Dr Chris discusses tummy troubles
Today Dr Chris is talking tummy troubles. From bloating to IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) to stomach cancer, so many troubles can affect our gut, we decided to give our viewers the choice over which digestive woes you'd like us to discuss.
Thousands voted (thank you!) and the clear winners were Crohn's and Colitis, followed by Irritable Bowel Syndrome and acid reflux, and Dr Chris is here going to give us a lesson about these conditions, with the help of a 24-foot intestine and a body-painted model.
ULCERATIVE COLITIS
Who is at risk?
The condition can develop at any age, but is most often diagnosed between 15 and 25
It's more common in white people of European descent (especially those descended from Ashkenazi Jewish communities) and black people
The condition is rarer in people of Asian background (although the reasons for this are unclear)
Both men and women seem to be equally affected by ulcerative colitis
Symptoms
recurring diarrhoea which may contain blood, mucus or pusabdominal (tummy) pain
needing to empty your bowels frequently
Find out more from Crohn's and Colitis UK
Dare to bare: Crohn's sufferer Bethany on living with a colostomy bag
Need advice? See our Crohn's Disease helplines and our Irritable Bowel Syndrome helplines
STOMACH CANCER
Who is at risk?The exact cause of stomach cancer is still unclear, although a number of factors that increase your risk of developing the condition have been identified.
These include
being aged 55 or older
being male
smoking
eating a diet that contains a lot of salted and pickled foods
having an infection in your stomach due to a type of bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
Symptoms
persistent indigestion and heartburn
trapped wind and frequent burping
feeling very full or bloated after meals
persistent stomach pain
blood in your stools, or black stools
loss of appetite
weightloss
BOWEL CANCER
Who is at risk?It's not known exactly what causes bowel cancer, but there are a number of things that can increase your risk. These include:
age – almost nine in 10 cases of bowel cancer occur in people aged 60 or over
diet – a diet high in red or processed meats and low in fibre can increase your risk
weight – bowel cancer is more common in people who are overweight or obese
exercise – being inactive increases the risk of getting bowel cancer
alcohol and smoking – a high alcohol intake and smoking may increase your chances of getting bowel cancer
family history – having a close relative (mother or father, brother or sister) who developed bowel cancer below 50 years of age puts you at a greater lifetime risk of developing the condition
Symptoms
a persistent change in bowel habit causing them to go to the toilet more often and pass looser stools, usually together with blood on or in their stools
a persistent change in bowel habit without blood in their stools, but with abdominal pain
blood in the stools without other haemorrhoid symptoms such as soreness, discomfort, pain, itching or a lump hanging down outside the back passage
abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always provoked by eating, sometimes resulting in a reduction in the amount of food eaten and weight loss
OESOPHAGEAL CANCER
Who is at risk?
Oesophageal is the ninth most common type of cancer in the UK, with more than 8,500 new cases diagnosed each year
It most commonly affects people over the age of 60, with the average age at diagnosis being 72. The condition is more common in men than in women.
Symptoms
difficulties swallowing (dysphagia)
weight loss
throat pain
persistent cough
Need advice? See our Crohn's Disease helplines and our Irritable Bowel Syndrome helplines