Four different interconnected organs make up the digestive system. These are the digestive tract, the liver, the pancreas and the gallbladder. “The function of these is to help digest food and turn them into nutrients that the body needs to obtain energy for proper growth and maintenance,” says Abner Martínez Contreras, a doctor and surgeon.
There are two types of diseases that can affect this system: infectious and chronic. In the case of Guatemala, infectious diseases prevail over chronicles, according to the report of the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance by 2023. The most recurring are diarrhea and gastroenteritis of infectious origin, amebiasis (intestinal infection) or intestinal parasitosis (caused by parasites that invade the digestive tract).
“In the case of diseases of infectious origin, the symptoms are usually acute and self -limited and can be caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites, which according to their causes will depend their treatment,” Martínez details. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal crampsdiarrhea and fevers are usually the most common symptoms.
Chronic digestive diseases
Chronic diseases that affect the digestive system, such as gastritis and duodenitis (inflammation in the upper part of the small intestine), occupy fourth place in morbidity figures nationwide, according to data from the Ministry of Public Health.
There are also other conditions that, although they do not appear among the most frequent, have an important impact on the health of the population. These include: bile calculations, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, cirrhosis (excessive accumulation of fat in the liver), pancreatitis, appendicitis and diverticulitis (formation of small bags that stand out through weak points of the colon wall).
Most common digestive problems in children
Although digestive diseases can affect people of all ages, there are some important differences in the way they affect children and adults.
“In general, infectious diseases of the digestive system, such as gastroenteritis, are more common in children, especially in children under 5 years. This is because its immune system is still in development and are more susceptible to infectious agents, ”says Martínez. Another factor that influences is that young children can have less developed hygiene habits and this increases their exposure to germs.
As for chronic digestive diseases, they are usually more prevalent in adults. In these cases, long -term management, complications, lifestyle and job impact become more important.
In general, the best way to prevent these problems is to seek a healthy lifestyle. This implies having a balanced diet, constant physical activity and mental health care. This is a formula recommended to prevent chronic diseases.
Meanwhile, for infections, one of the basic suggestions is the correct food handling and frequent hand washing to avoid the transmission of bacteria.
Habits that increase risk
Different factors are related to the development of these diseases; However, the food and lifestyle of each person can increase the vulnerability and risk of suffering from them.
From food, for example, habits such as maintaining a low fiber diet or excessive fat consumption may have implications in the person’s health and affect the digestive system. Frequent consumption of processed and ultra -process foods, such as sugary drinks, canned products, cereals with high sugar levels, among others, is also risky.
High consumption of alcohol and caffeine is also not recommended in this sense, in addition to problems in the digestive system it represents a high risk for general health. The same goes for tobacco.
Sedentary lifestyle and a lifestyle with high levels of stress can also have repercussions.
Martínez also recommends avoiding the use of medications without medical supervision, a fairly recurring practice in people. The preferable thing is to always consult a health professional in the face of discomfort.