60 March 2015 www.womanthismonth.com LIFESTYLE | wellbeing Gut Feeling We discuss various disorders that affect the human body, but there is one serious malady suffered by the majority of us that is swept under the carpet. Behnaz Sanjana gathers some gumption to address digestive disorders. So, you’ve walloped down that supersized meal with great gusto. However, soon after, you’re in the digestive doldrums; restless and uncomfortable for the rest of the day or night. Sounds familiar? Your digestive system is intricate and complex; starting with the first morsel of food in your mouth and working hard to do its job till you visit the comfort throne. This miraculous system is what your overall health depends on. Keeping it healthy is the secret to looking and feeling fantastic every day. HEARTS AFIRE Well, who hasn’t had a bout of acidity or two? When the stomach produces more acid than necessary to digest your food, it leaves a burning sensation in the gut. Heartburn is when stomach acids travel all the way up your oesophagus causing a severe burning sensation in your food pipe that would make even Superman clench his teeth and reach for the fire extinguisher. Gastroenterologists medically refer to this as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). “Stomach acid is more potent than battery acid and the oesophagus is not prepared to handle it. This acidic mixture backing up into the oesophagus can actually damage it,” says Dr Yasser Sawaf, gastroenterologist at the International Hospital Bahrain. Some cases of GERD leave medics baffled for a cause, while others are directly linked to lifestyle – obesity, increased consumption of fatty foods, lack of exercise and smoking. “However, reflux disease also can be caused by trauma, a medical condition or certain
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