Facts and Fallacies About Digestive Diseases: NIDDK
Article title: Facts and Fallacies About Digestive Diseases: NIDDK
Conditions: Digestive Diseases, stomach ulcer, heartburn, celiac, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, Diverticulosis, Inflammatory bowel disease, cirrhosis, Ostomy
Source: NIDDK
Introduction
Researchers have only recently begun to
understand the many, often complex, diseases that affect the digestive
system. Accordingly, people are gradually replacing folklore, old wives'
tales, and rumors about the causes and treatments of digestive diseases
with accurate, up-to-date information. But misunderstandings still exist,
and, while some folklore is harmless, some can be dangerous if it keeps a
person from correctly preventing or treating an illness. Listed below are
some common misconceptions (fallacies), about digestive diseases, followed
by the facts as professionals understand them today.
Ulcers
Spicy food and stress cause stomach ulcers.
False.
The truth is, almost all stomach
ulcers are caused either by infection with a bacterium called
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) or by use of pain medications such
as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, the so-called nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Most
H. pylori-related ulcers can
be cured with antibiotics. NSAID-induced ulcers can be cured with time,
stomach-protective medications, antacids, and avoidance of NSAIDs. Spicy
food and stress may aggravate ulcer symptoms in some people, but they do
not cause ulcers.
Heartburn
Smoking a cigarette helps relieve heartburn.
False.
Actually, cigarette smoking
contributes to heartburn. Heartburn occurs when the lower esophageal
sphincter (LES)—a muscle between the esophagus and stomach—relaxes,
allowing the acidic contents of the stomach to splash back into the
esophagus. Cigarette smoking causes the LES to relax.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a rare childhood disease.
False.
Celiac disease affects children
and adults. At least 1 in 1,000 people and, in some populations, 1 in 200
people have celiac disease. Most often, celiac disease first causes
symptoms during childhood, usually diarrhea, growth failure, and failure
to thrive. But the disease can also first cause symptoms in adults. These
symptoms may be vague and therefore attributed to other conditions.
Symptoms can include bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, skin rash,
anemia, and thinning of the bones (osteoporosis). Celiac disease may cause
such nonspecific symptoms for several years before being correctly
diagnosed and treated.
People with celiac disease should not eat any foods containing gluten,
a protein in wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats, regardless of whether
or not they have symptoms. In these people, gluten destroys part of the
lining of the small intestine, which interferes with the absorption of
nutrients. The damage can occur from even a small amount of gluten, and
not everyone has symptoms of damage.
Bowel Regularity
Bowel regularity means a bowel movement every day.
False.
The frequency of bowel movements
among normal, healthy people varies from three a day to three a week, and
perfectly healthy people may fall outside both ends of this range.
Constipation
Habitual use of enemas to treat constipation is harmless.
False.
The truth is, habitual use of
enemas is not harmless. Over time, enemas can impair the natural muscle
action of the intestines, leaving them unable to function normally. An
ongoing need for enemas is not normal; you should see a doctor if you find
yourself relying on them or any other medication to have a bowel movement.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a disease.
False.
Irritable bowel syndrome is not
a disease. It is a functional disorder, which means that there is a
problem in how the muscles in the intestines work. Irritable bowel
syndrome is characterized by gas, abdominal pain, and diarrhea or
constipation, or both. Although the syndrome can cause considerable pain
and discomfort, it does not damage the digestive tract as diseases do.
Also, irritable bowel syndrome does not lead to more serious digestive
diseases later.
Diverticulosis
Diverticulosis is an uncommon and serious problem.
False.
Actually, the majority of
Americans over age 60 have diverticulosis, but only a small percentage
have symptoms or complications. Diverticulosis is a condition in which
little sacs—or out-pouchings—called diverticula, develop in the wall of
the colon. These tend to appear and increase in number with age. Most
people do not have symptoms and would not know that they had diverticula
unless x-ray or intestinal examination were done. Less than 10 percent of
people with diverticulosis ever develop complications such as infection
(diverticulitis), bleeding, or perforation of the colon.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease is caused by psychological problems.
False.
Inflammatory bowel disease is
the general name for two diseases that cause inflammation in the
intestines, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The cause of the
disease is unknown, but researchers speculate that it may be a virus or
bacteria interacting with the body's immune system. There is no evidence
to support the theory that inflammatory bowel disease is caused by
tension, anxiety, or other psychological factors or disorders.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is only caused by alcoholism.
False.
Alcoholism is just one of many
causes of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is scarring and decreased function of the
liver. In the United States, alcohol causes less than one-half of
cirrhosis cases. The remaining cases are from other diseases that cause
liver damage. For example, in children, cirrhosis may result from cystic
fibrosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, biliary atresia, glycogen
storage disease, and other rare diseases. In adults, cirrhosis may be
caused by hepatitis B or C, primary biliary cirrhosis, diseases of
abnormal storage of metals like iron or copper in the body, severe
reactions to prescription drugs, or injury to the ducts that drain bile
from the liver.
Ostomy Surgery
After ostomy surgery, men become impotent and women have impaired
sexual function and are unable to become pregnant.
False.
Ostomy surgery does not, in
general, interfere with a person's sexual or reproductive capabilities.
Ostomy surgery is a procedure in which the diseased part of the small or
large intestine is removed and the remaining intestine is attached to an
opening in the abdomen. Although some men who have had radical ostomy
surgery for cancer lose the ability to achieve and sustain an erection,
most men do not experience impotence, or, if they do, it is temporary. If
impotence does occur, a variety of solutions are available. A urologist, a
doctor who specializes in such problems, can help find the best solution.
In women, ostomy surgery does not damage sexual or reproductive organs, so
it does not directly cause sexual problems or sterility. Factors such as
pain and the adjustment to a new body image may create some temporary
sexual problems, but they can usually be resolved with time and, in some
cases, counseling. Unless a woman has had a hysterectomy to remove her
uterus, she can still bear children.
Additional Resources
American Liver Foundation
75 Maiden Lane, Suite 603
New York, NY
10038
Tel: (800) GO-LIVER (465-4837)
Email: info@liverfoundation.org
Internet:
www.liverfoundation.org/
Celiac Disease Foundation
13251 Ventura Boulevard
Suite
1
Studio City, CA 91604-1838
Tel: (818) 990-2354
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, Inc.
386 Park Avenue
South
17th Floor
New York, NY 10016-8804
Tel: (800) 932-2423 or
(212) 685-3440
Hepatitis Foundation International
30 Sunrise Terrace
Cedar
Grove, NJ 07009-1423
Tel: (800) 891-0707 or (973) 239-1035
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal
Disorders
P.O. Box 17864
Milwaukee, WI 53217
Tel: (414)
964-1799
United Ostomy Association
19772 MacArthur Boulevard
Suite
200
Irvine, CA 92612-2405
Tel: (800) 826-0826 or (949) 660-8624
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
2 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3570
Email: National Digestive
Diseases Information Clearinghouse
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) is a
service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases (NIDDK). NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health under
the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Established in 1980,
the clearinghouse provides information about digestive diseases to people
with digestive disorders and to their families, health care professionals,
and the public. NDDIC answers inquiries; develops, reviews, and
distributes publications; and works closely with professional and patient
organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about
digestive diseases.
Publications produced by the clearinghouse are carefully reviewed for
scientific accuracy, content, and readability.
This e-text is not copyrighted. The clearinghouse encourages users of
this e-pub to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired.
NIH Publication No. 99-2673
January 1999
e-text posted: February 1999
e-text last updated: April 2000
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