The intestine is a tube-shaped organ that extends from the tip of the stomach to the anus, allowing the passage of digested foods, facilitating nutrient absorption and waste disposal. To do all this process, the intestine is approximately 7 to 9 meters long.
The intestine is one of the most important parts of the digestive system and can be divided into two main parts:
- Throughout the intestine there is a flora of bacteria that help the digestive process.
- In addition to keeping the intestine healthy and free of other pathogenic bacteria that can be ingested with food.
- To maintain a healthy intestinal flora it is necessary to have on the consumption of probiotics.
- Both through diet and supplements.
The main function of the intestine is the digestion of food and the absorption of nutrients and water, to keep the body nourished, hydrated and functioning properly.
In addition, the intestine also allows the elimination of toxins and other products not absorbable by the body, which end up being eliminated in the form of faeces.
For many years, these were the two main functions assigned to the intestine.However, in recent years, several studies have identified the gut as an important endocrine organ that aids in the production of hormones and neurotransmitters that influence the functioning of the whole body, as well as mental health.That’s why the gut has been called the second brain.
Symptoms that usually indicate that an intestinal problem may occur or develop may include:
In addition, any change in the color, consistency, or smell of stool can be a sign of bowel disease, especially when it lasts more than a week.
Find out what stool color can say about your health
The gastroenterologist is the doctor best qualified to treat bowel diseases or to diagnose problems that cause changes in stool or result in other bowel-related symptoms.
There are several diseases that can affect the proper functioning of the intestine, but one of the most serious and that seems to have a high growth rate over the years is colorectal cancer, in which the cells that line the organ undergo changes, leading to the growth of tumors.
Other less serious but also common illnesses include
Intestinal infections, also known as enteritis, are relatively common throughout life and occur primarily when eating unhealthy foods, resulting in an increase in the amount of pathogenic bacteria in the gut.
The most common signs of intestinal infection include severe diarrhea, excessive fatigue, fever, vomiting and loss of appetite.See how treatment is done and when medications are needed.
It is a chronic disease in which the gut is unable to digest gluten from foods such as bread, biscuits, pasta or beer, for example, resulting in symptoms such as frequent fatigue, stomach swelling, severe abdominal pain or loss of appetite.
Celiac disease, also known as gluten intolerance, occurs because the body does not produce the enzyme needed to break down gluten, possibly causing minor damage to the gut and leading to an exaggerated immune system reaction.
Learn more about coeliac disease, its symptoms, and how to treat it
It is another chronic bowel disease that causes persistent inflammation of the lining of the organ, resulting in symptoms such as severe diarrhea, cramps, nausea and weight loss.Due to severe inflammation, Crohn’s disease can cause small lesions in the intestine over time, which eventually worsens symptoms.
As it has no specific cause, Crohn’s disease also has no cure, however, the treatment indicated by the doctor helps relieve symptoms, improving quality of life.
Take our online symptom test to find out if you have Crohn’s disease
Irritable bowel syndrome also causes mild inflammation of the intestine with symptoms similar to Crohn’s disease, however, this inflammation is not always present and therefore does not cause sores in the intestine either.
The most common symptoms are periods of diarrhea interspersed with constipation, excess gas and recurrent abdominal pain, which can intensify at times of increased stress or after consuming specific foods, such as coffee, tea.alcohol or processed foods.
Learn about other foods that may worsen your symptoms and take our test to see if you can get the disease.
Hemorrhoids can also be chronic problems, but they usually appear for a short period of time and disappear with proper treatment.Hemorrhoids are dilated veins in the region that can be internal or external.
The most common symptoms include the presence of bright red blood in the stool, itching in the anus and pain during defecation.In addition, in the external hemorrhoids it is also possible to feel or observe a small mass near the anus.
Learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of hemorrhoids.