Comprehensive Guide to Gastrointestinal Treatments

What organs are included in the digestive tract?

The digestive system comprises the organs of the digestive tract and supporting organs, i.e. salivary glands, liver, pancreas, etc. The tract is separated into three main departments. The first department comprises the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus. This section is responsible for the mechanical processing of food.

The middle section consists of the stomach, small intestine and large intestine, liver, and pancreas. In this section, chemical processing of food, absorption of nutrients, and formation of fecal masses are carried out.
The posterior section is represented by the caudal part of the rectum and ensures the exit of feces from the body.

What are the reasons for digestive tract malfunction or illnesses?

The major factors that contribute to the occurrence and development of gastrointestinal tract disorders are improper diet, overeating or, on the contrary, malnutrition, stress, lack of physical activity, infections, contaminated ecology, and others.

Taking into account that the body works as a whole, the causes of the appearance of digestive tract diseases can be also the failures in the work of other organ systems. For example, the functionality of the digestive system can be strongly influenced by the state of the spine. The nerves emerging from the spinal canal are connected to each internal organ. In the event that nerve impulses do not reach these organs, they eventually start to malfunction. This can occur, for example, in osteoporosis, when the nerve endings are jammed and thus the transition of nerve impulses from the spine to one or another organ is slowed or completely blocked. In the case of poor passage of nerve impulses to the stomach, it becomes atonic, flaccid, while the smooth muscle of the walls of the stomach relaxes. In prolonged damage to the innervation, there may be a gradual gastroptosis (the abnormal downward displacement of the stomach).

The weak muscles of the stomach are also responsible for poor digestion and the weakening of the muscle valve separating the stomach from the duodenum. When the stomach moves downwards, the pyloric valve cannot close and at the same time, the bile penetrates into the stomach, causing inflammation and eliminating the protective and digestive effects of hydrochloric acid. The consumed food in such situation is not fully digested and the major part of the nutrients is not absorbed by the body. And since food is the primary source of energy for the body, it must be well processed. Not only that poorly digested food is not properly digested, it also causes destructive processes in the digestive system - from mild inflammation to the formation of serious malignant tumors. In addition, poorly digested food can determine the processes of decay and create favorable conditions for the onset of all kinds of bacteria.

The gastric juice is a hydrochloric acid and the bile is alkalis, so when it gets into the stomach, chemical reactions begin, at which the level of acidity of the digestive juice significantly worsens. Therefore, it is believed that it is the penetration of bile into the stomach that contributes to the onset of stomach ulcers. Worth noting that ulcer development can also be provoked by bacteria Helicobacter pylori which can also occur on the basis of bile ingestion.

If the acidity of the digestive juices is maintained at a normal level, the stomach can provide reliable protection of the organism from harmful microorganisms. If the level of acidity is disturbed, these microorganisms easily overcome this barrier and can lead to the appearance of a number of other diseases.

What should you do to prevent gastrointestinal tract disorders?

To avoid purchasing gastrointestinal drugs, you should care about your digestive system following these simple rules:

1. Follow an eating regime and basic hygiene. It is advised to eat frequently in small portions rather than eat one or two times a day large portions. It is desirable not to skip the main meals such as breakfast and lunch. Before eating, it is important to wash hands thoroughly and wash all the products that won’t be thermally processed – it will save you from developing a bacterial infection.

2. Eat healthy foods. Exclude or reduce the amount of consumed fried, fatty, smoked, and over salted food. In addition, it is necessary to increase the content of fiber in the diet (vegetables and fruits, bread with bran, porridge). Eat as much as possible coarse fiber food, fresh salads. Try to use less oil, vinegar, and especially dressings when cooking.

3. Avoid overeating. Eat in moderation, keep in mind that a standard serving of food must not exceed 300-400 ml if present in the liquid state. On the other hand, you must not force yourself to starve, you need to eat in an orderly and correct manner.

4. Control your body mass. If you are overweight, you should try to lose weight. Remember that you need to do this correctly: the weight reduction should not be more than 0.5 kg for women and 1 kg for men per week.

5. Give up alcohol completely or reduce its intake to a minimum. The maximum safe dose of alcohol consumption is no more than 30 ml of ethanol for men and 20 ml for women per day. Remember also that low-quality alcoholic beverages contain various dyes, chemical components, an excess amount of sugar, preservatives, and flavors. All these substances adversely affect the digestive system. Consume only natural, pure and high-quality alcoholic beverages, or better, abandon them altogether.

6. Quit smoking. When the body is exposed to nicotine, there is no "normal" or minimal dose. To reduce the level of pathological effects of tar and nicotine on the digestive organs, you must give up smoking completely.

7. Learn to cope with stressful situations. Try not to be nervous, walk, rest and fully sleep. Such measures not only improve the digestive system condition but also strengthen the overall health.

8. If you have diabetes, follow the doctor’s recommendations strictly – eat correctly, closely monitor your health and control the sugar content in your blood. When there are painful sensations in the gastrointestinal tract, you should immediately consult your healthcare provider to prevent the development of complications.

9. Limit the consumption of carbonated drinks (soda) and coffee. A safe dose of coffee is 300-400 ml per day of a ready-made natural drink (2-3 coffee cups). Carbonated drinks should also be drunk as little as possible. It is advisable to limit one glass a day or completely to abandon them.

10. Move more. Normally, the intensive motor activity of an adult should be at least 150 minutes a week. If this indicator is not enough, try to increase it, for example, going in for sports.

When should you go to a doctor?

If you suffer from gastrointestinal tract disorder symptoms, you can use symptomatic treatment method but if the symptoms persist for two to four weeks, you should go to a therapist of a gastroenterologist and undergo the though examination as the same symptoms can be present in mild gastritis and life-threatening stomach cancer.

The most common symptoms are:
- Heartburn
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Pain in the abdomen
- Heaviness in the abdomen
- Loss of appetite

It is important to visit a doctor immediately if you started suffering from these symptoms at the age of 45 or older, if the symptoms gradually worsen, if you have sudden and severe pains in the abdomen, sharp weight loss, vomiting (especially with blood), pain in the chest or back, excessive sweating in combination with other symptoms. These conditions can indicate serious illnesses, such as a stomach ulcer or early signs of stomach cancer, especially in the elderly.

Symptoms similar to those of a stomach disorder can also be caused by a heart attack. If this disorder is accompanied by sweating, shortness of breath, or pain radiating to the neck, jaw, or arm, the ambulance should be called immediately.

How are gastrointestinal disorders diagnosed?

There are various methods of diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract disorders based on the symptoms and doctor’s discretion. For instance, if your doctor suspects that you have problems with the liver, you would need to do blood tests for the level of liver transaminases. If the stomach ulcer, gastritis, cancer, and so on is suspected – gastroscopy is needed. If you have problems with the bowel, you must undergo colonoscopy. For pancreas and gallbladder, ultrasound examination is frequently appointed.

Please do not neglect the prescribed medical examinations as symptomatic treatment can only temporarily hide the symptoms and let the serious condition develop further unnoticed until it’s too late.

What gastrointestinal medications you can buy at our online drugstore?

At our online pharmacy, you can find a full range of medications aimed at the treatment of various gastrointestinal tract disorders. Here is a quick overview of what for each of them is used:
- Proton pump inhibitors: Generic Aciphex, Generic Nexium, Generic Prevacid, Generic Prilosec, Generic Protonix. These medicines are used in various illnesses in which the suppression of hydrochloric acid production and acidity is needed such as stomach ulcer, GERD, Zollinger–Ellison syndrome, and others. They block the action of certain enzymes called proton pump. We offer the generics made by such companies as Lupin, Abbott, Ipca, AstraZeneca, and others.
-  H2 histamine receptors blockers: Cytotec (Misoprostol), Generic Pepcid, Generic Zantac. These medicines, like the first group, are used to suppress the production of the gastric acid to avoid the development ulceration, heal ulcers, GERD, and other conditions.
- Anti-vomit medications: Motilium (Domperidone), Reglan (Metoclopramide). These are anti-vomit medications with different mechanisms of action that can be used in different cases. Please read their full descriptions on the product pages before purchasing any of these drugs to be sure that it will be suitable for you.
-  Antibacterial medications for gastrointestinal tract: Damizol (Diloxanide Furoate-Metronidazole), Generic Flagyl. These are antimicrobial medications used for amoebic infections of the digestive tract. Read their full descriptions to know when and how they are used.
- Anthelmintic drugs: Albenza (Albendazole) is used to eliminate parasites such as helminths or worms. Read the full guide on the medicine use to know if it’s suitable for you.
-  Antidiarrheal drugs: Imodium (Loperamide) can be used both in diarrhea caused by poor diet choice or digestive tract disorders caused by illness.
- Antacids: Generic Carafate (Sucralfate) is used to lower the stomach acidity. The effect of the drug is due to the included aluminum and the sulfate salts.
- Antispasmodic: Colospa (Mebeverine) is used in spasms of the digestive tract, intestinal colic, irritable bowel syndrome, biliary colic, and other spasmodic conditions. It quickly relieves the spasms and allows organs to function properly.
- Anti-air and sea sickness drugs: Dramamine (Dimenhydrinate) blocks the histamine receptors responsible for nausea and vomiting in air and sea sickness. It can be used without prior consultation with a doctor.

You can buy gastrointestinal drugs online without prescription from our online pharmacy and at the prices significantly cheaper than at your local drugstores but please make sure to consult a specialist first and undergo the necessary tests for your own safety.