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Digestive Gases
Digestive Disorders
and Diseases
Digestive gases - Flatulence and burps!
- Swallowed air whilst eating leads to burps
- Bacterial breakdown of food in the intestine produces gas as a byproduct
Diarrhoea
- The bodies way of removing unwanted bacteria in the digestive tract
- Matter is moved through the gut very quickly towards the anus
- The Body is at a greater risk of dehydration and faeces have a high
water content
Vomiting
- Reverse peristalsis
- Caused by stress, pain or infections
- Forces food back up from the stomach and out through the mouth
- Vomit is a mix of bile, stomach acid, enzymes and partly digested
food
Liver disease
- Can be damaged by excessive alcohol or by diseases such as
hepatitis
- Cirrhosis is caused by too much alcohol and involves a build up of
fat amongst liver cells which causes scar tissue to form
- The liver cannot function properly
Stomach Ulcers
- Mucus lining of the stomach is damaged and a sore or ulcer may
result
- Previously thought to be caused by stress
- Now known to be caused by the bacterium Helicobacter
Scurvy
Lack of vitamin C
Vitamins were not discovered until 1912
Osteoporosis
Lack of calcium
Anemia
Lack of iron causing tiredness
Appendicitis
-The appendix becomes inflamed due to a blockage or ulcer
-Causes severe pain and vomiting
-Appendix is removed in an operation called an appendectomy
Heartburn
-Sometimes eating certain foods or eating too quickly can result
in excess acid being produced in the stomach
-This acid may rise into the oesophagus and cause a burning
sensation
-Antacid tablets partly neutralise the stomach acid and relieve
the symptoms