Shall we talk about your small intestine today? This is a very important organ!

Today we are going to talk about a very important part of our body, but one that we sometimes don't think about much. That is our small intestine , or in English, the ``Small Intestine''. It is this part that helps the body absorb the nutrients it needs from the things you eat and drink. So, let's take a look at what exactly this small intestine is, what it does, what diseases it can get, and how to keep it healthy.

What service does the small intestine provide to our body?

Simply put, your small intestine is a very efficient worker in your digestive system . It is the main one that absorbs the nutrients and water your body needs from the food you eat. Think about it, after we eat food, it goes into the stomach and gets a little more liquid. Then it comes to this small intestine. That's where the real work happens.

The small intestine mainly does the following:

• Food is further broken down into a liquid: The partially digested food that comes from the stomach is broken down into smaller particles in the small intestine and becomes a liquid. To help with this , digestive juices and enzymes are added to the small intestine. Bile from the liver and digestive enzymes from the pancreas help in this.
• Nutrients and water are absorbed into the body: The small intestine absorbs the vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the liquid food. This is done by tiny finger-like structures called villi on its inner wall. These are like the bristles of a small brush. The inner wall of these villi is also called the mucosa .
• Pushing food forward: After absorbing nutrients from digested food, the remaining undigested parts, or waste products, are pushed towards the large intestine . From there, they are passed out of the body as feces. We call this process of pushing food forward peristalsis . It is a wave-like muscular movement that we cannot control, moving along the intestine.

Where is this small intestine located? How long is it?

You may be wondering, 'Where is this small intestine located in your body?' Your small intestine is located inside your abdominal cavity . That is, inside your stomach. It looks like a long, pink or red tube, very curved and coiled. Your large intestine surrounds this small intestine.

Despite its name, this is the longest part of our digestive system, the ``Gastrointestinal Tract.`` Don't be surprised, it's about 22 feet long! That's about twice the length of an average room! Can you imagine?

Also, the surface area available for absorbing nutrients on the inside is very large. The reason for this is that there are millions of tiny fibers called villi and even smaller microvilli that line the inner wall of the small intestine. These give the surface area available for absorbing nutrients the size of a tennis court! Imagine how much work can be done in such a small space.

But the name 'small' comes from its width. Its diameter is only about 2 centimeters . That's about the size of your index finger.

What are the parts of the small intestine?

This long small intestine has three main parts. Each part has a specific function. Let's take a look at what they are.

1. Duodenum

• This is the first part of the small intestine. It is where food meets the small intestine after it leaves the stomach.
• This is like a small tube about 10 inches long , slightly curved in the shape of the letter 'C'.
• The digestive juices and enzymes needed to digest food are mostly produced and stored here.
• Bile from your gallbladder and digestive enzymes from your pancreas come together in this gland to help break down food. It's like the center of digestion.

2. Jejunum

• This is the middle part of the small intestine. It starts where the anus ends.
• This is about 8 feet long ! It's coiled up and located in the lower part of the abdominal cavity.
• This part is dark red . The reason for that is that it has a lot of blood vessels. Because it needs good blood circulation to absorb nutrients.
• The muscles in this part move the food back and forth, mixing it well with the digestive juices. The movement I mentioned called peristalsis gradually pushes the food towards the ileum.

3. Ileum

• This is the last and longest part of the small intestine.
• This part absorbs most of the nutrients the body needs from digested food (vitamin B12, bile salts, and remaining nutrients not absorbed by the jejunum).
• This is the one that sends the waste left over from food to the large intestine.
• It is in the ileum that food spends the longest time in the small intestine, before moving on to the large intestine.

What are the common diseases that can affect the small intestine?

So, even the small intestine, which performs such an important function, can sometimes develop diseases. Let's take a look at some of the most common conditions:

• Celiac disease: This is a condition in which the body reacts to a protein called gluten (found in grains such as wheat and barley). It damages the lining of the small intestine.
• Crohn's disease: This is a long-term inflammatory condition that can occur anywhere in the digestive system. It can also affect the small intestine.
• Enteritis: This is an inflammation of the small intestine. It can be caused by various infections (bacteria, viruses).
• Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors / Carcinoid tumors): These are slow-growing cancers that start in hormone-producing cells.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): This can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea. It affects the function of the small intestine.
• Malabsorption: This is the inability of the body to properly absorb one or more nutrients. This can have many causes.
• Meckel's diverticulum: This is a congenital (present at birth) pouch-like structure in the wall of the small intestine. It can cause problems for some people.
• Peptic ulcer disease: Ulcers in the stomach and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum).
• Scleroderma: This is a disease that affects connective tissue, sometimes weakening the muscles of the small intestine and affecting its function.
• Small bowel obstruction: A blockage in the small intestine that blocks the passage of food through the small intestine. This can be an emergency.
• SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth): Bacteria that normally live in the large intestine grow too much in the small intestine. This can also interfere with nutrient absorption.

What are the symptoms of a small intestine problem?

The main function of the small intestine is to absorb nutrients and water. So, when it becomes ill, it can't do this job properly. Then symptoms like these can occur:

• Stomach aches and pains (this can be constant or come and go)
• Bloating, flatulence, gas
• Constipation (don't worry, some people may also have diarrhea, it varies depending on the disease)
• Diarrhea (watery bowel movements, sometimes with undigested food particles)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weight loss for no reason (if you're losing weight without cutting back on your diet or increasing your exercise, it's something to be concerned about)
• If your stomach pain gets worse, especially when you eat fatty foods
• Paleness, fatigue (due to iron deficiency)

How do you know if there is a problem with the small intestine?

If you continue to have one or more of the symptoms mentioned above, it's best to see a doctor . He or she will listen to your symptoms, take your medical history, and decide what tests to do. For example, if you're just losing weight, they may order blood tests. If you're having stomach pain, constipation, or diarrhea, they may order tests to see what's going on inside your small intestine.

Blood and lab tests to detect small bowel problems

This can include things like:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): This can give an idea of ​​things like anemia and infections.
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP): This checks things like liver and kidney function, and electrolyte levels.
• Urinalysis
• Tests for specific diseases such as celiac disease and Crohn's disease (e.g., blood tests that look for specific antibodies in the body).
• Stool tests: These can check for infections, bleeding, and whether nutrients are being absorbed properly.

Imaging tests to look at the small intestine

These can look inside the small intestine:

• Capsule endoscopy: This involves swallowing a capsule with a small camera inside. It takes pictures as it passes through the intestines. This can help see areas of the small intestine that are difficult to see with other endoscopes.
• CT scan (Computed Tomography scan): This allows cross-sectional images of the inside of the body to be taken. The walls of the intestine and the surrounding areas can be clearly seen.
• Enteroscopy: This involves inserting a special endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a camera and light) through the mouth or rectum to look deeper into the small intestine. A biopsy may also be taken if necessary.
• Small bowel X-ray series / Barium follow-through: A substance such as barium is swallowed and several X-ray pictures are taken as it passes through the intestines.
• Upper endoscopy (OGD): In this procedure, an endoscope is inserted through the mouth to examine the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), stomach, and esophagus.

What are the treatments for small intestine problems?

There are many diseases that affect the small intestine. Therefore, the treatment given varies depending on the disease and the severity of the disease. Sometimes you can control the disease by changing what you eat and drink . Sometimes you have to take medication . In other severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

For example:

• If you have celiac disease , you will need to follow a gluten-free diet for the rest of your life.
• If you have peptic ulcer disease , your doctor will prescribe medications that reduce acidity and protect your intestines until they heal. If it's caused by the bacteria (H. pylori), you'll be given antibiotics.
• For inflammatory conditions like Crohn's disease , medications that reduce inflammation and control the immune system can be given.
• But if you have a small bowel obstruction , you will probably need surgery to remove the blockage.

Therefore, it is very important to follow the doctor's instructions exactly.

How can I keep my small intestine healthy?

The best way to keep your small intestine healthy is to keep your entire digestive system healthy. Here are some things you can do to help:

• Eat well: Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (such as brown rice, buckwheat, and oats). Limit fatty, processed foods. Ask a nutritionist about adding prebiotics (found in bananas, onions, and garlic) and probiotics (found in yogurt and fermented milk) to your diet. These help to support the good bacteria in your gut.
• Drink plenty of water: Drinking water and non-carbonated, non-caffeinated beverages (e.g., fruit juice, orange water, herbal teas) throughout the day helps your digestive system, including your small intestine, digest food and eliminate waste.
• Get enough sleep and rest: Getting enough sleep helps repair cells in the body and strengthens the immune system. This is also very important for the health of the small intestine. Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day.
• Manage stress: Did you know that stress can worsen conditions that affect the small intestine, such as Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? So try to keep your mind relaxed. Things like meditation, yoga, engaging in a hobby, and exercising can help.
• Stay active: Regular exercise improves blood flow to your intestines and other vital organs, strengthens muscles, and improves gut motility – the contractions of the muscles that move food through your digestive tract. Even just 30 minutes of walking a day is good.

Finally, what to remember

See, our small intestine may be 'small' in name only, but the service it provides to our overall health is no small one. It does a huge job of turning food from the stomach into liquid nutrients. This takes time. A meal can stay in the small intestine for up to six hours at a time, being systematically broken down and nutrients absorbed. Also, it needs to work in coordination with the other organs of the digestive system to do this job.

Simple things like eating well, drinking plenty of water, staying active, and reducing stress can help your small intestine stay healthy and do its job properly.

Also, if you have symptoms like stomach ache, constipation, diarrhea, or just feeling weak, don't waste time and don't be afraid to see a doctor . These symptoms mean that there may be something wrong with your small intestine. If you identify and treat it early, you can prevent major problems from occurring. Got it? Your health is as important to you as it is to us.

` Small Intestine, Digestion, Nutrition, Stomach aches, Digestive System, Healthy Living