Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the digestive system. It can affect any part of the gut, from the mouth to the anus, but most commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine (ileum) and the large intestine (colon). Crohn’s disease is one of the two main types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), along with ulcerative colitis.

Diverticulitis is a condition where parts of the bowel get inflamed or infected. The bowel is a muscular tube with a smooth wall that stool (poo) can pass along easily, helped by contractions of the gut muscles. As we age, our bowel can develop small outpouchings which are known as diverticula, and we think this is likely to be due to not eating enough fibre in our diet. Diverticula are very common and become more common with increasing age. This means that in the UK, about half of all people have at least one large bowel diverticula by the age of 50, and by the age of 80, about 7 in 10 of people have them. Around three-quarters of people with diverticula have no symptoms, and they cause no harm. However, if these pockets get inflamed or infected – typically because of poo becoming trapped in them - this is known as diverticulitis and about 1 in 5 of people with diverticula will experience this at some time. People with a sudden flare of diverticulitis will suffer from constant abdominal pain, usually in the left lower side, that comes and goes but is usually worse after eating, and gets better after passing wind or stool. Other symptoms include constipation or diarrhoea, mucus or blood in the stool, and a fever. You can become quite ill. Diverticulitis is diagnosed by your doctor after examining you, or from what is seen on either a CT scan or a colonoscopy (a camera placed inside the back passage). Occasionally, if you have no relevant symptoms or only mild tummy pain and occasional bleeding from the back passage, diverticula may be seen as an incidental finding if you have a scan for another reason, and this is of little significance.

Gallbladder cancer is a rare malignancy that originates in the tissue lining of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small organ located beneath the liver, responsible for storing bile—a fluid produced by the liver to aid in digesting fatty foods. Although gallbladder cancer is uncommon, it can have serious consequences if not detected and managed promptly.

Gastroenteritis is a gut infection that causes abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea or vomiting. You might also feel feverish and will almost certainly be off your food. It's very common, with about 20 per cent of people in the UK being affected by it every year although for most people this is mild and self-limiting and does not require medical attention. Any number of bugs can cause it, but viruses are the most common cause in the UK – rotavirus is a common culprit and outbreaks can occur in schools and workplaces. Bacteria may cause gastroenteritis from contaminated food or water, such as meat that hasn’t been cooked through, for example at barbecues, or rice or salad that has sat out, such as a buffet on a warm day, or drinking from a stream or pond. Travel to exotic locations or ones without good sanitation may bring you into contact with parasites or bacteria, and these may be responsible for your gastroenteritis. Most cases will resolve without treatment and by drinking plenty of fluids in order to prevent dehydration. The majority of gastroenteritis cases improve significantly within 72 hours, however sometimes may continue for up to 5-10 days. The infection – whether  viral or bacterial – irritates the lining of the stomach and gut making the bowel muscles tighten, which in turn triggers vomiting and/or diarrhoea. Depending on the type of bug involved and its severity, symptoms can occur from an hour to several days after getting infected. What are the symptoms? The main symptom is usually watery diarrhoea, and you may also feel sick and start vomiting. In some cases of gastroenteritis there may be blood or mucus in the stools. Cramping abdominal pains are usual, and these may come and go, typically being worse before a bowel movement and easing afterwards. There may also be a high temperature, tiredness and muscle aches and pains. How is it diagnosed? Most people with mild gastroenteritis recognise their symptoms and do not need any medical attention. Tests are not usually needed although if diarrhoea persists for a number of days then a stool (faeces) sample may be tested to try to identify the cause of the infection. Diagnosis is mostly by the symptoms alone however.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term that describes a group of disorders that involve chronic inflammation of tissues in the digestive tract. The two main types of IBD are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Ulcerative colitis affects the inner lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum, while Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. IBD is different from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is a common but less serious condition that causes abdominal discomfort, bloating, and changes in bowel habits. IBD is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can affect the physical, mental, and social well-being of patients. According to the World Health Organization, IBD affects about 10 million people worldwide, with the highest prevalence in Europe and North America. The average age of onset is between 15 and 35 years, but it can occur at any age. IBD imposes a significant economic burden on the health care system and society, as well as a reduced quality of life for patients and their families. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the causes, symptoms, management, treatments, prognosis, and prevention of IBD. By understanding more about this condition, patients can make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

Piles, also known as haemorrhoids, are a very common problem that many people will encounter at some stage in their life. Many people do not seek medical attention for them, so it is unknown exactly how common they are. They are enlarged blood vessels in and around the anus which look like small lumps that can be red or purplish. Symptoms of piles can include blood after you go for a poo, they can also cause pain or itching around the anus. The blood from piles will usually be bright red, and usually seen on wiping or on top of the stools. People can also have no symptoms at all. Sometimes piles can become thrombosed, which means they have no blood flow due to the blood clotting in the vessel. These are very painful and tender to touch, sometimes described as looking like a painful purple grape. Piles are not contagious, and cannot be passed on.

A stomach ulcer is when a part of the lining of the inside of your stomach becomes damaged causing something known as a gastric ulcer (also known as peptic ulcer). The most common cause is infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria, and this is responsible for up to 90% of all cases of peptic ulceration. The second most common cause is damage due to aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used by many people for arthritis, rheumatism, backache, headaches and period pain. Ulcers can also occur in people weakened by severe disease (such as chronic respiratory disease or major trauma) and in inflammatory conditions affecting any part of the gut. A stomach ulcer can cause people to experience pain in the upper central part of their abdomen, often described as a gnawing-type pain, along with other symptoms such as feeling nauseous and the sensation of heartburn. Most stomach ulcers are mild and heal well with treatment. If the stomach ulcer is severe and left untreated, it can become serious and even lead to life-threatening complications that require urgent medical attention. Symptoms of a severe ulcer include vomiting blood, passing black stools (known as melena), or excruciating abdominal pain. What is Helicobacter pylori? Helicobacter pylori is a tiny bacteria living inside and under the lining of the stomach. The groups most often affected are elderly people and people in developing countries. People carrying the bacteria today have most probably been infected during childhood. The risk of acquiring infection for an adult is modest - less than 1 per cent every year. Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) in itself does not usually cause any ulcer symptoms. Nevertheless, this bacteria is the most common cause of ulcers in the stomach and the duodenum. Fortunately, Helicobacter pylori infection can be eliminated by taking a combination of antibiotics and an antacid treatment called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). If the bacteria is not eliminated, most people get a recurrence of their ulcer after a short period of time.

Cancer occurs when cells in our body multiply out of control, producing lots of abnormal cells. These abnormal cells don't function like the cell should and can invade tissues or organs and can sometimes spread to other parts of the body. Anal cancer is cancer that is in the anus, which is the last few centimetres of the bowel and connects the bowel to the outside of the body (the last part your stool passes through the anus when you go for a poo). It isn’t a common cancer – it causes less than 1% of all cancers - but HPV (human papillomavirus) infection increases your risk of developing anal cancer. HPV is a virus passed on through sexual intercourse. Most people will be infected with HPV infection in their lifetime and the majority will not develop anal cancer. Both HPV infection and anal cancer are more common in people who have anal sex with a lot of different partners, those who smoke, those with a lowered immune system, or those who have had cervical, vulval or vaginal cancer. The most common symptoms of anal cancer are bleeding, pain, itching, discharge and faecal incontinence (losing the ability to control when you poo). There are many more common causes of bleeding, pain and itching symptoms that are not anal cancer, so please don’t be worried if you have symptoms but always get them checked out. We should be clear - anal cancer is rare. More subtle signs of cancer can be unexplained tiredness or loss of weight, night sweats or pain in your bones.

Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid rises up from the stomach, burning the sensitive lining of your oesophagus (foodpipe). It may reach the throat, giving you an unpleasant bitter taste in the mouth and possibly causing halitosis (bad breath). Burping, bloating, nausea, a long-standing dry cough and pain on swallowing hot drinks can all be additional signs of acid reflux. Most report symptoms are worse on lying down for 20 to 30 minutes after a meal. It can feel quite uncomfortable – it’s known as heartburn for good reason, and pain can be so severe that some people think they are having a heart attack. When you swallow, food passes from the mouth and throat to the oesophagus and on to the stomach, which produces acid to digest the food. Movement shouldn't occur the opposite way, and a one-way valve (the oesophageal sphincter) protects the oesophagus from this. The oesophagus becomes irritated if it's exposed to acid. The sphincter may not function properly for a number of reasons, which can be as simple as bending over causing increased pressure in the stomach and forcing movement through the sphincter the wrong way, or your stomach may be producing too much acid. Acid reflux – also known as dyspepsia, indigestion, heartburn or gastro-oesophageal reflux – is very common and most people experience it in their lifetime. In most cases it's mild and it resolves on its own or can be treated at home. Here at Healthwords, we like to help ease your symptoms, and we can talk you through treatment options, but we believe that prevention is always better than cure, so by understanding some of the triggers, hopefully, this will avoid you suffering severe symptoms. One of the complications of acid reflux in the long term is damage to the oesophagus in a condition known as GORD, and you may be at risk of ulcers. It can also cause permanent changes to the oesophagus lining, called Barrett’s oesophagus – this puts you at slightly higher risk of oesophageal cancer.

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is characterised by burning on passing urine, the urge to pass urine frequently and pain. Such infections occur when the normally sterile urine becomes infected with bacteria or other microorganisms. The most common bacteria causing a UTI is called E.coli, though other conditions such as Staphylococcus and Chlamydia can also cause infection. Such bacteria or organisms enter the urethra – the tiny tube that links from the vulva to the bladder – and cause irritation (urethritis). The infection can then spread back to the bladder causing cystitis (inflammation of the bladder). If a UTI is left untreated the infection can track even further back to the kidneys, via two small tubes called the ureters (one connects between each kidney and the bladder). This kidney infection is called pyelonephritis and can be a serious health problem. With correct treatment, a urinary tract infection can be cleared quickly – in just one or two days. Even if symptoms are quickly alleviated, always finish any antibiotic course ordered by the doctor to ensure bacteria do not recur in a stronger or different form. UTIs are much more common in women, than men because their urethra is very close to the vagina and anus so bacteria can spread easily. Women also have a shorter urethra than men which means bacteria can travel to the bladder quicker. Sexual intercourse can also irritate the urethra in a woman and increase the incidence of a UTI, and after the menopause UTIs can also become more common in women because of changes in the urethra, bladder and vagina due to hormonal fluctuations. In men, UTIs can be indicative of prostrate problems, kidney stones or a sexually transmitted disease (STD), and in the elderly UTIs can cause confusion and falls.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a condition where there is inflammation of the large bowel and rectum (the last part of the bowel where poo is stored). This inflammation can lead to serious problems including ulcers on the lining of the bowel. Those suffering complain of tummy pain and diarrhoea, and they often notice blood and mucus mixed in the stool. Weight loss can occur as vital nutrients aren't absorbed and the body puts its resources into the inflammation process. You may also have a mild fever and feel easily fatigued, to the extent it's hard to get on with your daily tasks. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and there can be long periods of being symptom-free between flare-ups. How often you're opening your bowels can be a good marker of how bad the symptoms are. If you are opening your bowels more than six times a day this is a serious flare of symptoms. Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition and needs to be monitored and managed throughout your life. About 2 in 1,000 people in the UK develop ulcerative colitis and although it can develop at any age, it most commonly develops between the ages of 10 and 40. Only around 1 in 7 cases first develop it over the age of 60. Although it appears that non-smokers are slightly more likely than smokers to develop ulcerative colitis, the risk of smoking far outweighs any potential benefit here.

The pancreas is a long, flat organ in your tummy, just behind the stomach, that releases enzymes that help with digestion of food. It also makes important hormones like insulin that help regulate your blood sugar. You can’t usually feel it, but it sits just below the centre of your chest, between the rib cage and your belly button. Cancer of the pancreas is fairly common in the UK – it's the 11th most common cancer with over 10,000 cases diagnosed each year - but sadly it has one of the lowest survival rates of all common cancers, usually because symptoms are only noticed when it’s already at a fairly advanced stage in the body. There are a number of types of pancreatic cancer but the most common is an adenocarcinoma that causes over 90% of cases.