Gastrointestinal Diseases

“That made my stomach turns!” This is a statement that we have all heard on numerous occasions and perhaps uttered ourselves several times. Diarrhea, constipation – these and other troubles of the gastrointestinal tract are becoming more common these days.

Upset stomach troubles

Upset stomach troubles, such as heartburn or vomiting, are often caused by stress and the hustle and bustle of daily life. A healthy lifestyle would be advantageous in such circumstances. Herbal drugs are also helpful in many cases. Even an acute gastritis can be treated very easily. In most cases, an uncontrolled diet is at the root of the problem – too fat, too sweet. In other cases, the bacterium helicobacter pylori is to blame, meaning antibiotics have to be used. The associated discomfort is similar in all cases at any rate: sudden strong abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting, a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, general weakness, lack of appetite, headaches, a coated tongue, and bad breath.

Chronic gastritis

In contrast, patients with chronic gastritis do not suffer any discomfort in most cases. If they do, these troubles usually start after a meal: abdominal pain, a feeling of pressure, a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, nausea and belching. The causes are difficult to find, but in 90% of all cases of gastritis, the bacterium helicobacter is to blame.

Gastric ulcer

Gastric ulcers are also quite common. An ulcer in the digestive system is a disease of the mucous membrane that invades deeper layers of the membrane. If it only stays on the surface of the mucosa, it is called erosion. It is often not possible to differentiate a gastric ulcer from a duodenal ulcer purely by the symptoms. They can be: pains in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, the sense of fullness in the abdomen, weight loss and bleeding. Similarly here, the most common cause is an infection with the bacterium helicobacter pylori.

Cancer of the stomach – colon cancer

Cancer of the stomach does not cause any discomfort in the early stages, and that is why it is often only detected by coincidence. An abnormal revulsion towards eating meat can be a hint though. Colon cancer is also often only detected at a very late stage. Diarrhoea or constipation can, however, be an indication. Colon troubles can have many causes – irritable colon, polyps in the colon, infections, intestinal obstruction, helminthiasis (infestation with parasitic worms), and colon cancer. At the Diagnoseklinik München we will trace the cause.