Stomach Disorders

Also called: Gastric disorders

Your stomach is an organ between your esophagus and small intestine. It is where digestion of protein begins. The stomach has three tasks. It stores swallowed food. It mixes the food with stomach acids. Then it sends the mixture on to the small intestine.

Most people have a problem with their stomach at one time or another. Indigestion and heartburn are common problems. You can relieve some stomach problems with over-the-counter medicines and lifestyle changes, such as avoiding fatty foods or eating more slowly. Other problems like peptic ulcers or GERD require medical attention.

You should see a doctor if you have any of the following:

Blood when you have a bowel movement
Severe abdominal pain
Heartburn not relieved by antacids
Unintended weight loss
Ongoing vomiting or diarrhea

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Symptoms of Stomach Disorders

The following features are indicative of Stomach Disorders:

early fullness
unpleasant fullness
upper abdominal discomfort or bloating
upper abdominal burning
nausea
vomiting
belching
burning stomach pain
fatty food intolerance

It is possible that Stomach Disorders shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Stomach Disorders

The following are the most common causes of Stomach Disorders:

overeating
smoking
alcohol
fatty or spicy food
supplements
stress
Helicobacter pylori bacteria
regular use of pain relievers

Other Causes of Stomach Disorders

The following are the less common causes of Stomach Disorders:

anxiety
gallstones
gastritis
pancreatitis
intestinal or stomach ulcers
intestinal ischemia
constipation
celiac disease

Risk Factors for Stomach Disorders

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Stomach Disorders:

smoking
fatty or spicy food consumption
use of iron or other supplements
stress
alcohol consumption

Prevention of Stomach Disorders

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Stomach Disorders. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:

give enough time for meals
chew properly and completely
avoid talking while eating
avoid exercise after meal
relax if indigestion is due to stress
protect yourself from infections
use caution with pain relievers

Occurrence of Stomach Disorders

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Stomach Disorders cases seen each year worldwide:

Very common > 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Stomach Disorders can occur at any age.

Common Gender

Stomach Disorders can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Stomach Disorders

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Stomach Disorders:

Laboratory tests: To check thyroid function and other metabolic disorders
Breath and stool tests: To check for peptic ulcers
Endoscopy: To check digestive system functions
X-ray or CT scan: To check intestinal functions
Physical Exam: To diagnose the peptic ulcer and detect bloating in your abdomen
Blood test: To determine if the results fall within the normal range for different disorders or infections
Urea breath test: To check the levels of carbon dioxide in your stomach or small intestine
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and biopsy: To view inside your upper gastrointestinal tract
Upper gastrointestinal series: To view the shape of your upper gastrointestinal tract

Doctor for Diagnosis of Stomach Disorders

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Stomach Disorders:

Gastroenterologist

Complications of Stomach Disorders if untreated

Yes, Stomach Disorders causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Stomach Disorders is left untreated:

affects quality of life
loss of appetite
internal bleeding
infection
scarring

Procedures for Treatment of Stomach Disorders

The following procedures are used to treat Stomach Disorders:

Psychological therapy: To treat anxiety or depression causing indigestion
Surgery: To treat the bleeding ulcers

Medicines for Stomach Disorders

Below is the list of medicines used for Stomach Disorders:

Domperidone

Brands:
Ofloxacin/Ornidazole

Brands:
Dexamethasone

Brands:
Ranitidine

Brands: Apo-Ranitidine, Histac, Ranimax, Zantac, Zantac, Monoloc (India), Osoran (India), Ulin (India), Boots Heartburn Relief (UK), Gavilast (UK), Ranicalm (UK), Ranitidine (UK), Ranitidine Hydrochloride (USA), Tritec (USA), Zantac 150 (USA), Zantac 25 (USA) and Zantac 300 (USA)
Cimetidine

Brands:
Rabeprazole

Brands: Pariet, Rabecid, Rabeloc 20, Rabezole, Zulbex, Adec (India), Brazo (India), Pylorex (India), Rabag (India), Rolay (India), Pariet (UK), Rabeprazole Sodium (UK), Rabeprazole (UK), Aciphex Sprinkle (USA), Aciphex (USA) and Rabeprazole Sodium (USA)
Lansoprazole

Brands:
Esomeprazole

Brands:
Domperidone/Pantoprazole

Brands:

Self-care for Stomach Disorders

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Stomach Disorders:

Follow healthy eating habits: Eat healthy 5 to 6 meals a day
Avoid caffeine: Reduce consumption of alcohol or caffeine
Avoid certain medications: Avoid indigestion triggering medications
Avoid spicy or fatty food
Choose a healthy diet: Provides relief from the pain of a stomach ulcer
Control stress: Prevents the worsening the signs and symptoms of a peptic ulcer
Don't smoke: Lowers the stomach acid
Avoid alcohol: Prevents the inflammation and bleeding of the mucous lining in your stomach and intestines
Try to get enough sleep: Reduces the stress

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Stomach Disorders

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Stomach Disorders:

Herbal therapy: To ease indigestion
Psychological treatment: To treat stress or anxiety induced indigestion
Acupuncture therapy: To block the nerve pathways carrying pain sensation to brain
Meditation: To ease stress induced indigestion
Intake of turmeric, deglycyrrhizinated licorice, neem bark extract: To treat stomach disorders

Patient Support for Treatment of Stomach Disorders

The following actions may help Stomach Disorders patients:

Join eradication programs: Helps in eradicating the Helicobacter pylori infection

Time for Treatment of Stomach Disorders

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Stomach Disorders to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:

In 1 - 4 weeks

Is Stomach Disorders Infectious?

Yes, Stomach Disorders is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:

human saliva
sharing food utensils

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.

This page provides information for Stomach Disorders.