The rectum lies towards the end of the colon where it plays an important role is temporarily holding feces before a bowel movement. Like any part of the bowels, the rectum may become blocked. As a result the movement of stool is hampered and a person may experience this blockage as constipation. Without intervention, a >> Read More ...
Food, once swallowed, is quickly transported down the throat, into the esophagus and pushed into the stomach. Most of the time a person is unable to experience the movement of food from the pharynx. These visceral sensations are purposely dulled as is the case with movement through most of the gut. Sometimes there is the >> Read More ...
What is lactose intolerance? Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose (milk sugar) because of a lactase deficiency. Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose to glucose and galactose, which are normally completely absorbed from the small intestine into the blood. In lactose deficiency, undigested lactose >> Read More ...
There are many different sensations that may be experienced which is not always described according to strict medical definitions. However, even these crude descriptions can at times be helpful in identifying the underlying cause before diagnostic investigations can be conducted. Abdominal pain is common problem and can be >> Read More ...
Most of us may expect some indigestion after a heavy meal but for some people there is the need to have a bowel movement after eating. This may occur immediately after eating or a short while thereafter. In some cases where this the urging to pass stool occurs with every meal and after eating any time of food, it has to be >> Read More ...
What is acid reflux? Acid reflux is the backward flow of the acidic stomach contents (food + acid + other secretions) up into the esophagus. It is not uncommon for every healthy person to experience acid reflux occasionally but in certain cases, this retrograde flow may become persistent or recurrent. Prolonged exposure to >> Read More ...
Excessive gas in the stomach or intestines may present with a number of signs and symptoms. Some of these symptoms arise as a result of a higher than normal gas content in the gut and other symptoms occur due to the causes of excessive gas. The gut contains about 200 milliliters of gas. Most of the gas in the upper gut is >> Read More ...
What is Stomach Gas? The term stomach gas is often used to describe the presence of gas in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This includes the esophagus (gullet) and first portion of the small intestine (duodenum). Stomach gas differs from gas in the lower bowel and colon in that it has a higher quantity of air swallowed >> Read More ...
Malabsorption is the term for impaired absorption of nutrients from food in the gut. Most absorption occurs within the intestines but the other parts of the gut (gastrointestinal tract) play important roles in digestion which prepares the food for >> Read More ...
A gurgling sound in the abdomen is not uncommon. It is a sign of activity within the stomach and bowels that occurs throughout the day. But a gurgling abdominal sounds can also be a sign of various bowel diseases and it is therefore difficult to say what can be considered normal or abnormal. Similarly, a lack of bowel >> Read More ...
