What is a stomach hernia? A stomach hernia is the protrusion of the upper part of the stomach through the diaphragmatic opening. This means that a portion of the stomach is abnormally protruding into the thoracic (chest) cavity. The proper medical term for a stomach hernia is a hiatal hernia or hiatus hernia. Although most >> Read More ...
Bowel movements are not always coordinated according to a specific time slot on a regular basis. With proper bowel training, some people will experience the urge to have a bowel movement at approximately the same time daily. For others a bowel movement may come at any time in the day or within a few days of the last stool. >> Read More ...
The sensation of the stomach turning is a common way that many people describe nausea, indigestion or cramps. This may be an acute sensation, which arises suddenly and last only for a short while. However, in some instance a turning stomach sensation can be an ongoing problem for long periods and is associated with various >> Read More ...
The bowels, both the small and large intestines, have a constant flow of food, fluids and wastes moving through it. Overall the transit through the bowels is a long journey – the small intesine is about 20 feet (6 meters) long while the large intestine is another 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length. For various reasons, >> Read More ...
The human stomach can stretch significantly to accommodate the food and fluid then may enter it. As its stretches, receptors in the stomach wall sends signals back to the brain. Individual stomach sizes vary but this feedback mechanism prevents us from overeating and overstretching the stomach wall. Our tolerance to that >> Read More ...
Swallowing is a process that many of us take for granted. We have been swallowing from the time of birth and is a reflex action when eating or drinking. Swallowing also occurs when saliva or mucus accumulates in the mouth and this is normal. However, there are cases where swallowing can be repetitive. This constant >> Read More ...
What is defecation? Defecation is the process of passing out stool (feces) through the anus. This eliminates waste material from the rectum and colon. The process of defecation should be painless, regular and to a certain degree, it is under voluntary >> Read More ...
The alimentary tract extends from the mouth to the anus. Most of the length of this tract is made up on the bowels, namely the small intestine and large intestine. The small intestine is divided into three parts – duodenum (leading from the stomach), jejunum and ileum (leading to the large intestine). The large >> Read More ...
What is Gastritis? Gastritis is the medical term for the inflammation of the stomach lining. Initially gastritis causes irritation of the stomach lining and with time it progresses into persistent inflammation that can lead to erosion, ulceration and degeneration of the entire stomach. The entire lining of the stomach may >> Read More ...
What is peptic ulcer disease? A peptic ulcer is an open sore in the lining of the stomach or duodenum (first part of the small intestine). Although less common, it can occur in the lower esophagus (in the event of acid reflux) or even extend as far as the jejunum or ileum of the small intestine (in cases of a Meckel >> Read More ...
