Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Case Study

The definition of stress according to the Oxford dictionary is “A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.”

Millions of Americans are diagnosed with gastrointestinal disorders every year. Many can be controlled with lifestyle changes and medication. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of these gastrointestinal disorders that can be controlled with medication. Looking at pharmaceutical advertising, this paper will focus on two different internet gastrointestinal medication advertisements, one that is FDA approved and one that is not. Both were found on the internet that targets the general population with frequent heartburn symptoms. Each advertisement will be critiqued individually. This paper will also describe the pathophysiology of this GI disorder and the ways medication can alter this pathophysiology. Finally, these two commercials will be compared and contrasted, including the stated use of medication, patient safety issues, and analysis of that company’s claim of its benefits.

How would you feel if one day a doctor said you can not have your favorite food in the world or else it will be bad? As soon as my boyfriend of four years realized he had Crohn's Disease, that became his reality. What would be a normal date going out to his favorite restaurant and getting his favorite food turned to a stomach ache filled nightmare. It all started in the beginning of 2015 when he was having constant stomach pains that only cleared up if he didn’t eat. As his stomach aches grew worse and his health was declining he decided to go to the doctor to have numerous tests done which made it clear to the doctors that he did in fact had a minor case of Crohn’s Disease and would have to have major dietary restrictions. I could see part

Stress can get bad enough to where it starts to affect your body system. Things like depression, heart attacks, diseases, rashes and a low immune system can all occur to people dealing with stress bad enough. The number of common signs and symptoms is outrageous and is depressing to see that there are so many people dealing with this and how it’s such a common thing in this world. On stress.org, they talk about the different body systems and how they’re affected. The nervous, musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastro and reproductive systems are all affected in some way and in many ways to say the least. If your stress ever gets so bad, I consider seeing a doctor or specialist seeing how dangerous this can get.

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by inflammation of the lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (AbbVie, 2016; Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017). The GI tract is a tube-like structure within the digestive system that extends from the stomach to the anus but can also refer to the entire alimentary canal, which comprises the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, and anus (AbbVie, 2016; Patton & Thibodeau, 2014). The inflammation that is caused by Crohn’s disease can affect different areas of the GI tract in different people; however, it is mostly commonly found at the end of the small intestine and in the colon (AbbVie, 2016; Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017). The inflammation, an immune response to injured tissues in the body that causes redness, swelling, and pain, can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition (Mayo Clinic

This chapter will examine the definition and diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, review prevalence rates and epidemiology and discuss the burden of this illness on both the patients and the healthcare system. In addition, the current ideas surrounding the pathophysiology of IBS will be discussed alongside treatment options.

Coronary artery disease with a stent, which thrombosed and was re-stented, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes type 2, poorly controlled, tubular adenoma of the colon, low B12 noncompliant with B12 replacement, adrenal mass, status post cholecystectomy, polycythemia due to smoking, left total knee replacement.

He was seen for followup. He is known to have Crohn's disease and also iron deficiency anemia secondary to chronic blood loss. He is currently on Colazal three capsules three times daily, Bentyl 20 mg three times daily, ferrous sulfate 325 mg three times daily, and prednisone 10 mg once daily. He claims that his loose stool has improved some; however, it would even be better if he is very compliant in taking his meds. He claims that he does not take his medication regularly on account that "it hurts my stomach," but I did mention to him that his stomach is hurting because of his condition, and at this time, he promised that he will be more compliant.

After entering the gastrointestinal tract on the way to their physiological site of infection, enteric bacteria encounter a remarkable diversity in environmental conditions. There are gross differences in the physico-chemical parameters in different sections of the Gastrointestinal tract (GI) tract e.g. between the stomach, small intestine and large intestine. Furthermore, even within a certain anatomical site, there are subtle differences in the microenvironment e.g. between the lumen, mucous layer and epithelial surface. Enteric pathogens must not only survive passage through the rapidly changing environments encountered at different niches of the GI tract but must also appropriately coordinate expression of virulence determinants

Gastrointestinal (GI) complications are common after liver transplantation, and may result from technical complications, stress related to the post-surgical state, or infections. Other GI complications include GI bleeding due to peptic ulcer disease, persistent bleeding from esophageal varices, or stress gastritis. Diffuse gastritis secondary to surgical stress is uncommon in the current era, due to the use of routine prophylaxis with proton pump inhibitors. Peptic ulcer disease remains a potential cause of upper GI bleeding. Its incidence seems to be highest in the first month posttransplant, perhaps related to the time when steroid doses are generally highest. Other unusual causes of GI bleeding are hemobilia

Hans Selye was the one who first started using the term “stress.” Selye first defined stress as a “non-specific response of the body to any demand for change,” but later in his lifetime changed it to “the rate of wear and tear on the body.” (Selye). Acute, or short-term stress, mainly causes stomach aches, a sleepless night occasionally, or headaches (Pomfrey). Also in that article, Elaine Pomfrey says, “These symptoms are the body’s way of telling you to reduce

caused ulcers. It was backed up by Weiner et al in 1957. He used army

Describe the Anatomical location of the Pancreas relative to the other organs in the upper portion of the abdominal cavity.

      Stress can cause many things that affect a healthy body.  Stress causes quick yet shallow breathing in which case, the body's cells are being deprived of oxygen.  Stress will increase cholesterol levels and can also cause indigestion, heartburn, a decreased sex drive, and also arteriosclerosis (the hardening of the arteries).  While these symptoms may seem minimal, stress can decrease the activity of white blood cells.  Since the white blood cells fight off sicknesses and diseases, the immune system is affected by stress and can make the body more susceptible to colds, viruses, flues, and diseases (Morrison 2).

Stress is also linked low fertility in one’s reproductive organs, and can cause problems during pregnancy or one’s menstrual cycle (www.everydayhealth.com). This happens when one is overwhelmed with the stress he or she is going through in their lives. No one person is the same, meaning stressors as well as stress levels differ for each individual. This is why it is hard for scientists to reach the core because it is a subjective sensation related with a variety of symptoms that differ for each of us. Because of this, stress is not always a synonym for distress. Situations like a steep roller coaster ride that cause fear and anxiety for some can prove highly pleasurable for others (www.stress.org). Each person also responds to stress differently. There are numerous physical as well as emotional responses to stress. Stress can cause an ocean of different emotions that are often times unpredictable. It can have wide ranging effects on people’s emotions, mood and behavior (www.stress.org). Stress has said to have been America’s number one leading health problem. It has been shown that stress levels have escalated in children, teenagers, college students and the elderly for reasons that of which have lead to: increased crime, violence, and other threats to personal safety; pernicious peer pressures that lead to substance abuse and other unhealthy life style habits; social isolation and loneliness; the erosion of family and religious