Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: Money/Health

Media Credit: Emily Hartwig

A gut feeling.

Intuition, coming straight from your intestines.

It's funny how it works, but it's not anything new.

"The ancient Greeks used to view the bowels as the seed of emotions, not their hearts," said Gregory Derfus, digestive disease specialist at Luther Midelfort Hospital, 1221 Whipple St.

So, when it comes to her intuition, senior Ashley Sprick said she trusts her gut.

"I feel like I'm a pretty level-headed person so I can read other people really well," she said. "How I instantly feel and the impression I get is what I go with - and it seems to work out."

But, even given its emotional powers, the digestive system is still subject to complications.

Derfus said he could come up with a "laundry list," of potential problems people face with digestion, but some stand out as more common.

One such disorder is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It's a disease present in 10 percent of our population, Derfus said, and it affects the control of movement through the digestive tract, disrupting its ability to function properly.

IBS symptoms include abdominal discomfort and bloating, he said, and can be worsened by stress.

However, people who don't have Irritable Bowel Syndrome should be just as careful when it comes to stress, Derfus said.

Without IBS, stress can still cause either more frequent bowel movements or constipation, he said.

Dyspepsia is another problem students might encounter, Derfus said. Dyspepsia causes pain and symptoms like that of an ulcer, however the person does not actually have an ulcer.

People used to think stress caused ulcers, however, Derfus said it is more practical that stress only causes the symptoms of an ulcer.

Nola Schmitt, associate professor of nursing, said neuropeptides in the intestines are a main reason why your emotions can affect your digestive system, or simply your ability to eat.

Neuropeptides are found all over your body and act as communication between the brain and the other organs of the body, Schmitt said.

"That can explain (why) some of what you're thinking and feeling affects your digestion," she said.

Sprick said if she's feeling really stressed out or nervous, she isn't able to stomach too much.

Continued...

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