General Overview of Digestive diseases.
A word of caution
There are a number of extremely educative web-sites listed at the end of this page, though we may not agree with
many of the assertions or conclusions, they will be helpful to you to make educated decisions. Also many of the
factors we have listed below are conclusions of many individual researches carried out in many parts of the world. So
we do not have ownership to these conclusions and you can easily find more detailed reports by using Internet
searches using the key words. All the materials on this site are for your reference only.
Factors affecting Digestive system health
Like any other system of the human body digestive systems reacts to various use/abuse or over-use and tries to
protect the body. These actions can some time result in discomfort or other forms of expression. The major factors
affecting the digestive system health are listed below.
1) Presence of Pathogens in digestive system track
Research shows that most ulcers develop as a result of infection with bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. While there
are many factors like lifestyle, stomach acid and pepsin, and H. pylori, play a role in ulcer development, H. pylori is
now considered as one of the primary cause.
2) Food
a) Type of food - Certain types of food stimulate excessive stomach acid production, thus increasing the chances of
acid reflux or gastric polyps.
b) Proper balance - The fiber content, fat content or/and the amount of Carbohydrate tend to regulate simulation of
stomach acids, ease of clearance of leftovers or/and generation of gases. Thus a well balanced diet of appropriate
quantity goes a long way in promoting digestive system health.
3) Inheritance
a) Hormonal imbalance - Some of the hormonal imbalances are suspect to be inherited, over generations.
b) Transmission - Some digestive disease causing pathogens are transmitted through water. So having a family
member with these problems tend to increase the chances of the transmission. But for reasons not understood very
well, Children become more passive carriers and the diseases tend to exhibit after they turn 30 or later. In
developing countries or regions with less hygiene fecal to oral transmission through water also appear to be
common. Once fecal matter with H. pylori gets in to water supply system even chlorine treatment does not kill the
bacterium (Due to alkaline enzyme of the bacteria)
4) Stress
In some people, stress causes loss of appetite while increasing the secretion of stomach acids. Thus the resulting
“excess leftover” acid may result in reflux or creation of polyps. In most of the people stress is the last straw that
breaks the camel`s back. Usually onset of polyps makes upset of stomach along with severe pain, thus triggering a
vicious cycle.
We have come across a case of young Japanese secretary, who worked many hours overtime to prepare for her
boss`s USA trip. It was her first trip to US and her chance to impress her bosses. She worked very hard on each
presentation, on spellings, grammar etc...She worked so hard late in to the night missing even her dinners on
Yunkeru(a high concentration Japanese vitamin drink) power. Unfortunately by the day she landed at US, she was so
stressed that her stomach polyps started to hurt her so badly that she had to be admitted almost immediately to a
hospital. Even at hospital unknown language and the first time visit cultural shock made her week-long stay
miserable. By the time she returned to Japan, she needed a three month long stay at hospital and recuperation at her
native village.
Stress is like that. Unless you take it in stride and realize that sky would not come down or at least that even if it came
down the clouds are not going to hurt you, it grinds you to hell.
5) Life style
a) Smoking – It has been observed that Smokers are more likely to develop Stomach ulcers than non-smokers. The
nicotine rich saliva swallowed is suspected to be triggering excessive acid production. Also it may be noted that
Smokers under stress tend to smoke more often than in a relaxed state.
b) Unhealthy daily routine – Going to bed immediately after a late dinner or gobbling down the food ( a 5 minute lunch
) in a few minutes both tend to stress the digestive system resulting in hormonal imbalances or excessive acid
production (see the page on how stomach works).
c) Obesity – The people with obesity appears to be more prone to digestive problems than the rest. One explanation
given is the pressure inserted by abdominal fat compressing the stomach, forcing acid in to esophagus. Also in some
cases excessive food consumption tends to stress the stomach.
What to do?
1) Try to maintain a reasonable balance in quality and quantity of food.
2) Get your digestive diseases diagnosed properly.
3) Follow your physician’s instructions carefully.
4) Use Dietary supplements, when necessary to enhance the digestive health. Most of the modern medicines have
been derived from nature but converted in to a more condensed form. Even dietary supplements should be taken
only when it is necessary in doses recommended by the manufacturer, and not as a tonic unless specified by the
manufacturer.
5) Maintain a reasonable life style ( including avoiding excessive use of Alcohol or Tobacco and other abusive
substances) and learn to cope with stress.
Useful links
peoples pharmacy guide to Digestive disorders.pdf (you need Acrobat reader to read this)
For Support and more guidance go to healing well.
Sach Health Supplies LLC.
