- Stomach disease
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MeshID = D013272Gastropathy is a general term used for
stomach disease. [DorlandsDict|four/000043887|Gastropathy]Examples including the name include:
*Portal hypertensive gastropathy
*Ménétrier's disease , also known as "hyperplastic hypersecretory gastropathy"However, there are many other stomach diseases that don't include the word "gastropathy".
Many stomach diseases are associated with infection. Historically, it was widely believed that the highly acidic environment of the stomach would keep the stomach immune from
infection . However, a large number of studies have indicated that most cases of stomach ulcers,gastritis , andstomach cancer are caused by "Helicobacter pylori " infection. One of the ways it is able to survive in the stomach involves itsurease enzymes which metabolizeurea (which is normally secreted into the stomach) toammonia andcarbon dioxide which neutralizes gastric acid and thus prevents its digestion. In recent years, it has been discovered that other "Helicobacter " bacteria are also capable of colonizing the stomach and have been associated with gastritis.Having too little or no gastric acid is known as
hypochlorhydria orachlorhydria respectively and are conditions which can have negative health impacts. Having high levels of gastric acid is calledhyperchlorhydria . Many people believe that hyperchlorhydria can causestomach ulcers . However, recent research indicates that the gastric mucosa which secretes gastric acid is acid-resistant.Conditions
Diseases of the stomach include:
*Dyspepsia
*Abdominal pain
*Peptic ulcer
*Achlorhydria
*Hypochlorhydria
*Linitis plastica
*Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
*Gastroparesis
* GERD
*Borborygmus References
External links
* http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/topics/stomach.asp
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