Intestinal Ischemia

All of your digestive organs have to have a blood supply in order to work right. But sometimes for whatever the reason, the blood supply to your small intestine or colon is lacking. When this happens, you are having intestinal ischemia.

This condition is often painful, and makes it hard for your intestines to perform properly. If the condition becomes severe, the intestines will be very damaged or be all dead within the tissues. This condition, can then be deadly to a person.

There are treatments out there for intestinal ischemia. The whole key to treating this condition though, is recognizing early symptoms. This is vital so that the person affected may receive immediate help.

The typical symptoms you will likely have will be these here which is the more acute side:

1. Bloody stool
2. Nausea and vomiting
3. Running a fever
4. Stomach feels sore and is also distended
5. Urgent bowel movements that occur often
6. Abdominal pains which can be anywhere from very light to severe

If you are having a chronic case of intestinal ischemia, your symptoms will likely be:

1. Weight loss that isn't normal
2. Feeling distended or bloated in the abs
3. Diarrhea
4. Vomiting
5. Upset stomach
6. No appetite especially since it causes pains
7. Cramping and a stomach that always feels full

If you have this chronically, it is likely to become acute. It is important to work with your doctor, and more so if the pain becomes severe and disabling.

Your heart has an aorta that channels all of the blood. There is a part of the aorta that is your abdominal aorta located under the diaphragm. We all have three main arteries which branch off from the abdominal aorta. These arteries are the ones that supple all of the blood to the digestive system. These arteries can build up plaque, which reduce the natural flowing of blood into your intestinal tract.

Hernias can cause interruptions especially when they become strangulated. Blood clots that form, can also interfere with the blood supply to intestines through the arteries.

Any reduced blood flow that occurs within the digestive tract, leaving oxygen deprivation, damages cells so that the cells die. What happens next in the unwelcome process is the body will not be able to handle nutrients and absorb them properly. Following that problem, infection and even a gangrene could occur. This is why it is important to get treated quickly.

People that have diabetes are at a higher risk for development of this problem since high glucose destroys blood vessel health over time. Smoking is harmful to arteries, and in turn this illness can strike. Plaque on the arteries for high cholesterol can cause a blockage leading to intestinal ischemia and hypertension that is left untreated may cause it as well.

Treating intestinal ischemia once found, involves taking antibiotics. It is possible that you will need surgery to correct any blocked artery to help re-channel the blood flow if necessary. Examination of the colon via a colonoscopy is also important to rule out colon cancers.

If what you are having is Chronic mesenteric ischemia, this will involve a well known procedure called angioplasty. Angioplasty opens clogged arteries, and holds the arteries open using a stent.

Ischemia due to mesenteric venous thrombosis is treated by using blood thinners known as anticoagulant drugs. Sometimes parts of the bowels show damage and surgery may be needed to take out that section. Otherwise if there is no real damage, the blood thinners should work.

The best way for you to help prevent Intestinal Ischemia is to watch your blood lipid levels. High cholesterol along with smoking as I mentioned causes so many problems with artery blockages. So to keep good artery health, eat well and healthfully with fruits and vegetables, and exercise.