American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [500]
Diagnosis and Treatment
If you have symptoms of an intestinal tumor, your doctor will perform a barium X-ray (see page 767) of your intestines or capsule video endoscopy (see page 767). Surgery is the usual treatment for both cancerous and noncancerous tumors of the small intestine. Radiation therapy (see page 23) and chemotherapy (see page 23) may be used alone or in combination to destroy cancer cells.
Constipation and Diarrhea
Constipation is generally defined as having hard, dry, difficult-to-pass stools and infrequent bowel movements. Usually constipation is the result of not drinking enough water, not eating enough fiber-containing food, lack of exercise, stress, or delaying bowel movements. Some medications (such as cough suppressants and antianxiety medications) can cause constipation. Overusing laxatives can lead to constipation by overemptying the bowel and making a person dependent on them to have a bowel movement. (Also, the effect of laxatives diminishes when used repeatedly.) A number of conditions, such as hypothyroidism (see page 903) or a high level of calcium in the blood, can cause constipation. If constipation persists for more than 2 weeks, see your doctor.
Diarrhea is usually considered to be an abnormal increase in the looseness and amount of stool and very frequent bowel movements. In general, the more frequent the bowel movements, the looser the stool. Sometimes diarrhea can be brought on by stress or as a side effect of some medications (such as antacids or antibiotics), but it is usually the result of a viral or bacterial infection or food poisoning. Some foods (such as some fruits and dairy products) can cause diarrhea. If diarrhea persists for more than 3 days or if you see blood in your stool, see your doctor. Also call your doctor if you have diarrhea and your stool is bloody or contains pus or if you are extremely thirsty or weak, have a fever, or have pain in your abdomen.
People differ markedly in the pattern and consistency of their bowel movements. See your doctor about any change in your normal pattern; you could have a serious disorder.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance results from the body’s inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. In lactose intolerance, the body produces little or no lactase, an enzyme in the small intestine needed to break down lactose. Lactose intolerance can cause gastrointestinal disturbances such as bloating, cramping, and diarrhea.
Many of the world’s people—especially those of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Jewish, Hispanic, and Native American descent—are susceptible to developing lactose intolerance. The condition develops over time, usually after age 2. Some people who have lactose intolerance are able to consume small amounts of milk products with no problem. In rare cases, lactose intolerance is congenital (present at birth) and causes bloating and persistent diarrhea immediately, resulting in a child’s inability to gain weight.
Symptoms
Symptoms of lactose intolerance include abdominal bloating, cramping, nausea, gas, and diarrhea after consuming a food that contains lactose. The symptoms usually begin within 30 minutes to 2 hours. The severity and duration of the symptoms depend on the amount of lactose a person can tolerate.
Diagnosis
To diagnose lactose intolerance, a doctor will take a detailed health history. He or she may also recommend three tests—the lactose tolerance test (a blood test), hydrogen breath test, and stool acidity test—that measure the amount of lactose your body is digesting. The tests are performed after you fast for a specified length of time and then drink a liquid that contains lactose. The breath and blood tests can be given to older children and adults but not to infants and very young children because excessive amounts of lactose can cause diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration.
Treatment
There is no treatment to increase the amount of lactase your body produces. To prevent