Digestion
Indigestion
Indigestion can be uncomfortable, inconvenient and even painful. It is a collection of symptoms that often include heartburn, nausea, bloating and belching. So what can you do to fix it?
Kicking the Antacid Habit: Heal Heartburn Naturally
For many Australian’s heart burn and acid reflux are a daily problem. A quick fix is to pop an antacid – a remedy that takes care of symptoms but is not necessarily a good solution.
It has been found that antacids can prevent the absorption of nutrients like B vitamins, magnesium and iron, and they can cause an overgrowth of bacteria, compromise the immune system and increase the risks for cancer.
Next time you reach for the antacids to deal with troublesome heartburn, you might want to consider simply changing your eating habits.
Emed uncovers the overuse of antacids and explains how you can ditch the antacids and live a reflux free life.
Constipation
At the very least, constipation is uncomfortable, and sometimes it can be downright painful. Plenty of fibre, fluids and exercise can help keep bowel movements regular. And for those times when you need some gentle assistance, natural supplements might be the answer.
What is it?
Diarrhoea
Unpleasant as it is, diarrhoea is your body's way to flush out harmful toxins. This common ailment usually subsides on its own in a day or so, but it can be both uncomfortable and inconvenient. The goals of treatment are to prevent dehydration and restore bulk to the stool.
What is it?
An increase in the frequency of stools or the passage of loose, watery stools is called diarrhoea. It is not a disease in itself but a symptoms of a variety of disorders - most benign, some serious. Diarrhoea is a result of a disruption in the normal passage of food and waste through the large intestine. Ordinarily, water is absorbed through the intestinal walls as food passes through the large intestine and faecal matter leaves the body as a solid mass. If something speeds up or otherwise interferes with this process, the fluid will be expelled from the body with faecal matter.
Gastritis
Gastritis isn't one disease but a group of conditions, all of which are characterized by inflammation of the lining of your stomach.
What is it?
Commonly, inflammation of the stomach results from a infection with the same bacterium that causes most stomach ulcers. Yet other factors — including traumatic injury and regular use of certain pain relievers — also can contribute to gastritis.
Alcohol Excess/Overindulgence
Abstinence is the best course for those who can't control their drinking. Although not a cure, various supplements may help heavy drinkers overcome their craving for alcohol, support them during the taxing withdrawal period and set them on the road to recovery.
What is it?
An intense physical and pschological dependence on alcohol is the hallmark of alcoholism - which many consider a chronic disease, like diabetes or hypertension. Though alcohol in moderation appears to protect the heart, excessive drinking over time can damage the liver, pancreas, intestine, brain and other organs. It can also cause malnutrition when empty alcohol kilojoules replace a nourishing diet.
Colic
All babies cry — it's one of the main ways they communicate. But some babies cry more than others do. And some, although they're healthy, well-fed and well cared for, seem to cry inconsolably. If your baby cries about the same time each day and nothing you do seems to comfort him or her, your baby may have colic.
What is it?
Colic isn't a disease, but a pattern of excessive crying with no apparent cause. This frustrating and largely unexplained condition affects about one in 10 infants. Colic usually starts a few weeks after birth, peaks at about 6 weeks of age and usually improves markedly by your baby's third to fifth month.
Crohn's Disease
There's no known medical cure for Crohn's disease. However, therapies are available that may greatly reduce the signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease and even bring about a long-term remission.
What is it?
An estimated 500,000 Americans have Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. Like ulcerative colitis, another common IBD, Crohn's disease can be both painful and debilitating and sometimes may lead to life-threatening complications.
Flatulence
Passing wind may not be life-threatening, but it can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, especially if if happens too often. Commonsense changes in your diet and some helpful supplements can provide welcome relief for you - and those around you.
What is it?
Passing intestinal wind is perfectly normal. A typical adult male does it as often as 12 times a day, while women average 7 times a day. But normal doesn't necessarily mean worry-free. Even the average amounts of flatulence can cause discomfort and embarrassment for some people, and for others the frequency of episodes and the amount of wind emitted are well above the average. The only good thing about flatulence is that by itself it is not a symptom of cancer or any other serious intestinal disease.
Food Poisoning
That sickening feeling in your stomach, the constant nausea, the cramping... and the fear that these symptoms are turning into a nasty case of food poisoning. A handful of us have experienced food poisoning, but do we really know what causes it?
What is it?
Food poisoning is a common, usually mild, but sometimes deadly illness. Typical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhoea that comes on suddenly (within 48 hours) of consuming a contaminated food or drink. Depending on the contaminant, fever and chills, bloody stools, dehydration, and nervous system damage may follow. These symptoms may affect one person or a group of people who ate the same thing (this would be called an outbreak).
Haemorrhoids
A very high proportion of the population will develop haemorrhoids during their lives. Yet many people aren't aware they have them, because haemorrhoids often have few symptoms. When they flare up, natural remedies may have more to offer than conventional treatments.
What is it?
Haemorrhoids (also known as piles) are essentially enlarged (varicose) veins in the anus or rectum. Veins are vessels that return deoxygenated blood to the heart, but sometimes the law of gravity slows down this process in the lower half of the body. Blood can pool in the veins, stretching and weakening them. The veins in the rectum and anus are particularly susceptible. Not only are they in the lower body, but - unlike other veins - they do not have valves to prevent the backward flow of blood. (Weak or faulty valves contribute to varicose veins in the legs.)
Hiccups
Almost everyone gets the hiccups from time to time. Hiccups typically are harmless and go away after a few minutes. Rarely, hiccups may persist for days or even weeks.
What is it?
The diaphragm almost always works perfectly. When you inhale, it pulls down to help pull air into the lungs. When you exhale, it pushes up to help push air out of the lungs. But sometimes the diaphragm becomes irritated. When this happens, it pulls down in a jerky way, which makes you suck air into your throat suddenly. When the air rushing in hits your voice box, you're left with a big hiccup.
Motion Sickness
If you've ever been sick to your stomach while riding in a car, train, airplane, or boat, you know exactly what motion sickness feels like.
What is it?
Motion sickness is the unpleasant sensation of nausea and dizziness that some people experience when riding in a moving vehicle. Motion sickness can be brought on by travelling in cars, boats, submarines, aeroplanes, trains, by riding amusement rides that spin, and even when using a swing at a playground. Astronauts in zero-gravity space can also suffer from a form of motion sickness, called ‘space adaptation syndrome’.
Stomach Ulcers
One in ten people will develop an ulcer during his or her lifetime.These painful and occasionally life-threatening erosions in the liningof the stomach or intestine can often be quickly and effectivelytreated with both conventional drug and a number of useful naturalremedies.
Weight Management
Losing weight is hard. Fad diets promising quick success without effort don't work. The truth is that no herb, vitamin or special food will magically melt away the kilograms. But some nutritional and herbal supplements may enhance a healthy diet and exercise program.
What is it?
Being overweight becomes a medical concern when you weigh more than 20% over the ideal weight for your height. According to government statistics, almost one fifth of adult Australians fall into this category and are defined as obese. Though not a disease in itself, obesity is a risk factor for serious medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer. Excessive body weight also puts great stress on joints and so increases a person's chance of developing arthritis.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Though the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are very real, tests often show no abnormalities. But doctors who once said 'It's all in your head' now have a better understanding of this frustrating disease, which affects 15-20% of adults.
What is it?
Normally, food is propelled through the digestive tract by rhythmic contractions of the intestinal muscles, a process called peristalsis. In irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), these muscles go into spasm, and the contractions become uncoordinated. This disturbance can cause the intestine's contents to move too fast or too slow, leading to abdominal pain and either diarrhoea or constipation. An older term for IBS is 'spastic colon'.