Causes, symptoms and treatment of intestinal pain

Causes

Intestinal pathologies are caused by factors of different nature.

Intestinal diseases often arise from a complex of reasons, including:

• genetic predisposition,
• maintaining a lifestyle with little physical activity,
• exposure to stress
• bacterial and viral intestinal infections,
• immunological disorders,
• smoking and other bad habits,
• as a result of taking certain medications, this effect can primarily be caused by long-term use of antibiotics;
• incorrectly composed diet.

Chlamydia or syphilis

The causative agents of these diseases often enter the body during anal sex. Bacteria penetrate the intestines, irritate it, and cause inflammation. The colon becomes swollen and painful during bowel movements. Discomfort, burning sensation when urinating, discharge from the genitals, and discomfort during sex appear.

Infectious diseases cannot be ignored. Chlamydia does not go away on its own, syphilis is deadly. Antibiotics are prescribed for treatment. Avoid sex during therapy. To avoid getting sick, use condoms during sexual intercourse, including oral and anal. Get tested regularly for chlamydia, syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases if you are sexually active and change partners frequently.

• Yarrow - beneficial properties and contraindications for treatment. Uses of yarrow
• How to get rid of a black eye
• Salad with green peas: recipes with photos

List

The intestine is an organ that has a length of several meters and two main compartments:

• small intestine,
• colon.

The last department, in turn, consists of many departments. Depending on the location of the inflammatory processes, the disease is called:

• sigmoiditis – the problem is in the sigmoid colon,
• ileitis - the same in the ileum,
• colitis - the same in the colon,
• proctitis - the same in the rectum,
• appendicitis - the same in the appendix,
• jeunitis - the same as jejunum,
• typhlitis - the same as the cecum,
• enteritis - the same as the small intestine,
• duodenitis - the same as the small and duodenal intestines.

According to characteristic disorders, intestinal pathologies are divided into the following diseases:

• lesions of the colon: diverticulosis,
• tumors
• dyskinesia,
• ulcerative colitis,
• irritable bowel syndrome,
• dysbacteriosis,
• haemorrhoids,
• obstruction;

Be healthy!

The human intestine consists of two sections - thin and thick. Why was it called that? The diameter of the small intestine at the beginning is 4-6 cm and gradually decreases to 2.5-3 cm. The large intestine has an average diameter of 4-10 cm. The length of the large intestine is much smaller - 1.5 - 2 meters.

SMALL INTESTINE

The small intestine includes:

- Duodenum;

- Jejunum;

- Ileum.

The small intestine begins with the duodenum. The entire small intestine is 5-6 meters long, the duodenum is 27-30 cm.

As stated above, the small intestine consists of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. It is in them that food is mainly digested. Yes exactly. Not in the stomach, as many people think, but in the intestines. The fact is that in the stomach, food is processed by gastric juices and hydrochloric acid, and the entire final process of digesting food is completed in the intestines.

Two “close friends” that help the intestines digest and break down food are the gallbladder and the pancreas.

The gallbladder is a small sac with a bile duct extending from it. The bladder accumulates bile coming from the liver. Bile is a yellow-green liquid with a bitter taste that helps digest fats due to the fact that it contains certain enzymes. It is then released in a certain proportion into the small intestine.

The pancreas produces pancreatic juice, which helps digest proteins, fats and carbohydrates. This juice enters the duodenum through the pancreatic duct.

Breakdown of food

The path along which food moves from the mouth to the anus is called the digestive tract. First, the food in the stomach turns into mushy chyme in 3-6 hours. It takes another hour for it to get into the intestines. The entire journey of food through the intestines can take from 8 to 24 hours. Sometimes indigestion occurs, and then a person experiences discomfort in the stomach after eating. This often happens if you eat quickly.

In the small intestine, pancreatic and gallbladder enzymes are absorbed into food. As food is digested, nutrients pass through the intestinal wall and are carried away in the bloodstream.

INTESTINAL MICROORGANISMS

In the small and large intestines there are E. coli that are beneficial to the body, as well as a small amount of harmful microorganisms that cause protein rotting and carbohydrate fermentation (intestinal microflora).

With normal activity of digestive enzymes, E. coli actively multiplies and inhibits the proliferation of harmful microorganisms. It is also useful because it secretes enzymes that promote digestion and also synthesizes some vitamins.

But when the living conditions of E. coli worsen, which occurs due to poor nutrition or unreasonable use of antibiotics, its reproduction stops. This improves living conditions for putrefactive or fermentative microflora. A disease such as dysbiosis occurs.

With dysbacteriosis, increased formation of intestinal gases occurs, impaired absorption of water in the colon, and a decrease in the efficiency of digestion. The disease disrupts a person’s well-being due to poisoning of the body with waste products of harmful microorganisms.

Suction

Absorption of nutrients occurs in the intestinal villi, which line the intestinal walls. These are tiny tentacle-shaped outgrowths. There are so many villi that the inner surface of the intestines seems velvety. The length of each villus is about 1 millimeter. There are about 40 villi on each square millimeter of the ileal wall. The villi are penetrated by tiny capillaries and lymphatic vessels. Most of the nutrients are absorbed by capillaries, and fats enter the lymphatic vessels.

COLON

The final section of the digestive tract is the large intestine (length about 2 m, diameter 3–8 cm).

The large intestine includes:

- Caecum with appendix;

- Colon;

- Rectum.

Functions

The large intestine performs a number of important functions:

It absorbs water, glucose, mineral salts, some vitamins and amino acids produced by bacteria in the intestinal cavity, and fiber is broken down to a small extent.

The proliferation of huge masses of bacteria in the large intestine additionally warms and fuels the body with energy.

However, the main function of the colon is to separate remaining water from undigested food debris. Water in the colon is absorbed into the blood, and undigested residues enter the rectum and are eliminated from the body.

The junction of the small intestine and the large intestine is the beginning of the cecum. A vermiform appendix emerges from it - the appendix.

APPENDIX

The appendix is ​​a small vermiform appendage of the cecum. We inherited it from our ancestors from the times when they ate only plants. This organ helped digest foods high in cellulose. When a person learned to eat other foods, the appendix began to shrink significantly in size.

Is it worth removing the appendix to avoid a dangerous disease?

No. Appendicitis is an important immunocompetent organ. A huge number of lymphoid cells were found in its tissues. In one study, children had their appendixes removed to prevent appendicitis. As a result, the children's immunity dropped sharply.

Appendicitis is used as a material for plastic surgery of the bladder and the creation of new sphincters.

How to prevent appendicitis?

One of the main causes of appendicitis is blockage of the opening that connects it to the intestinal cavity. If there is enough coarse fiber in the diet, it will cleanse the intestines, preventing blockages and clearing them if they occur. If the appendix becomes inflamed, it will have to be removed surgically.

Inflammation of the appendix - appendicitis. It is manifested by pain in the right half of the abdomen (in the lower corner) and increased body temperature. It is necessary to consult a doctor immediately, since an infection from an inflamed appendix can enter the abdominal cavity and cause life-threatening inflammation - peritonitis. Before the doctor arrives, the patient should not be given a laxative, put a heating pad on his stomach, or use an enema or painkillers. You should refrain from eating until the diagnosis is clarified.

Waste outlet

Digestive waste must be removed from the body in a timely manner. The large intestine provides this function. Lack of bowel movements for 24–32 hours is considered constipation.

The normal evacuation function of the large intestine may be disrupted due to improper food intake. Therefore, without normalizing the diet and diet, it is impossible to establish proper digestion and bowel movement.

After valuable nutrients from food have entered the body, waste remains in the rectum. The waste also includes bacteria, dead cells in the intestinal lining, and bile pigments. Through the rectum, waste products leave the body in every way known to us.

Colon diseases

The role of nutrition. Nutrition plays a direct role in diseases of the large intestine. Scientists have found that the qualitative and quantitative composition of the microflora of the large intestine varies depending on food. Bacteria that multiply on plant materials are beneficial to the body. They produce amino acids and vitamins from fiber and can themselves serve as an excellent protein source. Their presence maintains normal acid-base balance in the cavity of the large intestine, suppresses putrefactive and fermentative processes, and improves immunity.

Bacteria that multiply on animal protein contribute to the development of fermentation and rotting processes, suppress the immune system, and provoke the development of cancer. For example, colon cancer occurs more often in cases where the human diet is dominated by meat, fats, highly refined foods - refined sugar, bread made from premium wheat flour - and at the same time the proportion of plant foods containing fiber and other ballast substances (vegetables) is reduced. fibers).

Such a diet leads to sluggish intestinal motility and constipation, which increases the time of contact with the intestines of feces containing carcinogenic substances (they enter the body from the outside and are formed in it during the metabolic process). This increases the risk of developing colon tumors.

The colon is “a favorite site for malignant tumors,” and poor nutrition increases the damage to the colon. Maintaining normal (evolutionarily fixed) microflora allows you to maintain health and energy for a long time.

OUR GUT LOVES:

1) Fiber. Food must contain substances that stimulate intestinal motility. They contribute to the timely removal of undigested food debris, and also prevent the appendix from becoming clogged and inflamed. This effect is possessed by: bran, rye bread, cabbage, beets, carrots, apples, lettuce, plums, as well as dairy products kefir and yogurt.

2) Balanced nutrition. The human intestine is populated by various beneficial E. coli, which are very sensitive to the quality and variety of food. If the diet is poor and monotonous, then the growth and reproduction of beneficial E. coli can not only slow down, but also stop, which will not have the best effect on the health of the entire body.

3) Water. With insufficient water consumption (less than 2.5-3 liters per day), not only constipation occurs, but the process of absorption of nutrients in the intestines for the body's needs is disrupted.

3) Healthy condition of the gallbladder and pancreas. Without a healthy gallbladder and pancreas, there cannot be normal microflora in the intestines and the healthiest intestines. These organs are so connected to the intestines that without their healthy functioning, proper and healthy functioning of the intestines is not possible.

OUR INTESTINES DO NOT LIKE:

1) Poor, meager, monotonous food.

2) Dehydration.

3) Intestinal infections disrupt the species composition of the intestinal microflora, as a result of which putrefactive microbes begin to predominate.

4) Antibiotics, as they disrupt the intestinal microflora.

5) Diseases of the gallbladder and pancreas.

Diseases of the small intestine and their symptoms

The small intestine is responsible for feeding our body at the cellular level. The main disorder or deterioration that occurs with pathology of the small intestine is a weakening of absorption functions.

Diseases of the small intestine manifest themselves through the following signs:

• rumbling in the intestinal area,
• frequent loose stools without mucus or blood; characteristic components of feces in diseases of the small intestine are the remains of undigested food;
• pain in the navel area or on the right side of the abdomen,
• bloating.

Eosinophilic enteritis

The disease is an inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. Due to inflammatory processes, the ability to absorb nutrients changes for the worse. Functional disorder leads to a state of intolerance to certain foods.

The disease is manifested by the formation of an eosinophilic infiltrate in the intestinal walls. Indicates itself with a variety of symptoms and has a tendency to relapse.

Possible consequences of the disease:

• a higher than normal content of neutral fats (steatorrhea) is detected in the stool,
• insufficient presence of iron in the blood (anemia).

Pathology is provoked by:

• pet parasite,
• helminthic infestations,
• food allergy,
• intestinal obstruction.

Whipple syndrome

The disease is infectious in nature. Damage occurs to the lymphatic system located in the small intestine. The defeat consists of blockage of the system elements by mucopolysaccharide bacterial complexes.

Main manifestations:

• steatorrhea,
• severe diarrhea,
• anemia,
• significant weight loss.

The disease is based on a disorder in the function of lipid metabolism. The pathology is a rare occurrence. Metabolic disorders associated with the absorption of fats lead to severe weight loss.

Small bowel cancer

Tumors of a malignant nature are rare in the small intestine. Among formations in the gastrointestinal tract, cancerous tumors of the small intestine account for one percent.

Malignant tumors are formed from pathologically altered cells of the small intestine. The progression of pathology leads to the spread of tumors to neighboring organs.

The problem is difficult to determine because the symptoms of the disease coincide with the main signs of pathology of the small intestine. More often, tumors in the early stages are discovered during surgery.

The consequence of untreated cancer in the small intestine is organ obstruction. This situation is accompanied by symptoms:

• vomit,
• bloating.

Anal fissures

Small wounds around the anus appear due to too hard or abundant stool. They take a long time to heal, several weeks, during which they bleed, hurt, and may itch and burn. For treatment, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory and analgesic ointments. In rare cases, surgery is needed.

To reduce discomfort:

• Drink more fluids.
• Eat foods with high water content (watermelon, cucumbers).
• Include foods in your diet that will soften your stools.
• Eat 20 to 45 grams of fiber per day.
• Take a sitz bath to improve blood flow and relax muscles.

• Eye concealer - how to choose the best one. How to apply concealer for dark circles under the eyes with photo
• Charlotte with pears - step by step recipe with photos. How to cook pear charlotte in the oven or slow cooker
• Burning sensation in the chest - causes. What diseases can be a symptom of a burning sensation in the chest area?

Diseases of the large intestine and their symptoms

The large intestine has the function of absorbing certain substances, as well as removing the remains of processed food from the body.

Problems of this organ indicate discomfort in the lower abdomen. Symptoms of the problem are similar to common symptoms of bowel disease.

This:

• rumbling in the abdominal area,
• pain is felt in the anus, pain symptoms are often observed in the lateral parts of the organ;
• bloating,
• but when stool disorders occur, namely diarrhea, blood and mucus are observed in the discharge;
• there may be mucus discharge from the anus,
• a person experiences fecal incontinence.

The disease has general symptoms:

• exhaustion,
• lack of strength,
• sexual desire disorder.

Colon dyskinesia

A common disorder that indicates that the intestines are working with motility problems, which leads to various difficulties in moving food.

This may occur due to the following factors:

• psychogenic disorders,
• wrong diet
• endocrine diseases,
• functional disorders in the work of other digestive organs.

Symptoms are mostly characteristic of intestinal disease:

• rumbling,
• stool disorder,
• bloating,
• pain in the intestinal area.

Diverticular pathology

The disease is a process where sinuses appear on the intestines. Diverticula are protrusions on the surface of the large intestine. This is caused by the weakness of the walls and the willingness to form such protrusions.

The disease code according to ICD 10 is designated K57.

The symptoms coincide with the general signs of intestinal disease. It’s just that bowel dysfunction manifests itself in a tendency to constipation. With this disease, it is important to choose the right diet.

The disease can lead to complications:

• the appearance of an inflammatory tumor,
• perforation in places where the wall bulges can provoke peritonitis.

Chronic colitis

The inflammatory process of the intestinal mucosa is called chronic colitis. Pathology leads to various changes in the intestinal wall.

Symptoms:

• rumbling,
• flatulence,
• sharp cramps in the abdomen after eating,
• bowel dysfunction is inconsistent: there may be constipation, and then it is replaced by diarrhea;
• poor health,
• there is a bitterness in the mouth,
• loss of appetite.

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis

The disorder is caused by an immune malfunction. Why it appears, experts have not yet found an answer.

With this pathology, the intestinal walls are affected by an inflammatory process, which also has the characteristic of diffuse and ulcerative.

The disease manifests itself with symptoms:

• The stool is often loose, although there may be constipation,
• bleeding,
• general malaise,
• pain in the intestinal area.

Pathology causes consequences:

• perforation of the intestinal wall,
• bleeding,
• colon cancer,
• polyps.

Colon cancer

The tumor arises on the surface of the mucosa and spreads along the lining wall. The disease has a share of five percent in the total number of cancer diseases.

Pathology is often a consequence of neglected and untreated intestinal diseases. The onset of the disease is typical in old age and occurs more often in men.

Common signs of intestinal disease include:

• constipation,
• there is blood in the stool,
• emaciation,
• general malaise.

The tumor is treated by surgical removal, otherwise the prognosis is poor.

What disease can you develop if you have parasites?

The most common infectious disease is helminthiasis, or as worms are popularly called. It is very common among the entire modern population.

More than half of those sick are children, because their immune systems have not adapted and have not learned to fight them.

The presence of worms in the body indicates that you have become infected with a parasitic disease. Worms are located throughout the intestines.

Almost all people suffered from this disease in childhood, as everyone licks dirty hands, kisses cats, and even just being with their peers. Many people think that this will not bring anything terrible to the body, but this is a mistake.

If treatment is not prescribed in time, it can be costly. Helminthiasis leads to serious illnesses, especially for children, since their small bodies may not receive enough necessary microelements, vitamins and nutrients. This leads to disruption of vital organs.

What can happen:

1. poisoning with substances produced by parasites;
2. disruption and even destruction of normal intestinal flora;
3. decreased immune system;
4. severe fatigue and general weakness;
5. dysfunction of vital organs;
6. general gastrointestinal disorder.

There are many reasons why worms enter the human body. But the main one is eating foods that are not properly processed. Dirty vegetables and fruits, expired fermented milk, uncooked smoked products. These products contain eggs and the parasites themselves.

Each person can prevent the presence of worms in the large intestine, if, of course, he takes care of himself and his health.

What foods should you be wary of and should not eat:

1. meat is a favorite location for parasites;
2. seafood, especially raw smoked and salted;
3. dirty vegetables, fruits and greens and much more.

By what signs can you tell if you have helminthiasis?

At first, there is simply a deterioration in the patient’s general condition, much like with viral and cold diseases. Afterwards, indigestion is already observed, food is poorly absorbed by the body, sudden weight loss is observed, the immune system weakens, this can lead to additional diseases, which aggravates the situation.

The treatment is selected by a specialist; first, he looks at the tests and identifies which parasite you are infected with. And prescribes special medications. It is better not to treat yourself, as this may worsen the situation.

For prevention, you can eat pumpkin seeds, walnuts and pine nuts. These products contain substances that can fight parasites.

Are common

A group of intestinal diseases is called general pathologies because they are characterized by a specific disease of the walls or part of the intestine.

Crohn's syndrome

Inflammation spreads to all layers of the intestine. In addition, the affected intestine is only part of the diseased organs. In the chronic course of the disease, the pathological process covers both the esophagus and the stomach.

In the intestine there are places with a narrowed lumen. The mucous surface and the intestinal lymphatic system are affected.

Leads to consequences:

• elevated temperature,
• fistula formation,
• skin rashes,
• deterioration of liver function,
• decreased vision,
• joint damage.

Ischemic pathology

The pathology is associated with vascular disease in the intestinal walls. As a result, their narrowing may occur, organ tissues do not receive additional nutrition, and oxygen starvation may occur.

Symptoms:

• pain in the abdomen,
• blood spots in the stool,
• general malaise,
• nausea,
• accelerated peristalsis.

The consequences of pathology may appear:

• thrombus in a vessel of the intestinal wall,
• insufficient nutrition or its complete absence in certain areas contributes to tissue death,
• intestinal dysfunction.

Adhesive process

Adhesions occur as a result of:

• long-term inflammatory process in the intestinal walls,
• complications after surgery,
• ischemia of organ tissue.

Symptoms of pathology that will complement the general symptoms characteristic of intestinal disease:

• deterioration of stool movement and intestinal release,
• signs of intestinal dysfunction due to necrosis of its individual sections.

Intestinal sphincter problems

The sphincter is responsible for regulating the process of excretion of feces. There are a wide variety of reasons that can initiate a disruption in its work.

Signs of the disease:

• severe pain during defecation,
• the presence of blood in the stool,
• false urges,
• pain can radiate to neighboring organs. Timely treatment has a good prognosis.

Constipation

If food moves slowly through the digestive tract, the intestines suck and absorb too much water. This causes the stool to become hard and dry. It is difficult for the body to push it out; cutting pains in the intestines, bloating, and a feeling of incomplete emptying may appear. The diagnosis of “constipation” is made if bowel movements occur less than 3 times a week, but in reality, discomfort appears earlier.

To cope with constipation, follow these rules:

• Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and sugary carbonated drinks - they dehydrate the body.
• Include fiber and probiotics in your diet.
• Reduce your intake of meat, milk, rice and other foods that may cause constipation.
• Do physical exercise, walk.
• Change the medicine if it has this side effect.
• Take laxatives in severe cases only on the recommendation of a doctor.

In children

In childhood, there are deviations in intestinal health that are characteristic of this period.

Syndromes:

• exudative enteropathy,
• insufficient digestion,
• insufficient absorption.

Diseases are defects that appear as a result of insufficient or abnormal development of an organ, including during the prenatal period:

• intestinal duplication
• anorectal anomalies, intestinal stenosis;
• intestinal rotation is a developmental anomaly;
• congenital megacolon.

Functional diseases include:

• spastic colitis,
• irritable bowel syndrome.

How to diagnose?

It is important to obtain a complete understanding of the disease, its location, and the nature of the lesion.

To do this, research is carried out:

• Capsule endoscopy makes it possible, among other things, to detect Crohn's disease;
• Colonoscopy allows you to look at all parts of the intestine;
• magnetic resonance imaging - detailed and high-quality diagnosis of the organ;
• upper endoscopy allows you to examine the small intestine;
• X-rays can determine pathological parameters.

Specialists also prescribe tests for diagnosis:

• blood,
• feces

Megacolon and dolichosigma

Both of these diseases are the result of an actual change in the tissues of the intestines, which is manifested by its expansion or lengthening. Megacolon looks like an enlarged section of the intestine, causing the patient severe pain, long-term constipation (up to weeks or months) and accumulation of gas. X-rays can help determine this problem, as is the case with dolichosigma. It, in turn, is an elongated sigmoid colon, causing the same negative symptoms as megacolon. In both cases, it is possible to solve the problem with the help of medications and a proper diet, but if necessary, doctors can also resort to surgery.

Foamy stools or diarrhea in infants

Treatment methods

Help in detecting the disease can be medicinal. Experts prescribe the following medications:

• immunostimulants,
• anti-inflammatory,
• agent drugs capable of modifying the disease,
• antibacterial.

In some cases, for example, intestinal cancer, surgery cannot be avoided. Radiation therapy or chemotherapy may also be prescribed.

A specialist can recommend spa treatment.

Oncological diseases of the intestine

Intestinal tumors can be either benign or malignant, but the second type is, unfortunately, much more common. Moreover, colon cancer is the most common cancer today, and it usually affects people over 40 years of age. According to doctors, in addition to genetic inheritance, long-term diet with refined and fatty foods, chronic ulcerative colitis and multiple polyps in the intestines lead to colon cancer. In addition, according to recent studies, long-term sedentary behavior also significantly increases the risk of this disease.

It is rare that early-stage bowel cancer can be quickly diagnosed because its symptoms resemble many other bowel diseases: abdominal pain, bloody stools, constipation or diarrhea, sometimes fever and weight loss. This leads to a simple conclusion that when the described signs appear, a person needs to quickly consult a doctor, accurately describing how his intestines hurt and what other symptoms he has.