Functional Gastric Disorder

Functional Gastric Disorder General Information

The clinical term of “Functional medical disorder” refers to any type of medical condition in which the normal operation (in other words, the function) of the human organism (or of a part of the human organism) is disrupted in any way. Another main characteristic of this type of medical conditions is that fact that the most common medical tests that are performed in such cases are unable to spot the disturbance (they cannot set a clear diagnosis as the organs do not present any noticeable structural and / or anatomical abnormalities). For this reason, Functional Gastric Disorder is a medical term that refers to the presence of a functional clinical condition that affects the patient’s gastric system.

In other words, this term refers to a wide variety of medical conditions, among which, the most common are: stomatitis, small bowel, malabsorption syndrome, pancreatic disease, liver disease, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, indigestion, gastric cancer, gallbladder disease, esophageal disease, enterocolitis, and so on. In this article, we aim to familiarize you with a few of these medical disorders. Enterocolitis is an inflammation that affects the large intestine (enteritis) and small intestine (colitis). Indigestion is a quite common clinical disorder; it is characterized by a burning feeling (or discomfort) that is located in the upper part of the patient’s abdomen. Some patients associate this clinical disorder with another symptom – heartburn. Stomatitis is also an inflammatory disease; it affects the mouth’s mucous linings (lips, tongue, throat, gums, cheeks, and so on). The causes of this Functional Gastric Disorder include poor oral hygiene, mouth burns (hot food), allergic reactions, the prolonged intake of some medicines, and so on. Gallbladder disease includes Cholelithiasis (gallstones) and also Cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation).

Functional Gastric Disorder Symptoms

Like most other medical conditions, the presence of any of the Functional Gastric Disorders is known to trigger a set of common signs and / or symptoms that are typical for that specific medical disorder. You have to understand that the list of symptoms that you will find in this article is probably incomplete. For this reason, it is strongly recommended for all patients who suspect to be suffering from a Functional Gastric Disorder to contact their personal health care provider, a nurse or a pharmacist; such individuals are able to provide the patient with further information regarding the steps that he or she must make until acquiring a proper diagnosis of his medical condition.

The most common symptoms that have been associated with the presence of indigestion include discomfort that is not related to eating and / or severe pain. If you also experience bloody vomit, tarry stools, sweating, breath shortness, pain that radiates to the arm / jaw / neck, and so on, you should seek professional health care at once as your indigestion may be a simple sign of another more severe medical condition.  In the case of patients who are suffering from Gallbladder Disease, the list of symptoms is longer: gas, abdominal fullness, abdominal pain, vomiting and / or nausea, heartburn, fever, shaking, chills, chest pain that is located under the patient’s breastbone, and so on. The abdomen of most patients who have been diagnosed with this Functional Gastric Disorder is known to be tender even to a slight touch.

As Stomatitis is an inflammation that is located in the patient’s mouth, the symptoms and signs of this clinical disorder are known to be strongly related to this part of the human organism. They include: oral bleeding, sore mouth, sore oral membranes, mouth ulcers, blood in saliva, bad breath, and so on.

Functional Gastric Disorder Treatment

All patients must be aware of the fact that a proper diagnosis of their Functional Gastric Disorder in the early stages of their condition is very important. For this reason, if they experience any of the symptoms that we have listed above (in the previous chapter) or if they experience any new, unpleasant or disturbing clinical manifestations, they should immediately contact their personal health care provider and investigate their cause. Early diagnosis (and, of course, early therapy against your condition) increases the chances of success of your treatment. Each Functional Gastric Disorder has a specific therapy that aims to fight against the causes of the disorder.

The average therapy for enterocolitis depends on the severity of the patient’s clinical condition (on the stage of the disorder and on the general health state of the individual). Medical therapy and surgery are the most viable therapy options that are available for patients who have been diagnosed with this disorder. Most patients will be prescribed a treatment with antibiotics, in order to effectively fight against any potential infections. Red blood and / or platelet transfusion is sometimes necessary. In the case of patients who have been diagnosed with Gallbladder Disease (the diagnosis is generally made after a few clinical exams have been performed; the most common of them are known to test the patient’s lipase, amylase, chem-20, urine, and so on), their therapy options are very wide; however, the appropriate treatment trial depends on the type of disorder that the individual is suffering from, on the stage of his Functional Gastric Disorder, and so on. 

The average treatment trial that fights against the patient’s Stomatitis is actually based on the underlying problem that is thought to cause this disease. For this reason, good oral hygiene and local cleansing are very important in all cases. Most patients who have been diagnosed with this Functional Gastric Disorder are recommended to avoid sharp edged aliments (potato chips, tacos, peanuts, and so on). If the disorder is due to a local factor (such as the presence of an ill-fitting dental appliance), that factor should be corrected as soon as possible by a professional (dentist). Some individuals are prescribed local anesthetics (Lidocaine gel, 2%) that are meant to relieve symptoms such as pain, a coating agent (Kaopectate) and / or a protective paste (Orabase) that is able to protect eroded (wounded) areas from further damage.

Another medicine that is widely employed in the therapy against most Functional Gastric Disorders is Simethicone (in any of its brand names). A therapy with this drug is known to allow the gas bubbles in the patient’s intestines and / or stomach come together in a much easier way. In this way, the gas is granted easier passage. For this reason, a therapy with this medicine can effectively relieve pain caused by an increased pressure of the gas against the patient’s intestines. This drug can also be prescribed to babies, and elderly patients.