Introduction:
The gastrointestinal tract is a series of hollow organs that form a long continuous passage starting from the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus make up the gastrointestinal tract, along with organs that contribute to the digestive system like the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and spleen. There is an extensive network of blood supply to these organs that also transports nutrients away to other body parts. Hormones and nerves together regulate the functions of the gastrointestinal tract. This tract contributes a key role in digestion, body immunity, and overall health. The entire digestive system is held by a membranous sac called the peritoneum that holds the organs in place.
What Is Aging?
Aging is a time-related deterioration of the physiological functions necessary for survival and fertility. There is always a characteristic sign of aging, which can be distinguished from the disease of aging. This affects species of all types. Some diseases make progress along with age. Aging is the ultimate combination of physiological changes in our bodies and the environmental factors that our bodies are exposed to.
How Does Aging Affect the Gastrointestinal Tract?
The gastrointestinal tract is a vital collection of organs that are responsible for the breakdown of food into its components for the body to absorb nutrients. As the body ages, the risk of something going wrong increases due to the culmination of years of effects from things like diseases, medications, lifestyle, and diet. Some new gastrointestinal diseases do arise as aging progresses, like colorectal cancer, diverticular disease, dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
What Are the Gastrointestinal Problems Faced by Elderly People?
With age, many bodily functions slow down, including those of the digestive tract- this means the organ might fail to work as efficiently as it used to. The muscles become weaker, stiffer, and less efficient. Tissues are likely to become damaged as new cells do not form as soon as they did at young ages. This results in many gastrointestinal problems like:
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Heartburn.
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Constipation.
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Diarrhea.
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Hemorrhoids.
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Gas.
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Irritable bowel syndrome.
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Diverticulitis (small bulging sacs developed in the digestive tract).
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Stomach pain.
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GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
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Fecal incontinence (inability to control bowel movements).
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may lead to more serious conditions in elderly people, but they may show few common reflux symptoms like cough and wheezing.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms Related to Gastrointestinal Tract Which Requires Immediate Attention in Elderly People?
If elderly people experience any of the below-mentioned signs, immediate attention and care should be provided:
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Anemia.
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Unexplained fever.
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Unexplained weight loss.
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Bleeding.
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Nocturnal bowel movements.
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Stomach burning.
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Gastric reflux.
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Continuous heartburn.
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Family or personal history of colon cancer.
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Hemorrhoids.
What Are the Aging GI Diseases and Associated Medical Conditions That Affect Elderly People?
The digestive tract affected by aging is always associated with other health conditions like:
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Gastroparesis and Diabetes: Gastroparesis is a condition that takes food a long time to clear the stomach resulting in many unpleasant symptoms. Gastroparesis is more common in women and causes symptoms like bloating and nausea. And as people age, they do get diabetes, which causes a lot of problems in the bowel.
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Arthritis and Hypertension: Elderly people do need to take a variety of medications to manage many chronic conditions like arthritis and hypertension. These drugs are used to treat arthritis and hypertension and can have side effects on the gastrointestinal tract in the long run.
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Artery Blockages: Artery blockages can affect the blood that flows to the bowel; this condition is known as intestinal ischemia. The blood flow to the intestine decreases in the same way as it happens with a heart attack.
Elderly people who take over-the-counter drugs often for joint problems with arthritis are at increased risk of peptic ulcer disease when the individual takes more NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Elderly women are more prone to developing inflammation and gastritis.
What Are the Common Gastrointestinal Illnesses and the Management Done for Them?
The common gastrointestinal illness in elderly people are:
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Dysphagia: Difficulty in swallowing is known as dysphagia. This is most common in elderly individuals. A few aggravating factors include the generation of nerves, reduced strength of the upper esophageal sphincter, and impaired coordination of the process of swallowing. The symptoms get worse with age. Thorough chewing, eating slowly, sitting in an upright position, and good dental health can help to manage the condition.
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Functional Dyspepsia: Chronic disorder of sensation and movement in the upper digestive tract. 20 to 45% of people get affected by this condition. Nausea, vomiting, belching, feeling of fullness, indigestion and bloating, and recurrent abdominal pain are its symptoms. Lifestyle and dietary changes can help the condition.
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Gastroesophageal Reflux diseases: GERD occurs due to loss of function of the upper digestive tract, which causes the contents of the stomach to flow back to the esophagus. Acid reflux includes symptoms like persistent sore throat, chronic coughing, food regurgitation, heartburn, bad breath, and chest pain. Avoiding some trigger foods can help reduce the symptoms, and maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoke can also help the condition. Avoid lying immediately after meals.
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Diarrhea: When the digestive tract pushes matter through it too quickly, diarrhea occurs, which means the large intestine lacks time to remove excess water from the colon, which leads to an increased frequency of bowel movements. There are two types of medication that can relieve diarrhea, bulk formers, and medications that help to alter muscle activity in the intestine.
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Constipation: When fecal matter takes a too long time to move in the gut, this leads to constipation. Hardened stool, dry stools, reduced frequency, straining, bloating, rectal pressure, and abdominal pain are the common symptoms. Lifestyle and dietary modification can help with constipation, including a fiber-rich diet and taking plenty of fluids. In cases of medical help, laxatives, stool softeners, stimulants, lubricants, and hyperosmotic are given. Enemas also help some individuals.
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Diverticular Disease: This condition occurs when small sac-like pouches balloon through the outer colon wall from the colon lining. They are typically 0.5 to 1 cm in diameter. Symptoms include cramping, bowel irritability, bloating, fever, diarrhea, bleeding, and intense pain. Treatment includes a low-fiber diet, a liquid diet, sometimes antibiotic therapy, or even surgery if required.
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Colorectal Cancer: It is a serious life-threatening condition but has a low lifetime risk of development. Affects five to six percent of people. People who have had a history of colitis or Crohn’s disease for more than ten years are prone to this type of cancer. It is advised to have a cessation of colon screening once the individuals reach 75 years of age and experience any other significant health issues.
How Dietary and Lifestyle Changes Affect Gastrointestinal Tract in Elderly People?
Healthy dietary habits and lifestyles offer great benefits to overall digestive health. Fortunately, the gastrointestinal tract does not become a victim of age like the rest of the body parts if a healthy lifestyle is followed. If you want healthy digestive benefits, follow the following tips:
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Limit fat intake and maintain healthy overall body weight.
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Take a fiber-rich diet.
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Do regular exercise.
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Stick to healthy portions and avoid overeating.
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Drink lots of water and stay hydrated.
A healthy lifestyle not only results in a healthy gut but also saves the digestive tract from the side effects caused by medications.
Conclusion:
Gastrointestinal bleeding and neoplasia are important and common issues in elderly patients; this review focuses on gastrointestinal problems of function and motility. The most frequent gastrointestinal problems encountered by gastroenterologists in elderly people include dysphagia, dyspepsia, anorexia, and other colonic disorders. Elderly people often have atypical signs and symptoms. Diagnostic and treatment plans for elderly people should be done with a clear understanding of the normal aging process, the pathophysiology of the disease, and potential risk and benefits to elderly patients.
