The normal function of the digestive tract is marvelously coordinated. Food and fluids enter at the top for digestion and absorption. The waste moves smoothly down the digestive tract for timely elimination. Not surprisingly, in some people a certain amount of incoordination in this process occurs. These people do not have changes in their anatomy as a cause of this difficulty, nor do they have ulcer, tumor, or inflammation. This may involve the colon (the large intestine). The change is in function; hence it is called functional bowel disease. Other names are irritable colon syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and mucous colitis.
When inflammation occurs in the large blood vessels, the arteries that run beneath the skin on the temporal (temple) areas of the head, the disease is temporal arteritis. Frequency of occurrence increases with aging. It often occurs in association with a problem called polymyalgia rheumatica. Temporal arteritis presents with throbbing headaches. These headaches occur in the area of the involved artery.
The skin may become inflamed because of contact with a variety of materials. Materials to which the patient is allergic or that are particularly irritating can induce an inflammatory response in the skin. Skin gradually acquires allergic sensitivity, and this becomes more common with aging. Aging changes in the skin also include thinning, which results in a more fragile and a less protected skin. These changes increase the susceptibility to irritants in elderly patients.
The normal function of the digestive tract is marvelously coordinated. Food and fluids enter at the top for digestion and absorption. The waste moves smoothly down the digestive tract for timely elimination. Not surprisingly, in some people a certain amount of incoordination in this process occurs. These people do not have changes in their anatomy as a cause of this difficulty, nor do they have ulcer, tumor, or inflammation. This may involve the colon (the large intestine). The change is in function; hence it is called functional bowel disease. Other names are irritable colon syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and mucous colitis.
