Gastrointestinal Diseases & Disorders

The body’s gastrointestinal (GI) system is composed of multiple organs that break down food and liquid into essential substances, extract nutrients, absorb energy and excrete undigested waste.

A pictorial representation of the human body’s digestive system and internal organs

The Gastrointestinal Tract

The GI system is made up of two distinct tracts: the upper and lower GI.

The upper GI includes the:

  • Mouth
  • Esophagus
  • Stomach
  • Small intestine

The lower GI includes:

  • A portion of the small intestine
  • The entire large intestine
  • The anus

The gallbladder, liver and pancreas all also play an important supporting role to the gastrointestinal system—they are commonly referred to as accessory organs.

Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) occur as a result of the GI tract functioning abnormally, though the actual structural integrity of the GI looks normal upon examination and testing.

FGIDs are commonly characterized by recurrent and/or chronic symptoms associated with the abdomen or bowel habits, including:

  • Diarrhea
  • Gas
  • Bloating
  • Nausea
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Constipation
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Motility (the GI tract’s muscular activity), sensation (the nerves response to stimuli) and brain-gut dysfunction (disharmony between the brain and the GI system) are the three most common features associated with FGIDs.

A woman holding her stomach in pain due to a gastrointestinal disease or disorder

Because the GI system is so complex and symptoms vary from person to person, there is no single treatment strategy that is effective for everyone.

Healthcare professionals typically customize treatment options comprising specific recommendations, including:

  • Changes to lifestyle and diet
  • Exercise
  • Pharmacological treatment, such as antidepressants, motility agents and antispasmodics
  • Psychotherapy

Structural Gastrointestinal Disorders

Structural gastrointestinal disorders (SGIDs) occur due to an abnormality in the GI tract and when an organ or internal structure is not functioning properly. These structural abnormalities are discovered during x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, blood and urine samples, and endoscopy/colonoscopy procedures.

Symptoms can be similar to those of FGIDs but may also be more severe and include significant and prolonged changes in bowel habits, obstructed bowel movements and rectal bleeding.

Five prevalent SGIDs are:

  • Hemorrhoids
  • Colon polyps
  • Colon cancer
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Inflammatory bowel disease

Unlike FGIDs, SGIDs typically involve a more in-depth diagnosis and treatment, and often require surgical procedures to rectify and treat. If serious SGIDs go unaddressed, symptoms are likely to worsen, and other complications may begin to arise.

Worldwide Prevalence

In a study conducted by the University of Gothenburg, it is estimated that for every ten adults in the world, four suffer from FGIDs of varying severity1. Furthermore, It is estimated that in the United States 11% of the population suffer from a chronic digestive disease, with a prevalence rate as high as 35% for those 65 years and over2.

References

  1. Sperber, Ami D., Shrikant I. Bangdiwala, Douglas A. Drossman, Uday C. Ghoshal, Magnus Simren, Jan Tack, William E. Whitehead et al. "Worldwide prevalence and burden of functional gastrointestinal disorders, results of Rome Foundation global study." Gastroenterology 160, no. 1 (2021): 99-114.
  2. Avramidou, Maria, Felix Angst, Jules Angst, André Aeschlimann, Wulf Rössler, and Ulrich Schnyder. "Epidemiology of gastrointestinal symptoms in young and middle-aged Swiss adults: prevalences and comorbidities in a longitudinal population cohort over 28 years." BMC gastroenterology 18, no. 1 (2018): 1-10.

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