Love your Gut - Healthy Gut tips and advice

Although we should take small steps to look after our digestive health every day, as our gut is a delicate and complex system, things can sometimes go wrong. In this section, we summarise some common digestive complaints - and take a look at important symptoms to be on the lookout for.

Below is a summary of some of the most common digestive complaints. For more information on these click on the name of the complaint or visit the Patient Leaflet section on the website of Core - the Digestive Disorders Foundation.

Coeliac disease is caused by a sensitivity to the protein gluten (found in wheat, barley and rye), to the extent that gluten, if ingested, causes harm to the lining of the small intestine. The disease affects 1% of people, but many will not experience symptoms and so in a large proportion of people, the condition will remain undiagnosed. Symptoms of the condition can vary widely, but include diarrhoea, vomiting, weight loss or a failure to gain weight, abdominal pain and mouth ulcers. The best treatment for coeliac disease is simply to abstain from eating or drinking any product containing gluten. Gluten is not an essential protein, and so, with a little planning, can simply be replaced in the diet. If you believe you may have coeliac disease, it is important to visit your doctor for a diagnosis. For further information, contact Coeliac UK.

Constipation is not so much a condition as a symptom; it manifests itself as difficulty opening the bowels or passing stools. People diagnosed as constipated will generally open their bowels less than three times per week, feel the need to strain when doing so, and/or pass hard or pellet-like stools. There are a number of factors that may increase the possibility of developing constipation - a diet lacking in fibre, fruit and veg; lack of exercise; a change in lifestyle; ignoring the urge to pass stools; being under or overweight and increased levels of stress may all be causal factors. Addressing these factors can often alleviate the problem. Whilst a very common complaint, constipation rarely causes long-term problems and can generally be treated quickly and effectively.

Crohn's disease is a condition which causes inflammation in the gut, leading to symptoms such as pain, diarrhoea, fatigue, loss of appetite and ulcers. Although any part of the gut can be affected, the condition most often manifests itself in the lower part of the gut (bottom of small intestine or top of large intestine). The disease affects 1 in 1000 people, and usually starts between the ages of 15 and 40. The exact cause is unknown, although it is thought that there may be a genetic link, and incidence has also been found to be higher in smokers. Treatment for the condition focuses on reducing the inflammation in the intestine - this can sometimes be achieved through dietary or drug therapy, but in as many as 80% of cases, surgery is required to remove sections of the intestine. This is a fairly straightforward procedure, and full health can usually be restored quickly and successfully. For more information, see www.nacc.org.uk

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a long-term condition which causes the colon to become inflamed. If the inflammation is severe, ulcers may develop - although this does not happen in every case. UC always affects the rectum (the part of the colon that lies just inside the anus), and sometimes inflammation is limited to this area only. In other people however, the entire colon (large intestine) is affected. The most common symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhoea and bleeding from the back passage. The disease affects men and women equally, and symptoms are usually first experienced between the ages of 15 and 30. Despite extensive research, the cause of UC is still unknown - but it is thought that the condition is linked to the way in which the body responds to the mass of bacteria within the intestines. Treatment is usually by medication, although in extreme case surgery may be required. For more information, see www.nacc.org.uk

Diarrhoea is the passing of frequent, loose or watery stools. This may be accompanied by stomach cramps, which will generally be reduced after a stool is passed. There are two types of diarrhoea - acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term). Acute diarrhoea is most frequently caused by a virus or infection which may be spread person-to-person or by eating contaminated food. It can also, more rarely, be brought on by stress, medication or excess alcohol consumption. Chronic diarrhoea is most commonly caused by Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but can also be linked to Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, hormonal changes or certain medications. Acute diarrhoea will generally improve within a few days with an over-the-counter remedy, a high fluid intake and well-observed hygiene standards. If experiencing chronic diarrhoea (lasting for more than two weeks), it is vital to visit the doctor for a full diagnosis and treatment options.

Gallstones are crystals that form in bile within the body (usually in the gall bladder or bile duct). Bile is made in the liver but stored in a small 'bag' called the gall bladder. It is made of a number of different chemicals, and when bile can no longer hold these chemicals in a liquid, gallstones begin to form. They can be as small as a grain of sand - or as large as a golf ball. Gallstones most frequently contain cholesterol, a substance found in large amounts within bile. Gallstones are commoner in females and older people - but in many cases, they will go unnoticed and cause no symptoms. They generally only tend to cause symptoms when they move from the gall bladder into the bile duct, at which point acute stomach pains will be felt. If gallstones are causing no problems, then they are best left alone; if however they cause repeated pain, they will generally be removed via keyhole surgery.

Reflux occurs when food or drink travels back up from the stomach and into the oesophagus. This is caused by a slackening of the muscular ring at the bottom of the oesophagus, the purpose of which is to prevent food travelling 'the wrong way'. This often causes no discernible symptoms and can happen without us realising it. When symptoms do occur, these most commonly take the form of heartburn, a burning sensation in the chest. If reflux occurs repeatedly, it may lead to oesophagitis - inflammation of and damage to the lining of the oesophagus. In many cases, there seem to be no obvious causal factors leading to the slackening of the oesophagus's muscular ring, although eating an excess of rich, fatty foods seems to increase reflux. Obesity, too, is a well known cause of acid reflux simply through pressure of excess fat in the gut forcing food back upwards. Treatment generally takes the form of medication - although lifestyle modifications (including weight loss) can help too.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a long-term disorder, with symptoms centering around abdominal discomfort and an irregular bowel habit. There are essentially four 'types' of IBS, dependent on the most prevalent symptom: abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, and both diarrhoea and constipation. The condition is very common; it is responsible for a high number of GP visits and specialist referrals, and is estimated to affect between 10 and 20% of the population. The condition is not thought to be attributable to one particular 'cause', although food poisoning, an abnormal diet and stress levels are thought to play a part in bringing on and aggravating symptoms. Similarly, there is no one 'cure', although it is often possible to treat the symptoms by modifying diet and lifestyle regimes. For more information, please visit www.theguttrust.org

Haemorrhoids is a condition whereby blood vessels in the rectum and anus become inflamed. It is extremely common, and will be experienced by around 50% of people at some point in their lives. There are two types: internal haemorrhoids (which occur inside the rectum) and external haemorrhoids (which occur outside the anus). Symptoms include itching around and bleeding from the anus, as well as discomfort when opening bowels. The condition is brought on as a result of excessive pressure being placed on the blood vessels around the rectum - a common cause is excessive straining when passing stools. The condition is prevalent in pregnant women, due to increased abdominal pressure pushing down on the pelvic blood vessels. The obese are likely to suffer haemorrhoids for similar reasons. Treatment will generally take the form of dietary change (to increase fibre and therefore reduce straining), self-care (most usually sitting in a hot bath to reduce itchiness) and medications. It is also sometimes beneficial to use 'banding' (essentially securing a band around the haemorrhoid to decrease blood supply) and in extreme cases surgery to remove haemorrhoids.