Essay Sample on Digestion: Essential Process for Human Health & Nutrition

Introduction

Food digestion is an essential process in the body of a human being. The process involves various anatomical elements that are designed to absorb ingested food adequately. The body of human beings contains organs whose physiological structure is designed to produce chemicals and fluids that facilitate the digestion process. Gastric acid is among the fluids that are essential in the digestion process of food in a human being. The acid is defined as a fluid composed of potassium chloride, sodium chloride, and hydrochloric acid that is secreted by the stomach to enhance the process of digestion (Arin, Gorostidi & Ochoa, 2017). The chemical is mainly used in the metabolism of proteins by the process of digestive enzymes activation that enables the breakdown of the amino acids. Gastric acid is stimulated and produced through a process that involves various parts of the stomach. This paper describes the stimulation and production process of gastric acid, its pathophysiological aspects, and the disorders associated with the fluid.

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Normal Pathophysiology of Production of Gastric Acid

Gastric acid production and secretion process takes place in the stomach. The acid is produced by stomach lining cells to enhance the digestion of the ingested proteins. Usually, the parietal cells present in the gastric glands produce hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is the main component of gastric acid (Huether & McCance, 2019). The parietal cells possess the canaliculi, a secretory network, from which the HCl is secreted. The production of gastric acid takes place in three steps. The cephalic stage is the first phase of acid production. In this phase, the stomach is stimulated to secrete gastric acid. The anticipation, urge, taste, or smell of food stimulates the production of the acid. The brain sends a signal to the stomach lining through the vagus nerve to activate the parietal cells to produce the acid. Additionally, the nerve delivers a message to the Enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells to secrete histamine (Arin et al., 2017). The gastric phase is the second stage of acid production. In this stage, the amino acids in the ingested food, as well as the stomach distention, stimulate the production of the acid. The third stage is described as the intestinal phase. In this phase, the chyme from digested food enters the small intestines causing them to distend, thus stimulating the production of the acid. Primarily, the process of gastric acid secretion takes place in the stomach and is mainly spurred by the presence of food in the digestive system.

Impacts of GERD on Gastric Acid Production

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a gastric acid-related disorder that affects human beings of all ages. The disease affects the stimulation, production as well as the roles of the acid in the human body. Patients with GERD experience a reverse of instances in the process of producing gastric acid. Individuals that suffer from the disorder have a backward flow of the contents of gastric acid from the stomach to the esophagus (Clarret & Hachem, 2018). As a result, patients experience regurgitation and frequent heartburns. This condition is caused by the disorientation of the body organs that produce the disease.

The disorientation occurs when the upper side of the stomach and the lower part of the esophagus, commonly known as esophageal sphincter, rises above the diaphragm. As a result, the gastric acid produced acts upon the contents of the throat leading to regurgitation. Additionally, the disorientation hinders the food and the ingested materials from flowing to the stomach (Clarret & Hachem, 2018). Consequently, the acid refluxes from the stomach leading to heartburn and eventually results in the GERD. Primarily, GERD changes the stimulation and production process of gastric acid by causing the backward orientation of the fluid.

Effects of PUD to Gastric Acid Production

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a stomach disorder that is caused by the irregularities that occur in the process of producing gastric acid. The disorder is characterized by a break in the gastrointestinal tract (GI). The lining of the GI develops discontinuation that is caused by excessive production of gastric acid. The excess gastric acid burns the inner parts of the stomach and intestinal lining, thus causing perforations that lead to the discontinuation of the track system (Malik & Singh, 2019). Ideally, the PUD condition is as a result of uncontrolled gastric acid production in the body.

The diseases cause various changes in the production of the acid in the stomach. The lining of the stomach is responsible for the production of gastric acid. Therefore, patients with PUD have a reduced surface area for the production of the acid since the stomach and intestinal linings have perforations (Malik & Singh, 2019). These holes hinder the continuity of the production linings in the body of human beings. Additionally, the patients who suffer from the disease produce a limited amount of gastric acid that results in the problems of protein indigestion in the body. Primarily, PUD reduces the production area for gastric acid as well as the amount required to digest the proteins in a human body.

The Impacts of Gastritis on Gastric Acid Production

Gastritis is a stomach disorder that is characterized by a swelling on the stomach lining tissues. The condition is caused by the destruction of the stomach lining walls by bacteria as well as excessive production of gastric acid (Sipponen & Maaroos, 2015). Unregulated production of the acid results in increased acidity in the rumen that eventually damages its walls lining and cells. The damage causes significant changes in the stimulation and production of gastric acid in the stomach.

Gastritis affects the anatomy of the stomach hence reducing its functions. As a result, the patients are unable to produce adequate acid that is required for protein digestion. Consequently, the patient suffers from indigestion that eventually causes frequent bloating. The damage of the rumen lining also reduces the cells that secrete the acid. As a result, the patients experience problems in producing gastric acid hence leading to the irregularities in production. Ideally, gastritis changes the process gastric acid stimulation and production by reducing the area and amount of production.

The Impact of Age on the GERD Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of GERD is affected by various factors such as the age of an individual. GERD's pathophysiology is described as the reflux that happens when the sphincter muscle of the lower oesophagus has unregulated relaxing intervals. As a result, the gastric acid flows back to the oesophagus thereby causing an individual to suffer from the disease. Age is a contributing factor to the intensity and severity of the condition. Studies have reported that older people are at a higher risk of contracting the disease than younger people (Sipponen & Maaros, 2015). This prevalence is attributed to the frequency of drug intake among older people. Elderly individuals have a higher likelihood of contracting co-morbid diseases that result in their frequent consumption of the drugs (Sipponen & Maaroos, 2015). Consistent intake of such medication results in the damage of the stomach wall lining and cells, thus increasing the risk of the patients suffering from GERD. Additionally, older people are at a higher risk of having problems with the lower parts of esophageal sphincter that results in the frequent reflux of the acid contents from the stomach. Primarily, age is a predisposing factor for contracting GERD, having older people at a higher risk than young people.

The Impact of Age on the PUD Pathophysiology

Age is also a notable factor that plays a significant role in the development of peptic ulcer disease in human beings. The pathophysiology of the disease is described as the damages that occur in the stomach wall lining or the duodenal tract. These defects hinder the production of mucus that helps to prevent the irritation that arises from the gastric acid. As a result, the epithelial lining of the stomach is corroded by the acid resulting in the ulcers. Age significantly contributes to the severity of the disease since older people are at a higher risk of contracting the condition than the young people. The older adults have an increased population of Helicobacter Pylori, the bacteria that play a significant role in causing PUD (Asali et al., 2018). Therefore, older people are likely to report more cases of the disease. Moreover, older adults use an anti-inflammatory drug frequently, which also poses a risk of contracting the ulcers. Therefore, older individuals are likely to suffer from PUD. Ideally, older people have increased chances of suffering from the disease since they are exposed to the factors that significantly contribute to the disease.

The Impact of Age on the Gastritis Pathophysiology

Age also plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of gastritis. The disease is described as the inflammation that occurs on the stomach wall that eventually leads to the damage of the gastric glands. The destruction of the glands results in decreased production of gastric acid since the production site is damaged (Sipponen & Maaroos, 2015). Elderly people are at a higher risk of suffering from the disease than young people. This feasibility is enabled by the increased chances of contracting the bacteria that cause the inflammation of the stomach lining. Additionally, the elderly individuals have a higher chance of having the disease since they have a reduced ability of the acid secretion. Essentially, older people have an increased chance of contracting gastritis since they are likely to suffer from the inflammation of the stomach linings.

Diagnose and Treatment for GERD

The diagnosis and treatment of GERD on elderly people can be conducted through various methods. Physical examination is among the technique that is commonly used to test the presence of the disease in an individual. Among the methods used for diagnosis is the upper endoscopy. In this method, flexible tube-like equipment with a camera and light is inserted through the throat to the stomach (Clarret & Hachem, 2018). The tube examines the stomach and can detect the presence of reflux as well as the inflammation on the walls. The ambulatory acid test is also used in the diagnosis of the disease. The test involves the use of a monitor in the esophagus to determine the regurgitation frequency of the stomach acid. The methods are applicable to older people since they cause zero harm to their health.

GERD among the elderly can be treated in various ways. The older people are put under medications that help to reduce the levels of acid production in the body. These drugs provide more extended relief to patients from the effects of the disorder. Additionally, the patients can be exposed to medication that hinders the secretion of gastric acid and heals the damaged parts of the esophagus (Clarret & Hachem, 2018). These drugs increase the period for the damaged tissues of the esophagus and the stomach to heal. The treatments are ideal for elderly patients since they have limited side effects.

Diagnosis and Treatment of PUD

The PUD diagnosis among old people is mainly carried out through various tests. Laboratory tests are conducted to determine the presence of the H. pylori bacteria in the body. A breath test is conducted to ensure the accuracy of the experiment. Endoscopy is the other method that is used to test for the disease. In this process, the tube with the lens is inserted into the stomach through the throat to search for the ulcers (Asali et al., 2018). These methods are friendly to older people since they have limited damag...