The number of people who are becoming concerned about their health is growing daily. Many people are realizing that refined sugar, preservatives, and chemicals are not what they want in their diet any longer. Baby boomers to millennials are embracing food that is less processed and lower in carbs, and this change produces better digestive health.
Maintaining a healthy digestive tract is the key to overcoming discomfort or illness that you may be experiencing throughout your body, but there are specific conditions that occur in the digestive system because of unbalanced digestive health.
Nine Common Digestive Problems in Americans
Some may feel uncomfortable discussing gastrointestinal problems, but they are some of the most common problems for Americans. Over 70 million adults complain of having these issues, which fall into ranges of sensitivity from mild to severely painful.
Keep in mind that digestive health is the key to stellar health and energy because it is the center of the activity in your system, and focusing on this system will help eliminate the symptoms you have while preventing others from developing.
The Most Common Digestive Conditions
1. Acid reflux or GERD, which stands for Gastroesophageal reflux disease, is the most common condition affecting 40 million adults. GERD often produces heartburn.
2. Celiac disease affects less than one percent of the U.S. population with gluten sensitivities affecting about five percent, but many who eliminate gluten from their diet experience digestive relief and healing.
3. Gallstones, which are produced in the gallbladder, cause symptoms such as pain, nausea, fever, and infection.
4. Diverticulitis in the colon affects 50 percent of adults between the ages of 60-80 with symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, fever, diarrhea, and/or constipation.
5. Crohn’s disease covers inflammation in the small intestines and/or the digestive tract and affects about 800,000 adults. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, loss of appetite and fevers.
6. Ulcerative colitis is similar to Crohn’s disease only it affects the large intestine. Symptoms are similar to Crohn’s.
7. IBS or irritable bowel syndrome includes symptoms such as gas, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. Frequent contractions of the colon muscles identify this condition, which is triggered by stress, diet or medication. Women suffer twice as much as men with IBS.
8. Hemorrhoids are found in over 75 percent of adults over the age of 45 and are characterized by swollen blood vessels in the anal canal that are itchy, painful, and cause blood in the stool. Symptoms typically occurring are chronic constipation and diarrhea or pregnancy.
9. Peptic ulcers are due to bacterial infection and result in symptoms including stomach pain, nausea, appetite loss, bloating, and weight loss.
These conditions are found when digestive health has suffered, and it has become detrimental to the body. If you are experiencing one or more of these conditions, contact Enhanced Wellness Living today to schedule your consultation! We are proudly serving residents in the Jackson, Ridgeland, Bolton, Brandon, Canton, Clinton, Madison & Vicksburg, Mississippi area.
