10.3: Digestive system disorders 1. Peptic Ulcers: * A peptic ulcer is a sore (hole) in the lining of the stomach or duodenum because the protective mucus that covers the lining has weakened. The tissues become inflamed due to the contact with hydrochloric acid in the stomach * Peptic ulcers cause nausea, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain. * Peptic ulcers begin when bacteria called “Helicobacter pylori” attach to the wall of the stomach and prevent the area from producing the protective mucus. * Ulcers can be treated with antibiotics that kill bacteria. 2. Ulcerative colitis (IBD): * An inflammatory disease that attacks the colon. * Its symptoms are bloody stools, cramps and abdominal pain. * Surgeons remove the affected part of the colon and create a new external opening for digestive wastes. 3. Constipation: * Constipation is when the stools are dry, small, and difficult to eliminate. * It is caused by inadequate waste intake, and by an unhealthy diet taking of fibres (cellulose). * Foods rich in fibres (cellulose) like whole grain bread, brown rice, beans, peas and lentils, help prevent constipation. 4. Hepatitis: * Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver. * Hepatitis is 3 types: a) Hepatitis (A): * Comes from drinking contaminated water. * There is a vaccine for it. b) Hepatitis (B): * Comes from sexual contact. * There is a vaccine for it. c) Hepatitis (C): * Comes from contact with infected blood. * There is no vaccine for it. 5. Cirrhosis: * Cirrhosis occurs when scar (dead) tissues replace healthy liver tissues and prevent the liver from functioning properly. * It is caused by excessive alcoholic intake or hepatitis * Cirrhosis may cause liver failure. * Liver transplant is the primary treatment for liver failure. 6. Gallstones: * Gallstones are crystals of cholesterol formed in the gall bladder. * Gallstones are formed due to obesity, alcohol, intake or it may be hereditary. * Gallstones are treated with medications, or ultrasound shock waves to disintegrate the stones, or gall bladder may need to be surgically removed.
Endoscope (non-invasive surgery): * A tube running from the mouth to the anus, it is used to diagnose, remove ulcers, tumours of the digestive tract without cutting into the body of the patient. * Endoscope contains a camera to photograph the elementary canal, a laser to cut through tissues and seal blood vessels, a forceps to extract samples of tissues for lab examination. * Non-invasive surgery is painless, allows patients to recover faster, it can be carried out with local anesthetics, it reduces the risk of an infection. 7. Diabetes: * Diabetes is when the body cells are unable to take the glucose from the blood to provide energy. * Insulin secreted from pancreas allows glucose to enter the body’s cells * Diabetes happens when there is not enough insulin in the blood or when the body cannot use the insulin that the pancreas makes. * There are 3 types of diabetes: a) Diabetes type 1: * Occurs when the pancreas is destroyed by the immune system therefore no longer able to produce insulin * It is diagnosed in children, teens and young adults. * It is treated by taking insulin. b) Diabetes type 2: * Occurs when either the body does not make enough insulin or it is unable to use the insulin it makes by the pancreas. * It is diagnosed in people over the age of 40. * It is treated by taking insulin. c) Gestational diabetes: * Developed during pregnancy. * Women who have had gestational diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life * The human insulin is produced in labs of the pharmaceutical companies, from the DNA of bacteria (plasmids) * Insulin is injected to the bloodstream of patients by syringes. * A diabetic person may suffer from being thirsty, excessive urination, drowsiness, and sometimes in the severe cases may lead to a diabetic coma.
Practice: Text book page 427 #1,2,3,10,14
Good luck