Functions of the Gastrointestinal System in the Body

Your digestive or gastrointestinal system turns what you eat and drink into the energy your body needs to grow and keep working. Digestion begins in your mouth. You chew food into small pieces that can be digested more easily. An enzyme in the saliva helps break down carbohydrates.

Food moves from your mouth through your esophagus and then to your stomach. The esophagus is a muscular tube that uses wave-like motions to move the food to your stomach. When food arrives in your stomach, it mixes with strong acids and enzymes. The strong muscles of the stomach churn the mixture of food, acids and enzymes. This mixture is called chime.

Fibroids: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Fibroids are non-cancerous (benign) tumors that grow from the muscle layers of the uterus (womb). They are also known as uterine fibroids, leiomyomas, or myomas.

Fibroids are growths of smooth muscle, and can vary from the size of a bean to as large as a melon.

Fast facts on fibroids

Here are some key points about fibroids. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.

• An estimated 1 in 5 women will be affected by fibroids during their life
• Researchers do not know exactly why fibroids form
• Most people experience no symptoms at all, but they can include backache,constipation, and anemia

What are fibroids?

Fibroids affect at least 20 percent of all women at some point in their life. Women of reproductive age are the most likely to develop them. Also, overweight and obese women have a significantly higher risk of developing fibroids, compared with women of normal weight.

Four types of fibroids

There are four types of fibroids, characterized by their location in the uterus:

• Intramural – located in the wall of the uterus, this is the most common type.
• Subserosal fibroids – located outside the wall of the uterus but underneath the tissue layer that surrounds the uterus. They can develop into pedunculated fibroids (stalks) and become quite large.
• Submucosal fibroids – located in the muscle beneath the lining of the uterus wall. This type can protrude into the cavity of the uterus.
• Cervical fibroids – located in the neck of the womb (the cervix).

Causes of fibroids

Experts cannot come to a common consensus about why fibroids occur.

During a woman’s reproductive years, estrogen and progesterone levels are high. When estrogen levels are high, especially during pregnancy, fibroids tend to swell. When estrogen levels are low, fibroids may shrink, for example, during a woman’s menopause.

Heredity may also be a factor; women whose close relatives have had fibroids have a higher risk of developing them.

There is also some evidence that red meats, alcohol, and caffeine could increase the risk of fibroids. Also, an increased intake of fruit and vegetables might reduce the risk.

Symptoms of uterine fibroids

Most women have no symptoms, but around 1 in 3 will experience symptoms, which may include:

• Anemia (as a result of heavy periods)
• Backache
• Constipation
• Discomfort in the lower abdomen (especially if fibroids are large)
• Frequent urination
• Heavy, painful periods
• Pain in the legs
• Painful sex
• Swelling in the lower abdomen (especially if fibroids are large)

Other possible symptoms of uterine fibroids include:

• Labor problems
• Pregnancy problems
• Fertility problems
• Repeated miscarriages

Diagnosis of fibroids

In most cases, the symptoms of fibroids are rarely felt, and the patient does not know she has them. They are usually discovered during a vaginal examination.

• Ultrasound – can detect fibroids and eliminate other possible conditions which may have similar symptoms. An ultrasound can be used over the abdomen or transvaginally (a small probe is inserted into the vagina). This may help visualize cervical and submucosal types better.
• MRI– this is the best type of imaging to determine the size of fibroids and if there are multiple fibroids in the uterus. However, MRI can be quite expensive.
• Hysteroscopy– a small telescope to examine the inside of the uterus. During this procedure, if necessary, a biopsy (small tissue sample) can be taken of the lining of the uterus.
• Laparoscopy – a laparoscope is a small flexible tube used to examine the outside of the uterus. During this procedure, if necessary, a biopsy can be taken from the outer layer of the uterus. This is a surgical procedure that would require cutting through the skin.

Treatments for fibroids

If the woman has no symptoms and the fibroids are not affecting her day-to-day life, she may receive no treatment at all. Even women who have heavy periods but whose lives are not badly affected by this symptom may also opt for no treatment.

During menopause, fibroids usually shrink, and symptoms will often become less apparent, or disappear altogether.

When treatment is necessary, it may be in the form of medication or surgery.

You can reach us for more information on treatment of fibroid.

What is Obesity?

Obesity is a condition where a person has accumulated so much body fat that it might have a negative effect on their health.

If a person’s bodyweight is at least 20% higher than it should be, he or she is considered
obese. If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is between 25 and 29.9 you are considered overweight. If your BMI is 30 or over you are considered obese.

Why do people become obese?

People can become obese for many different reasons. Lets look at some of the most common ones:

1) Consuming too many calories.

These days people are eating much more food than in previous generations. This used to be the case just in developed nations – however, the trend has spread worldwide.

Despite billions of dollars being spent on public awareness campaigns that attempt to encourage people to eat healthily, the majority of us continue to overeat. In 1980 14% of the adult population of the USA was obese; by 2000 the figure reached 31% (The Obesity Society).

In the USA, the consumption of calories increased from 1,542 per day for women in 1971 to 1,877 per day in 2004. The figures for men were 2,450 in 1971 and 2,618 in 2004. Most people would expect this increase in calories to consist of fat – not so! Most of the increased food consumption has consisted of carbohydrates (sugars). Increased consumption of sweetened drinks has contributed significantly to the raised carbohydrate intake of most young American adults over the last three decades. The consumption of fast-foods has tripled over the same period.

Various other factors are also said to have contributed to America’s increased calorie and carbohydrate intake:

• In 1984 the Reagan administration freed up advertising on sweets and fast foods for children – regulations had previously set limits.
• Agricultural policies in most of the developed world have led to much cheaper foods.
• The US Farm Bill meant that the source of processed foods came from subsidized wheat, corn and rice. Corn, wheat and rice became much cheaper than fruit and vegetables.

2) Leading a sedentary lifestyle

With the arrival of televisions, computers, video games, remote controls, washing machines, dish washers and other modern convenience devices, people are commonly are leading a much more sedentary lifestyle compared to their parents and grandparents.

Some decades ago shopping consisted of walking down the road to the high street where one could find the grocers, bakers, banks, etc. As large out-of-town supermarkets and shopping malls started to appear, people moved from using their feet to driving their cars to get their provisions. In some countries, such as the USA, dependence on the car has become so strong that many people will drive even if their destination is only half-a-mile away.

The less you move around the fewer calories you burn. However, this is not only a question of calories. Physical activity has an effect on how your hormones work, and hormones have an effect on how your body deals with food. Several studies have shown that physical activity has a beneficial effect on your insulin levels – keeping them stable. Unstable insulin levels are closely associated with weight gain.

Breast Lump and its Causes

Finding a lump in your breast can cause a lot of anxiety. Most breast lumps, particularly in younger women, are not caused by cancer. They may be non-cancerous (benign) lumps (such as cysts) or infection.

The breast is connected to muscles on the wall of your chest. It is made up of fatty tissue. Within the fatty tissue are lobules or milk-forming glands. Milk drains from these glands into breast ducts during breast-feeding. Milk then leaves the ducts through your nipple.

The glands and ducts can decrease or increase in number and size. This will depend on whether they are needed.

Breast lumps can involve any of these different tissues, or components, that make up your breast.

Common causes of breast lumps

Normal (physiological) swelling and tenderness

Your breasts change throughout your menstrual cycle each month because of your hormones. At least half of all women who have periods will have some pain, tenderness and lumpiness in their breasts at some time in the month. This is usually most obvious in the week before your period. It quickly goes when your period starts.

When this pain and lumpiness cause problems it is known as fibrocystic change. Pain and lumps (nodules) may occur which are severe enough to need checking by a doctor. It is more common in women aged 30-50.

Fibroadenoma

This is a non-cancerous (benign) breast lump that usually occurs in women under the age of 40. It is most common in women in their 20s. It is the most common type of benign breast lump.

These lumps occur as a result of excess growth of the glands and connective tissue in the breasts. They usually feel like round, firm and rubbery lumps. They usually move slightly under the skin when they are pressed. They are not usually painful.

Sometimes they can disappear of their own accord or they can be removed. They tend to go after the menopause.

Breast cysts

A cyst is a fluid-filled lump. Cysts are more common in women approaching menopause, although they can occur at any age. They are usually oval or round lumps that are smooth and firm. They tend to move slightly when pressed. It is common for them to appear within two weeks prior to your period and then go away (resolve) soon after the period.

Cysts cannot turn into cancer and do not always need treating once the diagnosis has been confirmed. Where treatment is needed, it typically involves draining the fluid from the cyst. This is done by using a thin needle inserted into your breast by the doctor. After draining, some cysts will refill with fluid but can be drained again. Usually this is done by a specialist doctor in a breast clinic.