After digestive patients see a doctor, the doctor often tells them: “we must be emotionally stable and cheerful.”. This seems to be a “medical formula”, but it is really important for patient health care.
bad emotions disturb digestive tract activities
The digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder and pancreas, is an extremely precise, coordinated and efficient machine. Peristalsis, pressure, blood flow, temperature, digestion, absorption, secretion… Work together to cope with various changes inside and outside the body. It is not good for any part or link to be abnormal.
The esophagus only undertakes the task of passage. Sadness, anger, anxiety and other emotions can narrow or even completely block the healthy esophageal lumen and prolong the passage time of diet. The change of intraluminal pressure is also related to emotional state. Clinically, it can be seen that symptoms such as posterior sternal block and unfavorable hypopharyngeal function are not unrelated to these changes.
When people hate, gastric acid secretion increases, blood flow increases, and mucosal color turns red (congested). At this time, the gastric mucosa is extremely fragile, and even slight and small damage can become small ulcers. Some people think that this also creates conditions for Helicobacter pylori to “attack”. Under the control of depression, helplessness, disappointment and other emotions, people’s gastric acid secretion will decline.
The small intestine will become tense due to people’s poor mood, and barium meal examination shows that the emptying time is prolonged. The colon seems to be more sensitive. Enteroscopy and wave counting device records show that both healthy people and patients with irritable bowel syndrome will have no peristaltic hyperkinesia when they have bad emotions. In sadness, depression and disappointment, there will be increased wave like tension and peristalsis, which will lead to diarrhea. In fear and depression, the color of colonic mucosa will turn pale and there is no contraction activity. In anger, complaint and hostility, the color of mucosa will turn red and the contraction activity will increase.
the gastrointestinal tract is called “the second brain ”
The brain is the highest headquarters for the regulation of various physiological activities of the human body, including mental and emotional activities, which naturally involves external reactions. It is known that there is a group of peptide substances in the brain that are closely related to the neural activities of the brain. For example, the content of a peptide called TRH increases in the brain during depression.
Scientists have made two major discoveries after conducting in-depth research on gastrointestinal nerves.
One is the discovery of the enteric nervous system. The whole gastrointestinal tract is covered by more than 100 million nerve cells, which are densely distributed from the mucosal layer, the muscular layer to the serosal layer. Its total number is second only to the brain, and it is called the “gut brain” or the “second brain”. It has its own complete reflection system in the gastrointestinal wall. Generally speaking, it can go its own way without the command of the brain’s “headquarters” – regulate gastrointestinal physiological activities, and upload the disposal process to the “headquarters” to affect the activities of the “headquarters”.
The second major discovery is that there are special cells in the gut that secrete peptides identical to those in the brain to complete various instructions of the intestinal nervous system, so that the movement, secretion, digestion, pressure and even temperature of the digestive tract can be regulated to adapt to various changes. The peptide hormones in the brain are exactly the same as those in the intestine far away from the brain, so we give them a general name – brain gut peptide.
In this way, the brain and gastrointestinal tract not only have “land transportation” – the autonomic nervous system, but also have “water passage” – brain gut peptide. The two are closely linked, which can not only give instructions, but also upload information, so they are called two-way channels.
From the perspective of location, the two secondary commands of the autonomic nerve center and the endocrine system center that regulate the digestive tract are located in the same anatomical position as the subcortical integration center that controls emotions, so the digestive system is very vulnerable to emotional and psychological factors.
philosopher’s foresight
Kant, the famous master of philosophy, attached great importance to dinner. Not only did the dishes have excellent color, fragrance, and elegant dining environment, but also there were often two or three confidants eating together. At this time, the endless philosophical issues were absolutely prohibited. At the end of every dinner, Kant always said, “smile after eating.” it is said that laughter can promote digestion. Then I’ll see the guests off. At that time, he did not know the secrets of brain gut peptide and brain gut axis, and his excellent foresight was admirable.
The two words of advice given by the late Professor Ji Xianlin are also good medicine for gastrointestinal diseases. He said: my mentality has always been balanced and my mood has always been stable.
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