Treating the "heart" for the elderly: Only a healthy intestine can lead to longevity

Digestive system diseases in the elderly account for 18% of all geriatric diseases. As people age, the structure and function of the digestive organs decline. The most obvious change is the deterioration of digestion and absorption, which can easily lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction. The incidence of diseases such as gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastrointestinal bleeding increases significantly.

1. Gastritis

Chronic gastritis is an inflammatory change of the gastric mucosa, which is mainly manifested by different degrees of indigestion symptoms, such as upper abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fullness after meals, acid reflux, etc. The diagnosis depends on auxiliary examinations such as gastroscopy, gastrointestinal angiography, and Helicobacter pylori detection. Mild cases do not require treatment. If the symptoms are obvious or the mucosal changes under endoscopy are obvious, appropriate treatment measures can be taken under the guidance of a doctor according to different situations. Gastric mucosal protective agents, acid suppressants, and gastrointestinal motility-promoting drugs can be used. If there is Helicobacter pylori infection, measures to eradicate Helicobacter pylori can be taken.

2. Peptic ulcer

Peptic ulcer is a common disease worldwide, and it is estimated that about 10% of the population will suffer from this disease in their lifetime. Typical manifestations are: "long-term", long-term recurring; "cyclical", repeated periodic attacks; "rhythmic", the relationship between ulcer pain and diet has a clear correlation. It usually manifests as upper abdominal pain, and may also be accompanied by indigestion symptoms such as acid reflux, belching, burning sensation, upper abdominal fullness, etc. If a peptic ulcer patient is infected with Helicobacter pylori, eradication treatment must be carried out, which is the "root cause". Other treatment measures include the use of drugs that inhibit gastric acid and gastric mucosal protective agents.

3. Gastrointestinal bleeding

Gastrointestinal bleeding is an acute and critical disease in gastroenterology. Peptic ulcer, acute gastric mucosal lesions, esophageal varices and gastric cancer are the four most common causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, most commonly manifested as black stools and vomiting blood. If the amount of bleeding is large, the patient may experience symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Peripheral circulatory failure may also occur, manifested as irritability or confusion, cold limbs, and difficulty breathing. The disease has an acute onset and progresses rapidly. Once there are signs of bleeding, the patient should seek medical attention immediately.

If the elderly want to keep their intestines healthy, they must do the following:

1. Maintain a calm and optimistic attitude and avoid mental stress.

2. Eat regularly and avoid eating raw, cold, spicy or irritating foods.

3. Drink in moderation. Excessive drinking will damage the mucous membrane of the digestive system and cause digestive system diseases.

4. Avoid smoking and drink less strong tea and coffee. Strong tea and coffee will irritate the digestive system and damage the mucous membrane.

5. Use serving chopsticks when dining together to avoid infection with Helicobacter pylori, which is the culprit that causes gastritis, ulcerative diseases and gastric cancer.

6. Chew slowly when eating to reduce the irritation of the gastric mucosa by rough food and reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract.