Researchers themselves claim that they have only recently, probably, begun to fully understand the complexity of a number of diseases that affect and cause trouble for the digestive systems. According to folklore, and the old wives’ tales, there were a number of digestive diseases that were said to be brought about by the wrath of God. But now, finally, there is up-to-date information that is available about these conditions. There will, however, be misunderstandings that exist. Some folklore may seem relatively harmless, while others might even come across as being dangerous if the person actually keeps away from taking medication for it or treating it.
Here, we will bust some myths about the kind of digestive disorders that we’ve dealt with over the years.
Myth # 1 – Spicy foods are the culprits behind those stomach ulcers.
The truth is that stomach ulcers generally get caused by a bacterial infection, which involves the existence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). It could also be caused by the use of certain pain medications or the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Most of these H. pylori induced ulcers could be taken care of by administering antibiotics to the person involved. The ulcers that get induced by the ingestion of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will be cured with medications that are stomach-protective. This process might take longer, but it seems to be the best that can be done at the moment. Spicy food and stress were targeted to be the main culprits behind this condition earlier; and now people are learning against it. Ulcers could, in some cases, also be caused by cancer.
Myth # 2 – Smoking would reduce that heartburn that is causing me so much discomfort.
In reality, smoking a cigarette might actually make things worse when it comes to having heartburn to deal with. Heartburn is a condition wherein the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is a muscle that rests between the stomach and the esophagus, will get relaxed. When this happens, the acidic contents from the stomach will get splashed back into the esophagus. When this phenomenon occurs, you will have inflammation of the esophagus; and this is medically termed as heartburn. People who are regular smokers are said to combat this condition more often. This could be caused perhaps by the reflux of acid which is what acts as the basis of heartburn. Cigarette smoking, say certain researchers, might cause the LES to relax more often.
Myth# 3 – Celiac disease is said to be a rare childhood disease, so I am safe.
Celiac disease is said to be a disease that can affect both adults and children alike. Almost 1 in 200 people who live in the United States might carry within them the genetic predisposition which can make them prone to celiac disease. This doesn’t mean that all of them have to suffer from the disease.
Celiac disease might, in some cases, have symptoms that show up during a person’s childhood years. These symptoms are most likely to show up during the times when the person is affected by diarrhea.
If an adult suffers from symptoms like flatulence, abdominal pain, a skin rash, osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) and abdominal distention, it could point in the direction of celiac disease. These symptoms may seem vague and non-related in some ways; which is why it doesn’t get properly diagnosed at most times.
Myth # 4 – Bowel regularity would be based on the basis of one bowel movement per day.
The frequency of bowel movements might vary from person to person; and a healthy person might have bowel movements around twice to thrice in a week. In the case of people who are used to passing stools once in a day, passing stools thrice might be abnormal. People suffering from irritable bowel syndrome might have fluctuating number of bowel movements. The consistency of their stools might also fluctuate.
