02 Digestive Diseases

02 00 Ascites

02 01 Barrett’s Esophagus

02 02 Colitis

02 03 Constipation

02 04 Dysphagia

02 05 Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)

02 06 Intestinal Gas

02 10 Gastritis

02 11 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

02 12 Pancreatitis

02 13 Salmonella Infection

02 14 Schatzki’s Ring

02 15 Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

02 16 Tylenol Liver Damage

02 20 Vomiting Blood

Our digestive tract, the gastrointestinal tract, is crucial to our overall health. It includes the esophagus, liver, stomach, small and large intestines, gallbladder, and pancreas. Digestive disorders, which affect millions of people each year, can disrupt this vital system. These disorders encompass a variety of diseases ranging from mild to severe. Common digestive disorders include gastroesophageal reflux disease, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, and hiatal hernia. The most common symptoms of digestive disorders include bleeding, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, pain, nausea and vomiting.

Understanding the color treatment system is crucial as it can guide you in your treatment journey. Each disease or condition is assigned a unique code, which includes a treatment color. This system is designed to help you quickly identify the treatment options for your specific condition, empowering you to take control of your health.

 

Scroll down the site to find your disease or condition. Then, you look for the treatment color. The treatment colors are magenta (red-blue), blue, cyan (blue-green), green, yellow (red-green), and red. I give the treatment colors a number. Magenta = 0, blue = 1, cyan = 2, green = 3, yellow = 4, and red = 5. For instance, Ascites would then be categorized as 02-00-4. Here, the last digit, the treatment color, is yellow. The first two digits are the disease/condition group (Digestive Diseases is 02). The next two digits (Ascites is 00) are the illness within the group, and the last digit (yellow is 4) is the treatment color. This system can help you quickly identify the treatment options for your specific condition.

 

When you use the projector, click on your treatment color, and a large image of it will appear. Make the color cover the whole page and project it onto yourself. When you use the LED light bulb, you choose your color manually.

Ascites occur when too much fluid accumulates in the abdomen (belly). This condition often arises in individuals with cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver. The peritoneal sheet covers the abdominal organs, including the stomach, bowels, liver, and kidneys. The peritoneum consists of two layers. Ascites develop when fluid collects between these two layers.

Barrett’s esophagus is a condition in which the flat pink lining of the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach, becomes damaged by acid reflux, causing the lining to thicken and turn red. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is an essential valve between the esophagus and the stomach. Over time, the LES may fail, leading to acid and chemical damage to the esophagus, a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulcers (sores) in the digestive tract. It affects the innermost lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. Symptoms typically develop over time rather than appearing suddenly. 

Ulcerative colitis can be debilitating and may sometimes lead to life-threatening complications. Although there is no known cure, treatment can significantly reduce the signs and symptoms of the disease and promote long-term remission.

Constipation occurs when a person has difficulty emptying the large bowel. Home remedies and lifestyle changes can often help resolve constipation, but sometimes, medical attention is needed. Constipation can happen for many reasons, such as when stool passes through the colon too slowly. The slower food moves through the digestive tract, the more water the colon absorbs, and the more complex the feces become. A person who poops fewer than three times per week may have constipation. It can sometimes result from a significant intestinal blockage or a lack of fiber or water.

Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty swallowing. When dysphagia is mild, it may cause an individual to stop eating for a minute or less. However, when it is severe, it can prevent an individual from consuming enough calories for adequate nutrition. Dysphagia has many causes:

  • There may be a physical (anatomical) obstruction to the passage of food.
  • There may be abnormalities in the function of the nerves of the brain, throat, and esophagus, which are necessary to coordinate swallowing.
  • There may also be abnormalities in the throat and esophagus muscles.

EPI occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough digestive enzymes. At times, the enzymes do not function properly. Enzymes are proteins that facilitate chemical reactions in your body. Digestive enzymes break down food, enabling your body to absorb nutrients.

Intestinal gas, a buildup of air in the digestive tract, is usually noticed when you burp or pass it rectally (flatulence). From the stomach to the rectum, the entire digestive tract contains intestinal gas as a natural result of swallowing and digestion. Certain foods, such as beans, are fully broken down once they reach the large intestine (colon), where bacteria act on them.

Gastritis, or stomach lining tissue inflammation, can be acute (sudden onset) or chronic (lasting symptoms). Symptoms include upper abdominal or epigastric pain, burning, and heartburn. The pain may worsen with eating. Nausea and vomiting can sometimes accompany the pain. Symptoms of chronic gastritis encompass feelings of fullness, nausea, flatulence, weight loss, and vomiting.

Heartburn is an uncomfortable sensation of burning and warmth behind the breastbone (sternum), sometimes rising as high as the neck. It typically occurs after meals, lying down, or sleeping at night. Heartburn is primarily caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which involves rising stomach acid back into the esophagus. Although heartburn has nothing to do with the heart, its discomfort may be mistaken for heart pain and vice versa. Heartburn is a common nonmedical term, medically referred to as pyrosis.

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, a long, flat gland in the upper abdomen behind the stomach. The pancreas produces enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that regulate how the body processes sugar (glucose). 

Pancreatitis can manifest as acute pancreatitis, which appears suddenly and lasts for days, or chronic pancreatitis, which develops over many years. 

Mild cases of pancreatitis may resolve without treatment, but severe cases can lead to life-threatening complications.

Salmonella infection is caused by a group of bacteria known as salmonella. These bacteria are transmitted through the feces of infected people or animals to others. Contaminated foods are often of animal origin, including beef, poultry, seafood, milk, and eggs. However, all foods, including unwashed fruits and vegetables, can also become contaminated. Salmonella typhi is the only type of salmonella that exclusively inhabits humans, which means it is transmitted solely from person to person through contaminated food or water. This type of salmonella typically causes a severe and life-threatening infection known as typhoid fever.

A Schatzki ring, first identified in 1944 by Dr. Richard Schatzki, is a thin, circular membrane of tissue in the lower esophagus, the tube connecting an individual’s mouth to their stomach. A Schatzki ring causes narrowing of the esophagus (i.e., lumen) and may eventually lead to difficulty swallowing, known as dysphagia. In adults, it is considered the most common cause of episodic solid food dysphagia and food impaction, or blockage of the esophagus by food.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a serious condition affecting the small intestine. It occurs when the bacterial population in the small intestine increases. These bacteria may be present in small amounts in other parts of the gut and are regularly eliminated. SIBO causes pain and diarrhea, leading to malnutrition, as the bacteria utilize the body’s nutrients. Symptoms of SIBO primarily affect the gut. These may include stomach pain, especially after eating, bloating, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, and a common feeling of fullness and gas.

Tylenol liver damage refers to the harm caused to the liver due to an overdose of the drug acetaminophen. When used appropriately, acetaminophen is a safe and effective pain reliever. It is found in many over-the-counter products and some prescription medications like Vicodin.

Signs and symptoms of Tylenol liver damage may include yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, excessive sweating, dark urine, pale-colored stools, and unusual bruising or bleeding.

Vomiting blood, or hematemesis, refers to the regurgitation of stomach contents mixed with blood or the expulsion of blood alone. While it can be concerning, minor causes may sometimes trigger it. These include swallowing blood due to a mouth injury or a nosebleed.

Vomiting blood may also arise from more severe internal injuries, organ bleeding, or organ rupture.

Regurgitated blood may appear brown, dark red, or bright red. Darker blood typically indicates that the bleeding originates from an upper gastrointestinal source, such as the stomach. Additionally, darker blood usually signifies a less brisk and steady source of bleeding.

In contrast, bright red blood often indicates an acute bleeding episode from the esophagus or stomach, suggesting a fast-bleeding source.