Common Disorders and Diseases
Achalasia
Achalasia is a serious condition where the valve that closes off the esophagus to the stomach fails to open, causing food to back up into the esophagus.
Some symptoms associated with Achalasia are difficulty swallowing food, chest discomfort, heartburn, and weight loss.
Affected Organ(s): Esophagus
Anal fissure
Anal fissure is a small crack or tear in the lining of the anus.
Some symptoms can include severe pain during bowel movements, blood on the stool or toilet paper or itching around the anus.
Affected Organ(s): Colon
Anemia
Anemia is defined as a decrease in the total amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. The most common cause is an iron deficiency. Iron makes hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is needed to carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. The three main causes of anemia are blood loss, lack of red blood cell production, and red blood cell destruction. Pregnancy, heavy menstrual cycles, ulcers, colon polyps, colon cancer, and inherited disorders can cause anemia. Symptoms may include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, or increased thirst.
Autoimmune hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic liver inflammation that happens when the body’s own immune system attacks the liver cells. In the early stages of this disease, there aren’t usually many symptoms, but in advanced stages, symptoms can include abdominal discomfort, fatigue, skin rashes and painful joints.
Affected Organ(s): Liver
Barrett’s Esophagus
Barrett’s Esophagus is a complication of GERD. It results when the normal tissue that lines the esophagus changes to tissue resembling the lining of the intestine.
There are no specific symptoms associated with Barrett’s Esophagus, although most patients with Barrett’s experience symptoms of GERD.
Affected Organ(s): Esophagus
Celiac Disease
Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the small intestine and is caused by a reaction to gluten.
Symptoms may include diarrhea, abdominal distension, fatigue and loss of appetite.
Affected Organ(s): Small Intestine
Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder, usually from a gallstone that is blocking the cystic duct, or tube leading out of your gallbladder.
Symptoms can include sudden and very severe pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen, with the pain radiating from your back or right shoulder, tenderness in your abdomen, nausea, vomiting and fever.
Affected Organ(s): Gallbladder
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a disease in which healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue, resulting in long-term damage. It’s usually caused by alcohol abuse or hepatitis.
Sometimes in the beginning there are no symptoms. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include debilitating fatigue, bruises, itchy skin, sudden weight loss or gain, blood in the stool and disorientation.
Affected Organ(s): Liver
Colon cancer
Colon cancer usually develops from small, benign tumors called adenomatous polyps. These polyps form on the inner walls of the colon. When the cells grow uncontrollably in the colon it becomes cancerous. Symptoms of colon cancer may include changes in stool consistency, continual urge to defecate, diarrhea or constipation, iron deficiency (anemia), pain, cramps or gas in the abdomen, pain during bowel movements, rectal bleeding or blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, and weakness or fatigue.
Affected Organ(s): Colon
Colon polyps / Rectal polyps
Colon polyps / Rectal polyps are small groups of cells that form on the lining of the colon or rectum. Polyps are usually harmless, but can sometimes become cancerous.
Most of the time, colon polyps have no symptoms. Some people though, can experience rectal bleeding; a change in bowel habits such as constipation or diarrhea, or nausea or vomiting if a polyp becomes large and obstructs the bowel. It’s important if you’re 50 or over, or have a family history of colon cancer, to be screened regularly for polyps.
Affected Organ(s): Colon
Constipation
Constipation is when bowel movements become painful or difficult to pass and happen less often than usual. If you are straining to have a bowel movement, have hard stools or feel like everything didn’t come out, you may be suffering from constipation.
Affected Organ(s): Colon
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s Disease can affect the colon as well as the small intestine. It is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea and/or constipation, fatigue, fever and weight loss.
Affected Organ(s): Small Intestine, Colon
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS)
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) is a rare disorder characterized by episodes of severe nausea and vomiting.
The main symptoms of cyclic vomiting syndrome are recurring attacks of nausea and vomiting, occasionally accompanied by headaches, migraines or abdominal pains.
Affected Organ(s): Stomach
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements with loose and watery stools.
Symptoms may include urgency, loose or watery stools, abdominal cramping and bloating. Treatment may be necessary to avoid dehydration.
Affected Organ(s): Colon, Liver, Pancreas, Small Intestine
Diverticular Disease
Diverticular Disease is the development of small sacs or pockets that result in areas of weakness in the colon wall.
Symptoms of Diverticular Disease or Diverticulitis can include pain in the lower abdomen, diarrhea and constipation and fever or chills.
Affected Organ(s): Colon
Esophageal Varices
Esophageal Varices are extremely large veins that usually occur in the lower part of the esophagus. These vessels can sometimes leak blood or rupture, causing a life-threatening situation.
Some symptoms include low blood pressure, black or tarry stools, vomiting of blood, feeling light headed and rapid heartbeat.
Affected Organ(s): Esophagus
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is a deficiency of the exocrine pancreatic enzymes, causing problems in how food is digested.
Symptoms may include pain or tenderness in the abdomen, foul-smelling stools, diarrhea and a feeling of being full. Weight loss can also occur because not enough vitamins and nutrients are being absorbed.
Affected Organ(s): Pancreas
Fecal incontinence
Fecal incontinence is the lack of control of bowel movements, causing involuntary loss of stool. This can be caused by a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, nerve damage, hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, and can greatly affect ones quality of life and be very debilitating.
Affected Organ(s): Colon
Gallbladder polyps
Gallbladder polyps are lesions or growths that form in the lining of the gallbladder. Most people who have gallbladder polyps are symptom free. The polyps are usually discovered with an ultrasound examination of the abdomen for other reasons. Most polyps are benign and it isn’t necessary to remove them.
Affected Organ(s): Gallbladder
Gallstones
Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive components that form in the gallbladder. People with gallstones usually have pain that will start in the center of the upper abdomen then radiate to the shoulder blade area, making it hard to take a deep breath. The pain can last anywhere from 15 minutes to 24 hours.
Affected Organ(s): Gallbladder
Gastritis
Gastritis is an inflammation or erosion of the stomach lining.
Some common symptoms can include nausea or recurrent upset stomach, abdominal pain or bloating, vomiting, indigestion, recurring hiccups, and loss of appetite. With advanced gastritis, more severe symptoms such as vomiting blood or coffee ground-like material and black, tarry stools can occur.
Affected Organ(s): Stomach
Gastroesphageal reflux
Gastroesphageal reflux occurs when stomach acid, and sometimes stomach content flows backwards and irritates the lining of the esophagus.
Some symptoms of Gastroesphageal reflux are heartburn, an acidic or sour taste in the mouth (acid reflux), a dry cough and difficulty swallowing.
Affected Organ(s): Esophagus
Helicobacter pylori
Helicobacter pylori, more commonly known as H. pylori, is a bacterium that infects the stomach and is a common cause of peptic ulcers.
If you have an ulcer caused by the H. Pylori bacteria, you may feel a dull or burning pain in your abdomen, usually when you have an empty stomach.
Affected Organ(s): Stomach
Hemochromatosis
Hemochromatosis is a disease that causes the body to become overloaded with iron.
People with this disorder can experience joint and abdominal pain, fatigue, unexplained weight loss and a decreased sex drive.
Affected Organ(s): Liver
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are clusters of veins in the rectum and anus that can become swollen and inflamed.
A lot of times there are no significant symptoms with hemorrhoids. When hemorrhoids become extremely swollen, pain and bleeding during a bowel movement can occur.
Affected Organ(s): Colon
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is an extremely contagious disease of the liver. It is usually contracted by eating or drinking food or water that has been contaminated by infected feces, or having close contact with an infected person. Some of the many symptoms of hepatitis A are fatigue, nausea, fever, diarrhea and muscle soreness.
Affected Organ(s): Liver
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver and causes it to become inflamed, can be either acute (comes and goes quickly) or chronic (long term). Having unprotected sex with an infected person, sharing drug needles or using an infected person’s tooth brush or razor are a few of the numerous ways to be infected with the virus. Also, a baby born to a mother who has the illness can become infected. Headache, tiredness, nausea and loss of appetite can occur in people infected by hepatitis B.
Affected Organ(s): Liver
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an infection or virus that causes inflammation of the liver and liver disease. Although it is a serious disease, it usually causes few symptoms initially, but some report feeling tired, nauseous, having stomach pains or even jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin). This infection can eventually lead to cancer and cirrhosis of the liver.
Affected Organ(s): Liver
Hiatal hernia
Hiatal hernia occurs when part of the stomach protrudes into the chest cavity through the diaphragm due to a tear or weakness.
Occasionally people with a hiatal hernia have no symptoms, but some may have heartburn or acid reflux.
Affected Organ(s): Stomach
Lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance occurs when the body cannot easily digest lactose, which is a sugar found in milk.
Symptoms can include diarrhea, bloating, and gas after consuming milk or milk products.
Affected Organ(s): Small Intestine
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the pancreas. There are two forms of pancreatitis, acute (comes and goes quickly) and chronic (long term).
Symptoms of acute pancreatitis may include, radiating upper abdominal pain that is aggravated by eating fatty foods, swelling and tenderness in the abdomen, rapid heartbeat, fever, nausea and vomiting.
With chronic pancreatitis, the symptoms are very similar to those of the acute form, but may also include weight loss and poor absorption of nutrients.
Affected Organ(s): Pancreas
Peptic ulcer
Peptic ulcer is a sore or a break in the lining of the stomach, first part of the small intestine, or sometimes in the lower esophagus.
Symptoms can include burning stomach pain, a feeling of fullness, bloating or belching, an intolerance of fatty foods, heartburn and nausea.
Affected Organ(s): Stomach
Primary biliary cholangitis
Primary biliary cholangitis, also called PBC, is a disease that destroys the bile ducts in the liver.
Early symptoms can include dryness in the eyes and mouth, itchiness and fatigue. In advanced stages, people can experience more serious symptoms and complications such as fluid buildup, an enlarged spleen, enlarged blood vessels in the stomach and esophagus, and mental confusion.
Affected Organ(s): Liver
Stomach polyps
Stomach polyps, also called gastric polyps, are masses of cells that form on the lining of the stomach.
Symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, a feeling of fullness in the stomach, abdominal pain and occasionally internal bleeding.
Affected Organ(s): Stomach
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a condition that results in ulcers and inflammation of the colon and rectum and can sometimes lead to life-threatening complications.
Some common symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal pain and rectal bleeding.
Affected Organ(s): Colon
