Abdominal pain is common, but regular abdominal discomfort that stops you in your tracks isn’t. Discover 10 of the most common causes of abdominal pain, and when you should see a gastroenterologist for your symptoms.
We eat every day. In fact, most of us do it several times a day. For the fortunate ones, they get to enjoy eating at least three times a day. But how long does our body take it to break down and digest the food that we eat? Take time to read this article and marvel at the amazing machinery we call the “digestive system.”
It takes several hours for the food we eat to travel through our digestive system. However, the digestive process begins even before our food lands in the stomach. As we begin to chew our food, our brain sends signals to our stomach and intestines to get set and prepare for the food that is about to pushed down to them. As we chew, our saliva starts the initial breaking down process of the food. Saliva also facilitates the smooth movement of the food from the mouth down through the esophagus.
The esophagus is a pipe that leads food down to the stomach, where the food will stay for about three hours. Here, stomach acids and other enzymes break down the food particles further. Thereafter, the food is passed to the small intestine, where it will stay for another six hours. The nutrients in our food are absorbed in the small intestine while the excess food particles are passed down to the large intestine. Here, water is absorbed from the excess food materials to prepare it for excretion.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Abdominal pain is common, but regular abdominal discomfort that stops you in your tracks isn’t. Discover 10 of the most common causes of abdominal pain, and when you should see a gastroenterologist for your symptoms.
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is the second-most cause of cancer deaths in American adult men and women. Learn more about how you can prevent colorectal cancer and when you should have a screening.
If you’re dealing with loose and watery stools, it may be the result of a simple virus, or, if chronic, it may be from something more serious. The only way to tell is a doctor’s diagnosis. Learn what you can do about it by reading on.
If you’re one of the millions of people who struggle with fecal incontinence, relief and liberation may be found in sacral nerve stimulation. Here’s a look at how this innovative technique can restore your quality of life.
Don’t let heartburn derail your holiday festivities. Follow these tips to keep heartburn at bay while you celebrate virtually or in-person with friends and loved ones this season.
Are you at a high risk of developing colon cancer? Here are ways to determine your risk of getting this serious disease, and five steps you can take to reduce your risk of colon cancer.