Patients: what you should know about intestinal dysbiosis

Intestinal dysbiosis is a common phenomenon associated with changes in the qualitative or quantitative composition of the normal intestinal microflora, which occurs in 90% of cases among adults and in 95% of cases among children.

Normally, both “good” and “harmful” bacteria coexist in the intestines in an optimal ratio. With dysbacteriosis, representatives of normal microflora (bifidobacteria, lactic acid and E. coli, etc.) may disappear due to the growth of various types of fungi of the genus candida, staphylococci, proteas, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, etc. This can cause inflammatory processes in the intestines and lead to the development of various diseases of the digestive system.

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Consultation with a gastroenterologist in MedicCity

2 Consultation with a gastroenterologist in MedicCity

With appropriate timely treatment, intestinal dysbiosis can be eliminated. If left to chance, the disease can take a protracted, often progressive course. The most severe form of dysbiosis is bacteremia (the appearance of gastrointestinal bacteria in the blood) or even sepsis. In our clinic, appointments are conducted by experienced gastroenterologists who will provide you with professional assistance in treating the intestines and other organs of the digestive system.

Factors causing intestinal dysbiosis:

• stress, decreased immunity;
• unnecessary use of antibiotics;
• chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• food poisoning;
• intestinal infections;
• alcohol abuse (alcohol metabolism products lead to the death of microorganisms);
• consumption of food containing preservatives, herbicides and other foreign substances;
• unhealthy diet (frequent use of diets should also be included in this category).

Symptoms of intestinal dysbiosis

It is difficult to identify clear symptoms of dysbiosis, since they are similar to the manifestations of other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (for example, irritable bowel syndrome).

First of all, the digestive functions suffer: when the flora is disturbed, the body rejects various nutrients because it cannot absorb them without the help of certain microorganisms and enzymes. This results in abdominal pain, nausea, belching, heartburn, bloating, stool disorders (diarrhea, constipation, their alternation), bad breath.

1 Intestinal dysbiosis

In addition, low-grade fever and allergies to certain foods that are still easily digestible by the body are possible. Weight loss and anemia are also frequent “companions” of dysbiosis.

Another characteristic sign of dysbiosis is various dermatological problems (acne, allergic reactions, rashes, acne), which can only be eliminated by eliminating the root cause. Treatment of the intestines and restoration of its normal microflora is the first stage in the treatment of many skin diseases.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT)

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT): how to recognize the enemy in time?

Digestion involves a dozen organs that break down food, absorb nutrients and remove excess waste from the body. This is a “full cycle” system - from the absorption of food products and their processing to the removal of undigested residues. It is extremely important that each of its elements works smoothly and does not fail.

How does the human gastrointestinal tract work?

The digestion process is somewhat reminiscent of going down a slide in a water park. The beginning of the journey is the oral cavity , where food is chewed, crushed, mixed with saliva and turned into a soft food bolus.

This is interesting

The mucous membrane of the oral cavity has receptors that help recognize the taste, temperature and consistency of food. These sensors transmit signals to the brain, which activates the salivary, fundic and pancreatic glands.

Next comes the pharynx , a funnel-shaped canal in which the digestive and respiratory tracts intersect.

The journey of food continues in the esophagus - a cylindrical muscular tube 22–25 cm long. The upper and lower esophageal sphincters at the ends serve as valves that prevent food from returning back into the oral cavity.

The stomach is a pouch-shaped muscular organ that connects the esophagus to the duodenum (duodenum). It is like a cauldron in which food is accumulated, mixed into a paste and digested by gastric juices. Stomach juice consists of enzymes and hydrochloric acid, due to which it has pronounced acidity (about 1.5–2.0 pH). Gastric juice breaks down proteins and other chemical compounds, after which they are transported to the small intestine for final digestion and absorption.

The length of the small intestine , consisting of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum and occupying most of the abdominal cavity, is about 4.5 m. The small intestine contains glands that produce intestinal juice for the main digestion of food and absorption of nutrients into the blood.

The large intestine is the lower part of the intestine where water, electrolytes, fiber are absorbed and unusable food residues are formed into feces. The large intestine is 1.5 m long and is divided into the cecum, colon and rectum. The rectum, the final section of the digestive tract, ends in an opening (anus). Serves for the accumulation of feces and bowel movements. This is where the “unprecedented journey” ends - processed food remains leave the body.

Digestion also involves the pancreas, kidneys, adrenal glands, gallbladder and liver.

The pancreas is located in close proximity to the stomach and duodenum. It secretes pancreatic juice, which promotes complete digestion of food and metabolic processes.

The liver takes part in the metabolism of lipids, vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates, synthesizes blood proteins: globulins, albumins and fibrinogen. The organ participates in immunological reactions.

The function of the gallbladder is to store and supply, as needed, concentrated bile, which is constantly produced by liver cells. Bile is directly involved in human digestion and acts as a kind of antibacterial agent.

It is worth mentioning the role of the kidneys and adrenal glands , which belong to the urinary system, in digestion. They process the water coming from the colon, filtering it into what is suitable for the body's needs and into urine, which contains unnecessary impurities and must be excreted.

At each stage of the passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract, failures are possible, leading to incomplete absorption of food, problems with the removal of waste material and threatening the development of gastrointestinal pathologies.

Among the causes of problems with the digestive system, the leading one is poor nutrition, which comes in various forms. This is overeating and eating heavy food, malnutrition and starvation, irregular meals, quick snacks, scarcity and unbalanced diet. The gastrointestinal tract is negatively affected by poorly purified water and harmful food additives.

Other factors: poor environment, stress, harmful working conditions, addictions, congenital predisposition, autoimmune diseases and disruptions in the endocrine system, side effects of drugs (antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, painkillers, hormonal drugs), violation of sanitary standards when preparing and eating food, which can cause infectious diseases and parasites.

Failures in the digestive system negatively affect the entire body, reduce immunity, disrupt metabolism, and lead to deterioration in the appearance of the skin, brittle hair and nails. They are fraught with numbness of the limbs, pain in muscles and bones, and sleep disturbances.

Possible complications for the cardiovascular system: hypertension, arrhythmia, angina pectoris, risk of stroke and heart attack. Against the background of gastrointestinal diseases, anular stomatitis, glossitis, bleeding gums, eczema, and neurodermatitis can develop. In advanced forms of gastrointestinal diseases, damage to the pituitary gland, adrenal glands, gonads, and thyroid gland is possible.

Gastrointestinal diseases: what the statistics say

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are among the most common pathologies in the world.

Medical statistics Mortality from gastroenterological causes in Russia ranks third after cardiovascular diseases and cancer and is about 0.08% (80 cases per 100,000 people). An average increase of 0.003% in deaths is recorded annually.

Men are 38% more likely to become victims of gastrointestinal diseases, which is associated with both uncontrolled alcohol consumption and late seeking medical help.

Among deadly gastroenterological diseases, over 45% are liver diseases caused by alcohol. Twice as many men die as women (16:7 ratio). Acute pancreatitis and other diseases of the pancreas are the cause of death in 17% of gastroenterologist patients. Death from peritonitis due to gallbladder rupture is less than 1%.

Lethal intestinal diseases are caused by advanced forms of inflammation and perforations (violation of integrity, formation of holes) in the walls of the small and large intestines. In particular, appendicitis (inflammation of the cecum) is responsible for up to 4% of all deaths associated with the gastrointestinal tract. The same amount is due to infarction (necrosis, necrosis) of the intestine.

Despite its widespread prevalence, gastric and duodenal ulcers are the cause of death in no more than 10% of the gastrointestinal group.

Chronic gastritis . It affects up to 80–90% of patients in the world, which is facilitated by the pathogenic bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which causes inflammation of the gastric mucosa. In developing countries, Helicobacter infection in people over 40 years of age reaches 95%.

In Russia, the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the stomach is noted, according to various sources, in 62–94% of adult patients.

The consequence of gastritis - a stomach ulcer is found in every 15th inhabitant of the Earth. In our country, the statistics are more optimistic - only 1 in 40 Russians is sick. Men get ulcers 2–4 times more often than women.

The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) reaches 50% among the adult population. Symptoms of the disease occur equally often in both men and women.

Duodenitis is a common disease of the duodenum, affecting 5–10% of patients. In men, it is diagnosed twice as often due to alcohol abuse and poor lifestyle choices.

Colitis , is also relatively common . The cause of the disease is pathogenic microbes (streptococci, staphylococci, E. coli).

Appendicitis (inflammation of the cecum) occurs in 30% of Russians.

Every tenth man and every fourth woman who complains of abdominal pain is diagnosed with chronic cholecystitis (cholelithiasis).

Dysbiosis is common among children and adults - an imbalance of intestinal microflora, leading to disruption of the digestive system.

Symptoms of the most common gastrointestinal diseases

Typical signs of gastrointestinal pathologies: heartburn (burning sensation from the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus), flatulence and intestinal stenosis (bloating caused by the accumulation of gases in the intestines), belching (gases escaping from the stomach or esophagus), nausea and vomiting, problems with stool (constipation or diarrhea), bad breath, plaque on the tongue.

Less common: dysphagia (impaired swallowing, accompanied by pain and a feeling of stopping the food bolus), impurities in the stool (blood, mucus, undigested food residues), swelling of the tongue, bitterness in the mouth, itchy skin and other allergic reactions. Diseases of a common pathogenesis have both general and specific symptoms.

Stomach diseases

Pain in the epigastric region and dyspeptic syndrome (sour belching, heartburn, vomiting and nausea) may indicate a number of diseases of the stomach, esophagus and DCP.

With a peptic ulcer , which is a wound in the wall of the duodenum or stomach, there are sharp periodic pains in the left hypochondrium, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, and bloody impurities in the stool.

Inflammatory processes of the stomach ( gastritis ) and duodenum ( duodenitis ) manifest themselves in a similar way. The diseases are accompanied by acute, aching or nagging pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and problems with bowel movements. Patients experience a feeling of a full stomach and heaviness in the abdomen, even with little food consumption.

A hiatal hernia also causes pain in the epigastric region when changing positions and after eating. It is also possible to experience back pain and girdling pain. 20% of patients (mostly over 60 years of age) experience pain in the heart area due to concomitant cardiac diseases.

The intestines often suffer from inflammatory processes and infectious lesions. Inflammation of the large and small intestines ( enteritis and colitis ) is accompanied by stool upset (up to 15 times a day). During defecation and immediately after it, the patient experiences severe weakness, dizziness, nausea, and a drop in blood pressure. There is bloating, cold sweat, trembling of the limbs, tachycardia, as well as loud rumbling, splashing noise and pain on palpation.

Signs of paraproctitis, or abscess (purulent inflammation) of the rectum are severe pain in the rectum or perineum. As the abscess increases in size, the pain intensifies, the urge to defecate becomes painful, the temperature rises, and chills are possible.

Dysbacteriosis is manifested by abnormal stool, bloating, cramping pain, dyspeptic disorders and allergic reactions (itching and skin rashes).

Hemorrhoids (varicose veins of the rectum) are characterized by bleeding or smearing with blood after defecation, prolapse of hemorrhoids through the anus and pain during bowel movements, which continues for some time (when walking, sitting and lying down).

The symptoms of appendicitis are determined by the patient’s age, the location of the appendix in the abdominal cavity, and the presence of complications. Characterized by a dull pain in the right side, weakness and headache, which may be accompanied by pain in the legs, nausea combined with single vomiting, frequent loose stools, temperature within 38 degrees.

One should not lose sight of one of the most common and yet mysterious pathologies - irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) , accompanied by abdominal cramps, stool problems, and painful bloating. IBS has a negative impact on the entire body: the patient complains of headache, insomnia, increased fatigue, and rapid heartbeat even at complete rest. According to most experts, IBS is of a psychosomatic nature and appears as a result of stress and severe emotional overload. However, to get rid of the problem, it is important not only to achieve peace of mind, but also to apply comprehensive drug treatment. One solution may be to take bismuth preparations, which simultaneously have a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and protective effect.

Liver diseases

Acute hepatitis C (inflammatory viral damage to the liver) is marked by a whole range of symptoms. Among them: weakness, decreased appetite and performance, sleep disturbance, aversion to food, a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, pain in large joints, the appearance of a rash, increased body temperature, darkening of urine, yellowing of the skin (hence the popular name for the disease - jaundice).

The first signs of liver cirrhosis are: a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, decreased performance, pain in the right hypochondrium, a feeling of fullness in the stomach, bleeding gums and nosebleeds, fever, flatulence, nausea, vomiting.

Diseases of the gallbladder and biliary tract

Signs of cholecystitis (inflamed gallbladder) are acute pain in the right hypochondrium, bloating, attacks of nausea and vomiting. The pain intensifies with a deep breath while palpating the gallbladder area. Many patients report a slight increase in temperature.

Pancreatic diseases

Patients with pancreatitis often complain of acute abdominal pain, which is accompanied by nausea and vomiting with gastric juice, mucus, bile, etc. There is also bloating, dry mouth, and belching. Blue spots often appear on the left side and in the navel area.

Most common and life-threatening diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are caused by inflammatory processes against the background of a bacterial or viral infection. Digestion is a single interconnected system and diseases of its organs can sequentially develop according to the domino principle. The source of an avalanche of problems is often in the stomach, which we put to the test of strength every day. Therefore, in the treatment of gastrointestinal pathologies, an integrated approach using gastroprotective (protective) and antiseptic gastrointestinal drugs is effective.

Diagnostics

First of all, an endoscopic or x-ray examination of the entire colon should be performed in order to exclude polyps or oncological processes, which may be manifested by symptoms indicating dysbiosis - abdominal pain, unstable stool (with alternating diarrhea and constipation), bloating, weight loss and anemia.

1 Endoscopy for intestinal dysbiosis in MedicCity

2 Endoscopy for intestinal dysbiosis in MedicCity

In addition, qualified bacteriological analysis of stool and other studies are required, since very often dysbiosis occurs in combination with other gastrointestinal diseases. Experienced gastroenterologists at our clinic will diagnose you and prescribe an adequate treatment regimen for your intestines.

Treatment of intestinal dysbiosis

Dysbacteriosis is often associated with irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal motility disorders, psycho-emotional stress and other factors, so its treatment must be comprehensive. The standard treatment regimen for intestinal dysbiosis necessarily includes a special diet, restoration of intestinal motor functions, taking bacterial preparations in order to establish intestinal microflora; in some cases, the prescription of antibiotics is required.

The material was prepared with the participation of a specialist:

Reasons for development

The following negative factors can affect the development of intestinal microflora imbalance:

1. Previously diagnosed inflammatory process in the large intestine (colitis), gastritis and gastric ulcer.
2. Long-term therapy with drugs from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
3. Nutritional factor (poor nutrition).
4. Prolonged or uncontrolled use of antibiotics.
5. Previously completed radiation therapy.
6. Foodborne toxic infections.
7. Regular exposure to stress on the body, emotional and physical overload.
8. Abuse of laxatives.