Clinical Gastroenterology Vol.19 No.13(5)

Theme Diet as Etiologic Factors and Therapeutic Tools in Digestive Diseases
Title Digestive Disorders in Lifestyle-Related Diseases
Publish Date 2004/12
Author Koichi Takebayashi Second Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College
Author Soichiro Miura Second Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College
[ Summary ] Lifestyle-related diseases are caused or accelerated by lifestyles such as eating habits, lack of exercise and relaxation, smoking, and drinking. These diseases include diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, cancer, arteriosclerosis and so on. They exert various influences on digestive system. Diabetic patients sometimes have digestive disorders such as, diabetic gastroparesis, diarrhea, constipation, pancreatitis, gallstones, and cholecystitis. Patients with simple fatty liver will take a benign clinical course. But nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) may occasionally progress to fibrosis or cirrhosis, then liver-related death. Hepatocellular carcinoma may represent a late complication of NASH-related cirrhosis. Ischemic colitis is closely related to arteriosclerosis especially in elderly patients, and its causes are classified into intestinal factors which have an influence on blood flow disorder through increase in the inner pressure of the intestine, and vascular factors which directly obstruct blood flow. The key to prevention of lifestyle-related diseases is the comprehensive reduction of their risks. Treatment of lifestyle-related diseases also closely relate to their prevention. And it should be noted that changing the dietary habits may play a central role for their prevention and treatment.
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