Digestive disorders

Have you ever suffered from bloating or discomfort following a meal? Or, have you felt that you really need to go to the loo, but you just can't go? You could be suffering from just one of a range of problems that can affect our digestive system.

Our digestive system can be a temperamental thing, but as one of the most important organs in our bodies, we need to understand what can happen when things go wrong, and what we can do to rectify the problem.

Our digestive system is made up of our mouth, stomach, seven metres of small intestine, one and a half metres of large intestine and our bottom (rectum and anus). Our digestive system transforms the nutrients we eat into substances that can be used by our bodies for energy, growth and repair - the rest is excreted as waste.

Disruption to any part of our digestive system can result in physical discomfort and sometimes pain, although there are many over-the-counter remedies available to help treat the symptoms. Here, the Consumer Health Information Centre (CHIC) advises on some of the most common problems with our digestive system, along with suggestions of how to treat the problem and prevent it from occurring again.

Indigestion
Many of us are familiar with that feeling of bloating, discomfort or even pain after we've overdone it with food or drink. This is generally known as indigestion. Indigestion (or dyspepsia) is any symptom or collection of symptoms caused by disruption of the body's digestive system. Almost everyone will experience the symptoms of indigestion at some time or another. Some people will suffer symptoms every day and others only occasionally.

Types of indigestion discomfort and OTC remedies to treat them

In addition to taking a medicine, there are various lifestyle changes that people can make to help avoid indigestion:

• Avoid spicy, fatty and/or large meals, especially just before bedtime
• Try to cut down on tea, coffee, fizzy drinks and alcohol
• Stop smoking
• Allow time to eat a calm, relaxed meal
• Put an extra pillow under the head at night as it is harder for the acid to flow uphill

Constipation
Constipation is hard to define as bowel habits differ between individuals, but a person is said to be constipated if they pass hard stools less frequently than whatever is 'normal' for them. Symptoms of constipation also vary between sufferers: some people may just experience difficulty in passing a motion, while others may find they suffer abdominal discomfort. The common causes of constipation are:

• Low-fibre diet - the bowel needs roughage to help bind stools together
• Changes in routine - regularity is key to maintaining a healthy
• Not drinking enough fluid - the bowel needs water to keep stools moist
• Lack of exercise - exercise indirectly helps to keep things moving
• Stress
• Ignoring the urge to empty our bowels - causes a build up of hard stool in the bowel
• Hormones - ie. during menstruation, pregnancy and menopause
• Ageing - as our bodies age, some of our bodily systems slow down
• Medications - eg. the painkiller codeine

If you find you are temporarily suffering from constipation, there are remedies you can buy over-the-counter from your pharmacist or supermarket. These remedies fall into different categories depending on their mode of action:

Always ask your pharmacist for advice on which remedy would be best for you.

Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is generally defined as frequent, loose or liquid stools. There may be a gripey abdominal pain (colic), which is less after a stool is passed. Some people pass frequent, small solid stools with a sense of urgency: this is not true diarrhoea. True diarrhoea can either be acute (comes on suddenly and lasts a short time) or chronic (continues over a long period of time). The common causes of diarrhoea are:

• Bacterial infection such as food poisoning - this causes matter to move through the bowel too quickly
• Stress - stress hormones can cause bowel muscles to work harder than normal
• Large quantities of alcohol - lots of alcohol in any one sitting may cause diarrhoea as alcohol can irritate the bowel
• Rich and spicy foods - again, these can irritate the bowel.
• Digestive disorders such as IBS

There are over-the-counter remedies available that can help reduce the symptoms of diarrhoea. Antidiarrhoeal agents may be used to help prevent the gut from contracting irregularly and replace lost electrolytes (important ions lost from water in the body). There are also some easy things you can do to help relieve the symptoms:

• Drink more fluids (3-4 litres a day), preferably containing sugar and salts
• Eat something containing salt, such as crisps or soup
• Eat normally as soon as your appetite returns but if you have suffered an acute attack of diarrhoea, avoid foods containing milk for a couple of days.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive disorder and although the cause/causes of IBS are not fully understood yet, research has shown that the bowel of IBS sufferers is more sensitive than usual and this sensitivity sets off a reaction, which causes the symptoms. These symptoms can be troublesome and persistent and vary greatly from person to person, but usually include:

• Abdominal pain - often on the left hand side as this is where the end of the bowel is located
• Alternate bouts of diarrhoea and constipation.
• Bloating
• Feeling nauseous
• Loss/lack of appetite.

The best treatment for IBS is to understand the triggers and avoid them. By eating a well-balanced diet - with small meals at regular intervals - and avoiding rich, fatty or spicy foods, the occurrence of 'attacks' should reduce. Common foods such as dairy products, bread and cereals, can also trigger symptoms, so sufferers should monitor their reactions to these foods.

Natural fibre supplements can be prescribed or obtained from the pharmacy to help regulate bowel movements: ask a pharmacist for advice on these. Antispasmodic drugs (e.g. hyoscine butylbromide) also help some patients, by reducing the frequency and severity of stomach cramping.

If you think you may be suffering from IBS, consult your pharmacist or doctor for advice.

Related links

Read our leaflet on indigestion.