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METHODIST DIGESTIVE INSTITUTE
22
SHINE
Winter 2015–2016
Even before
your feet could
touch the floor from a dining
room chair,
your
family dinners
were most likely a schooling
in table etiquette, complete
with a litany of dinner table
do’s and don’ts.
»»
Do place your
napkin in your lap.
»»
Don’t slurp your soup.
»»
Do chew with
your mouth shut.
»»
Don’t put your elbows
on the table.
»»
Do take breaks between bites.
»»
Don’t discuss anything
relating to your trips to
the restroom.
That last one especially rang
true. Bowel movements, vomiting,
diarrhea, urine, flatulence, and
other digestive issues are best
omitted from conversation when
people are trying to, well, digest.
Of course, these aren’t things
you typically want to discuss.
Embarrassing
,
awkward
, and
unflattering
are words that
immediately come to mind.
But just because you leave
them out of table talk doesn’t
mean you shouldn’t bring issues
and concerns to your physician,
especially in the list to follow.
These symptoms could point
directly to serious — even
deadly — digestive issues.
DYING
EMBARRASSMENT
Why digestive issues
are not to be ignored
of
Gynecomastia
(enlarged male breasts)
What it could be:
Sign of liver
disease.
“Liver disease affects much more
than the liver,” Dr. Schwartz says.
For example, in men it can affect the
testicles. “What results is a decrease
in the balance of male-to-female
hormones, causing the breasts
to enlarge.”
Regurgitation of fluid or food
What it could be:
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or a narrowing
in the esophagus, which could be a tumor.
A healthy esophagus is about an inch in diameter, allowing food to pass
through rather easily, says Armond Schwartz, MD, AGAF, director of the
division of gastroenterology at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. “When it
narrows to half an inch or less, food can stick in the chest, causing chest
pain or reflux. One thing that could be causing that narrowing is a tumor.”
The acid reflux is often managed with an over-the-counter drug, but if it
persists, it can wear down the esophagus.
You’re especially at risk for a tumor if you already have GERD or have a
high tobacco or alcohol intake.
Diarrhea or fecal incontinence
What it could be:
Colitis.
Colitis is the inflammation of
the colon with multiple sores in the
lining. “It can lead to weight loss,
anemia, malnutrition, and other
infections, all of which could be
fatal,” Dr. Schwartz says. “In rare
cases, it can lead to colon cancer.”
Greasy, floating stools
What it could be:
Diseases of
the pancreas — possibly cancer.
Your pancreas produces an
enzyme that breaks down food
flowing from the stomach into
the intestine. But if that duct is
blocked, possibly by a tumor,
your body is unable to digest
fatty foods. You end up with
these floaters that produce an
odor from all the excess fat.
“This is a clear indication
that something is wrong with
the pancreas and a sign that
patients often overlook,” Dr.
Schwartz says. “As strange as
it sounds, it’s worth taking a
peek at your stool and urine to
identify changes in appearance
and odor that might indicate a
more serious condition.”