Only recently many often-complex diseases affecting the digestive system have been explored by the researchers. Accordingly, people are gradually replacing folklore, old wives' tales, and rumors about the causes and treatments of digestive diseases with accurate, up-to-date information. But misunderstandings still exist, and, while some folklore is harmless, some can be dangerous. Listed below are some common misconceptions (fallacies), about digestive diseases, followed by the facts as professionals understand them today.
Myth # 1 Spicy food and stress cause stomach ulcers.
The truth is, the majority of stomach ulcers are caused either by infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) or by use of NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or pain killers. Most H. pylori-related ulcers can be cured with antibiotics. NSAID-induced ulcers can be cured with time, stomach-protective medications like Suralfate, Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPi-s like Omeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, esomeprazole etc), antacids and avoidance of NSAIDs. Recently ulcers not related to H. pylori or NSAIDS are drawing medical attention, but spicy foods and stress (except when associated with extreme medical conditions) may aggravate ulcer symptoms in some people, but they do not cause ulcers. Certain cancers can be caused by ulcers also.
Myth # 2 Smoking a cigarette helps relieve heartburn.
In fact it is the reverse that actually occurs, cigarette smoking increases heartburn or gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn occurs due to chronic inflammation of lower esophagus (esophagitis) occurring due to reflux of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. This is due to relaxation of Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) which gets more relaxed due to smoking.
Myth # 3 Celiac disease is a rare childhood disease.
Celiac disease affects both children and adults. Sometimes celiac disease first causes symptoms during childhood, usually diarrhea, growth failure, and failure to thrive. But the disease can also first cause symptoms in adults of any age. These symptoms may be vague and therefore attributed to other conditions. Symptoms can include bloating and abdominal distention, flatulence, diarrhea, and abdominal pain due to the involvement of the small intestine as well as skin rash, anemia and thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) due to malabsorption of nutrients by the diseased intestine. People with celiac disease should not eat any foods containing gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley, whether they have symptoms or not.
Myth # 4 Bowel regularity means a bowel movement every day.
This is a misconception. The frequency of bowel movements among normal, healthy people varies from three a day to thrice a week and some perfectly healthy people fall outside both ends of this range. But sometimes three bowel movements with/without true normal consistency a day in people having one bowel movement usually a day may be abnormal. Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) may have fluctuating numbers of stools each day as well as fluctuating consistency of their stools along with pain abdomen.
Myth # 5 Habitual use of enemas to treat constipation is harmless.
It is not clear whether or not habitual use of enemas is harmless since there has been very little study of the effects of enemas or laxatives over the long term. Early studies showed that laxatives might injure the colon if taken chronically by impairing contraction of the colonic muscles, and this finding was extrapolated to include enemas. The data from the studies is not strong, however. In fact, some physicians feel that enemas are preferred over laxatives since they are a more "natural" means of stimulating a bowel movement. (Enemas mimic a large amount of stool in the rectum, the usual stimulus for a bowel movement.) An ongoing need for enemas is not normal; you should see a doctor if you find yourself relying on them or any other medication to have a bowel movement.
Myth # 6 Diverticulosis is a serious but uncommon problem.
Actually, the majority of Americans over age 60 have diverticulosis, but only a small percentage has symptoms or complications. Diverticulosis is a condition in which little out-pouching called diverticula develop in the wall of the colon. These sacs tend to appear and increase in number as individuals age. Most people have no symptoms and learn that they have diverticula after an X-ray or intestinal examination (for example, colonoscopy, and small bowel barium enema) that is being done for a purpose unrelated to the diverticulosis. Less than 10 percent of people with diverticulosis ever develop complications such as infection (diverticulitis), bleeding, or perforation of the intestine.
Myth # 7 Inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease) is caused by psychological problems.
Inflammatory bowel disease is the general name for two diseases of opposite spectrum that cause inflammation in the intestines, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The cause of the disease is unknown, but researchers speculate that it may be a virus or bacteria interacting with the body's immune system. No evidence has been found to support the theory that inflammatory bowel disease is caused by tension, anxiety, or any other psychological factor or disorder, although these can aggravate the discomfort caused by the disease.
Myth # 8 Cirrhosis is caused only by alcoholism.
Alcoholism is just one of many causes of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is scarring and decreased function of the liver. In the United States, alcohol causes less than one-half of cirrhosis cases. The remaining cases are from diseases that cause liver damage. For example, in children, cirrhosis may result from cystic fibrosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, biliary atresia, glycogen storage disease, and other rare diseases. In adults, cirrhosis may be caused by hepatitis B or C, primary biliary cirrhosis, diseases of abnormal storage of metals like iron or copper in the body, severe reactions to prescription drugs, or injury to the ducts that drain bile from the liver. In adults, cirrhosis can also be caused by Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), which is becoming the most common liver disease in the United States, affecting 2 to 5 percent of Americans.
Myth # 9 Ostomy Surgery: After ostomy surgery, men have erectile dysfunction and women have impaired sexual function and are unable to become pregnant.
Ostomy surgery does not, in general, interfere with a person's sexual or reproductive capabilities. Ostomy surgery is a procedure in which the diseased part of the small or large intestine is removed and the remaining intestine is attached to an opening in the abdomen. Stool is collected in a bag taped to the skin over the opening. Alternatively, an internal pouch that collects the stool may be formed from a portion of the intestine. The pouch then can be emptied by insertion of a catheter at regular intervals.
Although some men who have had radical ostomy surgery for cancer lose the ability to achieve and sustain an erection, most men do not, or, if they do, it is temporary. This is caused by damage to the nerves innervating the penis. In women, ostomy surgery does not damage sexual or reproductive organs, so it is not a direct cause of sexual problems or sterility. Factors such as pain and the adjustment to a new body image may create temporary sexual problems, but they can usually be resolved with time and counseling. Unless a woman has had a hysterectomy to remove her uterus, she can still bear children.
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