Chapter 50, Problem 1O

Summary Introduction

To discuss:

The physiologic influence of various pathologies, such as peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, spastic colon, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, and hyperacidity states, on the health of patients and their gastrointestinal tracts.

Concept introduction:

Excessive production of hydrochloric acid in parietal cells of the stomach that leads to hyperacidity. If this condition is untreated, it could cause esophageal damage, ulcer disease, acid reflux, and esophageal cancer.

Explanation of Solution

Peptic ulcer disease: It is a chronic duodenal ulcer that is characterized by loss of tissue in the lining of the esophagus, duodenum, and stomach. The stomach secretes mucus, bicarbonate, and prostaglandins to protect the membranes of the stomach. Peptic ulcer results from smoking, medications, and acidic drinks, H.pylori infection, stress, and other factors. Symptoms include pain after taking 1 to 2 hours of meals, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and bleaching. Malignancy risk may occur in severe conditions. Complications of peptic ulcer are a perforation, hemorrhage, narrowing, and obstruction of pyloric part of the stomach.

Gastritis: It is referred to as irritation, inflammation, or erosion of the lining of the stomach by excessive secretion of stomach acid. It may be an acute or chronic disease. Gastritis is caused by the use of excessive alcohol, stress, chronic vomiting, and use of medications such as aspirin, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Helicobacter. Pylori infection also leads to gastritis. Untreated gastritis may cause stomach cancer. Symptoms of gastritis include abdominal bloating, nausea, abdominal pain, indigestion, vomiting, and loss of appetite, tarry, and black stools.

Spastic colon: It is also termed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is characterized by abdominal pain, abdominal cramping, constipation, bloating, and diarrhea due to increased secretion of acid. Spastic colon increases the contractions of muscles in the large and small intestines. Other symptoms that include fatigue, headache, depression, anxiety, and backache also occur in the spastic colon.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease: It is a condition of pathologic of stomach acidity. It leads to symptoms such as heartburn, acid regurgitation, nausea, chest pain, laryngitis, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. Pulmonary disease is also a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Hyperacidic states: It is a most common clinical condition that is characterized by excessive secretion of stomach acids. This is caused by stressed lifestyle, various medications, and spicy foods. The symptoms of this disease include vomiting, stomach pain, heartburn and flatulence, and loss of appetite. This problem leads to another disease such as gastric ulcers and chronic indigestion.

Conclusion

Thus, the physiologic influence of various pathologies such as peptic ulcer disease, spastic colon, gastritis, and hyperacidity states, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, on the health of patients and their gastrointestinal tracts are discussed.