils. If there is a malfunction in the operation of the gallbladder, you can eat some honey, jam. Lunch is also desirable to make dense. But do not overdo it. If overeated, GERD may develop. But dinner - easy: from the last meal to sleep should take 2-3 hours. It is important to eat at the same time. After all, all the digestive organs are programmed for synchronous work. At the same time we have more gastric juice, bile, which breaks down fat, enzymes of the pancreas. The body is ready to digest food. Therefore, breakfast, lunch and dinner on a strict schedule provide good digestion, and absorption of nutrients, and a wonderful mood. The quality of food is also important. Modern specialists emphasize the increase in the daily menu of the amount of dietary fiber. Unfortunately, the inhabitants of Russia and Ukraine do not receive these important components - they do not consume vegetables and fruits. And the favorites of domestic tables boiled potatoes, carrots contain little fiber. They are many in greenery, which we do not eat very often, especially in winter. Also, a lot of dietary fiber in whole grains porridge. Particular attention should be paid to the volumes. A woman who does not engage in manual labor and does not lead an active lifestyle, enough to eat 300 ml of food. Provided that the food quality - not the masterpieces of fast food. Men need portions a little more, on average 500 ml.
How much is it necessary to drink water for a good state of the digestive system? What should be the quality of H20?
If you drink a little liquid, there will be constipation. After all, the intestine can not push through the food lump. A healthy person needs to drink an average of one and a half liters of water per day. But if the absorption is violated, a large amount of aqua can cause diarrhea. In this case, you need advice from a doctor. How two times two four you need to learn the rule: you can not drink tap water directly from the tap. It must be passed through the filter in order to free chlorine, impurities of heavy metals. We are already breathing polluted air - why clog the body with bad drink? At the same time, water should not be distilled. It is necessary that it contain useful trace elements - potassium, magnesium, sodium ions. For this, people often buy bottled water. But pay attention to the label. There is healing water. It is designed for the treatment of diseases by the appointment of a gastroenterologist. If you drink it every day just for the purpose of quenching thirst, it can disrupt the ion-salt balance in the body (although of course irremediable harm such waters will not bring). For daily use, water is suitable with a note: "dining room", "spring" - but not "therapeutic". Diet is one of the methods of treatment in gastroenterology. But many people can not force themselves to abandon these or other products. Why is this happening? In gastroenterology there are no rigid diets. Only small restrictions. When peptic ulcer is not recommended sharp food - pepper, vinegar, mustard, green onion, radish, radish. With cholelithiasis, do not drink strong broth, eat fried, fatty foods, ice cream. With pancreatitis, alcohol consumption is limited. Dietary tables (the collection of some products and the exclusion of others for any disease) is already an outdated method. It is not used anywhere in the world. Proved: prolonged exclusion of any products from the diet is hazardous to health. Therefore, diets by modern gastroenterologists are prescribed during the period of exacerbation of the disease. Then, under the supervision of a doctor, a person gradually introduces into his menu "forbidden dishes". But often people fall into extremes. People with chronic ulcers come to me and complain: "I have not eaten a doctor for two years!" It turns out that all this time he is fed with grinded soups and steam cutlets, because once he was told by a doctor. So do not need to. The disease should be treated, and then eat everything and enjoy life. And yet we give recommendations on the method of preparation. So, fried is bad. Overcooked fat penetrates the inside of the product and thoroughly impregnates it. This can lead to diseases of the gallbladder, cardiovascular system.
Useful and tasty - meat, baked on a grate?
The person who is on a diet should be morally supported by his relatives. It is worth less that he can not - or at least not enjoy these dishes with him. Imagine: one can not have an acute pepper, and all the households eat this. There are intrapersonal conflicts. It's not easy to feel like a black sheep. A person can develop an inferiority complex. With this psychological state, any, even ideally cooked food is not digested. But understanding and emotional interaction in the family, support for it during the period of forced refusal of different delicacies are welcomed. Today it is very popular to spend most of the free time in the gym and fitness club, swing the press. How does excessive love for sports affect the health of the digestive system? Raising the bar, too intense pumping of the press can respond with a reflex disease, a hernia of the esophagus. Too active movements can not be performed with cholelithiasis. For the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, swimming is ideal. A trained athlete can be practiced for one and a half hours a day. The remaining people to maintain muscle tone enough to do twice a week for an hour. A universal way of training is walking at a quick pace, at least 30 minutes a day. Perfectly "hardens" all organs and strengthens the abdominal press.
What professions are not friends with the gastrointestinal tract, and which, on the contrary, are its allies?
Work related to stress is harmful, - managerial positions, profession of medical workers. Teachers have a great responsibility for people and are in constant emotional tension. People who perform uncomplicated monotonous physical work, simple performers are less susceptible to digestive diseases: the assignment was received, the assignment was made ...
What to do, so that the stomach is never sick?
Love yourself. Then you will not be able to feed yourself and do things that can cause harm. You want to give yourself pleasure - and food, and work, and rest. The main thing is that this pleasure does not overwhelm the edge. Let it be combined with profit. The motto of our time: "Life should be profit." Not only material. First of all for health. It happens when you are sober and reasonable about food, water - what you send into yourself.