From heartburn to stomach ulcer
More than half of the Dutch population suffers from stomach and intestinal complaints. What do we mean by functional stomach complaints and is there anything that can be done about it?
More than half of the Dutch people sometimes suffer from stomach and intestinal complaints. Think of problems after spicy or fatty food, alcohol consumption or stress. Common problems include heartburn, stomach and intestinal cramps, nausea, bloating and diarrhea. The symptoms only occur in combination.
The stomach is an important part of our digestive tract. The inside of the stomach is covered with a thick mucous membrane. Glands in the gastric mucosa produce gastric juice. Gastric juice contains hydrochloric acid, digestive enzymes and promotes the digestion of food in the stomach. The hydrochloric acid kills the bacteria that we ingest with our food. In addition, the hydrochloric acid activates the digestive enzymes. Beneath the mucous membrane is a layer of nerves and blood vessels.
The outside of the stomach consists of a thick muscle layer. These muscles ensure that food is crushed and mixed with gastric juice. At the junction of the esophagus to the stomach is a sphincter, the cardia. It opens when food enters the stomach from the esophagus and then closes again. The cardia prevents food from flowing back into the esophagus from the stomach. Food stays in the stomach for an average of three hours. The food slurry then passes through the stomach outlet (pylorus) in small portions to the duodenum.
Stomach upset
Stomach upsets are common. In some cases, it is heartburn (reflux) or a stomach ulcer. Another possible cause of stomach complaints is an inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis). However, in many people the above conditions have been excluded through research. Yet they continue to have stomach problems. These stomach complaints for which no identifiable cause is found are called functional stomach complaints.
What are functional stomach complaints?
When no abnormalities are found on examination for the stomach complaints, they are often referred to as functional stomach complaints. The complaints are caused by a disorder of the body and are probably caused by an hypersensitive stomach and/or disturbed movements of the stomach. The symptoms are not medically serious. However, for many people the complaints are very annoying and sometimes painful.
Heartburn
Heartburn is relatively common. It can cause a burning sensation in the stomach and a sour taste in the back of the throat. It occurs when the stomach produces too much stomach acid. Sometimes the excess stomach acid comes up and into the esophagus (reflux or acid regurgitation).
Stomach and intestinal cramps
Stomach and intestinal cramps are caused by (rapid) contractions of the muscles in the digestive system. Often this gives an intense, painful feeling that comes and goes. Cramps can be accompanied by complaints such as a feeling of fullness and gas, diarrhea or constipation. Tension and stress can trigger the symptoms.
Nausea
Nausea is an annoying unsteady feeling in the stomach area. The urge to eat disappears and everything starts to resist. It can be a harbinger of vomiting and affects everything that happens. There is not always an identifiable cause.
Bloated feeling
Bloating or flatulence is also common. Especially after eating, gases can form in the gastrointestinal tract that do not find a natural way out. You can feel quite uncomfortable with it; it may seem as if there are stones in the stomach.
Diarrhea
Symptoms of diarrhea are: frequent loose stools, often accompanied by abdominal pain, cramps or bloating. Acute diarrhea is usually caused by an infection with viruses, bacteria or parasites and is usually short-lived. And the most common form of acute diarrhea is stomach flu due to a virus. Intestinal infections often arise abroad due to poor hygiene and foreign viruses, bacteria and parasites.
If there are combinations of various complaints, then we speak of symptoms of dyspepsia and/or irritable bowel syndrome.
