The body is able to absorb and utilize nutrients thanks to the actions of the digestive tract. The digestive tract is a tube-like muscular apparatus that responds to both sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulation in order to alter the rate at which food is processed. This structure commences at the oral cavity, travels through the thoracic and abdominal cavities and terminates at the anus in the pelvic cavity. Essentially, the system reduces macroscopic food particles to their functional components that can be absorbed into, and delivered by, the vascular system.

The gastrointestinal tract (GI) extends from the mouth to the anus. It is divided into upper and lower GI tracts. The upper gastrointestinal tract encompasses the mouth, esophagus, stomach and duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. There are many diseases of the upper digestive tract; some of which include hiatal hernia, gastritis, ulcers, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett’s esophagus, and mouth, esophageal, gastric and small intestinal cancers.

Causes

Some of the causes of upper gastrointestinal disease include inflammation, smoking and alcohol consumption, long-term use of medications, bacterial infections and excess secretion of digestive fluids.

Symptoms

Symptoms of upper gastrointestinal diseases vary depending upon the condition. Some of the symptoms include difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, difficulty in the passage of food, belching, bloating, regurgitation of food and loss of appetite.

Diagnosis

Your doctor may order some of the following tests to diagnose upper gastrointestinal diseases:

Upper GI endoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy: examination of the upper digestive tract using an endoscope, a thin tube with a camera on the end. The endoscope is inserted down your throat and into your oesophagus, stomach or small intestine to detect the problem.

Upper GI series: involves swallowing a barium preparation, which can be detected through X-rays.

Twenty- four hour pH monitoring: involves inserting a tube with a sensor through your nose and extending it till the lower oesophageal sphincter (muscles present at the junction of the oesophagus and stomach) to measure the pH of its contents. The tube is left there for 24 hours to detect level of acids, which can indicate reflux of stomach’s acids into the oesophagus (GERD).

Treatments

Treatment depends on the condition and its progression. Several treatment options are available, some of which are mentioned below.

Medication: prescription and over-the-counter medicines including antacids provide relief for heartburn and indigestion by neutralizing the acids in the stomach. Antibiotics are prescribed to treat infections.

Lifestyle changes: change in diet, eating smaller and more frequent meals, avoiding smoking and excess intake of alcohol.

Endoscopic resection: cancerous tissue removal with the help of an endoscope, which is inserted through the mouth and extended to the concerned area. Surgical tools passed through it help in cutting and excising the cancerous tissue. When lesions or cancer involves only the top layer of the oesophagus, the lining is lifted by injecting a solution under it or by suction, and cut by a procedure called endoscopic mucosal resection. Endoscopic resection is non-invasive and does not involve any incisions on the body.

Balloon dilation of the oesophagus: A deflated balloon is passed through an endoscope and inflated at the constriction in the oesophagus to allow the free flow of food.

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• Journal of Clinical Trials
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