What is the gastrointestinal tract?

Your gastrointestinal tract encompasses your mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, the liver and the pancreas. Essentially, every element that goes into the digestion process is grouped under the umbrella term of gastrointestinal tract. From chewing with your mouth to the breaking down of food into proteins, carbohydrates and so on in your stomach and even when what you eat is further broken down into amino acids and sugars, all of these are considered to be functions of your gastrointestinal tract.

Most infections and illnesses that are related to the gastro intestinal tract usually occur in the stomach and intestines. The reason for this is that most parasites and bacteria live in and around the area surrounding the intestine. Under normal circumstances, these bacteria are used to help the digestion process. However, in certain situations, healthy and acceptable bacteria and replaced by bacteria and parasites that cause damage to your body via a number of gastrointestinal infections and illnesses.

The bacteria that play the most vital roles are Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bifidus.

Why you need to pay attention to your gastrointestinal tract?

The health of your gastrointestinal tract can dwindle with age. As you grow older, the number of digestive enzymes you produce begins to reduce significantly. This means that the food you eat takes longer to digest and break down than it would have in the past. The slowing down of the digestion process leads to the destruction of bacteria that ordinarily would be extremely beneficial to your digestion. In cases such as these, the decrease in healthy bacteria is almost always proportionate to the increase in harmful parasites and yeast which have a disastrous effect on your digestive system and your body in general.

An increased presence of yeast and parasites makes your intestinal wall a lot thinner, making the possibility of harmful toxins entering your blood stream a very potent reality.

What symptoms can you expect to experience?

Most gastrointestinal conditions are usually present for years before you actually begin experiencing symptoms.

Common symptoms that you can expect to experience include headaches, fatigue and an increased susceptibility to minor problems with the digestion process like constant belching, constipation and so on. Most people are able to counter these symptoms with antacids and laxatives that are available at every local pharmacy. One should also be directed to not only see their doctor but also by visiting their local health products retailer to speak to an alternative medicine practitioner. After all, while antacids and laxatives might do the trick occasionally, recurrence in symptoms is indicative of the need to visit your local GP.

Some of the more serious illnesses that are a result of poor gastrointestinal health include Irritable Bowel Disease (IBS), Crohn's disease and Colitis. Chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and hives can also be traced back to poor gastrointestinal health.

Common gastrointestinal health related infections

• Stomach Bugs - Stomach bugs or infections are one of the most commonly reported gastrointestinal illnesses. Caused by any one of a number of potential factors like food poisoning, viral or bacterial infections, common symptoms of stomach bugs include diarrhoea, stomach pain and nausea.
• Stomach Gas – Stomach gas is normally the result of undigested food or swallowed air. Symptoms of stomach gas include abdominal pain, belching and flatulence and could also be symptomatic of more serious illnesses like peptic ulcers and so on. The best way to minimise stomach gas is via a change in diet or taking the required medicines.

Travel Sickness and Motion Sickness are also conditions that exhibit similar symptoms like nausea, vomiting and headaches. However, a good way to distinguish between an infection caused by gastrointestinal factors and illnesses caused by travel sickness or as a result of motion sickness is to keep tabs on where you are when you experience these symptoms. If you are in a plane or a car when you experience these symptoms, chances are you are exhibiting symptoms of motion sickness or travel sickness as opposed to infections related to your gastrointestinal tract.