Stomach cancer
The stomach is part of the digestive system, which helps to break down food. Although 500 Victorians are diagnosed with stomach cancer each year, it is becoming less common in Australia and other Western countries. Diet is thought to play some ... [... more]
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Digestive system - Better Health Channel.
The digestive system breaks down food and delivers nutrients to every cell in the body via the bloodstream. The digestive tract starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. Organs that are part of the digestive system include the stomach, small ... [... more]
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Crohn's and colitis - complications
Since IBD targets the digestive tract, common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and weight loss. A person with IBD has to pay close attention to diet, since malnutrition is a real possibility. Other complications of the digestive ... [... more]
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Pancreatic cancer - Better Health Channel.
The pancreas is a gland that lies behind the stomach. It secretes digestive enzymes and important hormones. Pancreatic cancer is more common among the elderly. Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop the condition. About 500 ... [... more]
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Food additives
Food additives are chemicals that keep food fresh or enhance its colour, flavour or texture. Some people are sensitive to food additives, but this is rare. Reactions to food additives include hives or diarrhoea, other digestive disorders and ... [... more]
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Collagenous colitis
Collagenous colitis is inflammation of the colon, the last portion of the digestive tract that ends at the rectum and anus. The most common symptom is chronic watery, non-bloody diarrhoea. Collagenous colitis is sometimes called microscopic ... [... more]
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Crohn's and colitis
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the full thickness of the intestine involving any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. Ulcerative ... [... more]
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Barium tests
Barium tests are used to examine conditions of the digestive tract such as narrowing, ulceration or damage. Tests include the barium meal or barium swallow and barium enema. The images are generated using a machine called a fluoroscope. The ... [... more]
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Cystic fibrosis - Better Health Channel.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life threatening genetic disorder. It severely affects the lungs and digestive system. There is currently no cure; however, with improved medication and treatment to manage symptoms, life expectancy has been extended ... [... more]
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Fibre in food
Dietary fibre is found in the indigestible parts of plants. Good sources of fibre include wholegrain foods, fruits and vegetables. Drinking lots of fluid is also important to avoid constipation.The main role of fibre is to keep the digestive ... [... more]
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Birth defects - digestive tract
Birth defects of the digestive tract include oesophageal atresia (obstruction of the oesophagus) and imperforate anus (malformations of the anus). Most babies born with oesophageal atresia also have tracheo-oesophageal fistula, which means the ... [... more]
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Digestive system - quiz
Learn about digestion and test your knowledge of the digestive system with our quick health quiz. How important are the liver, the stomach and saliva to digestion? The answers are here. It might help if you learn more about where your food is ... [... more]
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