“Tanim Galit”

While airline passengers worry about incidents of airport “tanim bala” in their baggage, there are also health concerns that you should worry about when you have “extra baggage”.

“Tanim Galit” and Extra Baggage

Extra baggage is a term used by healthcare professionals and counselors who attend to perennial patients who suffer from countless complaints and seem not able to get over their problems and symptoms. “Extra baggage,” when used in such manner, refers to resentments, guilt feelings, anger, anxiety, stress, fears, and other negative thoughts and antagonistic or negativistic psychological and emotional feelings that result to unexplained medical problems.

“Tanim galit” or “nagtatanim ng galit” are tagalog words that describe somebody with unexpressed anger. It refers to a person who harbors fury and rage and animosity to somebody or a group. Such ill feeling results to bothersome bodily problems; one of which is acid peptic disease – acute or chronic peptic ulcer disease and acute and chronic gastritis. Although mortality rates in acid peptic diseases are low, the resulting pain brought about by the conditions can result to suffering and costs.

Acid Peptic Diseases

Gastritis is described as erosions in the mucosa or inner lining of the stomach. Peptic ulcer disease on the other hand is of two kinds: Gastric and duodenal (small intestines). Ulcers in general, refers to corrosive action of gastric juices or acids – pepsin and hydrochloric acid that result to open sores inside the lining of the stomach and/or small intestines. Ulcers also affect the inner lining of the esophagus.

Mechanism of the disease

Negative feelings, including unexpressed anger and resentment, and other negative emotions result to increase in peristalsis or movements of the stomach, resulting to increase secretion of gastric acid or juices that may produce erosions or breaks in the internal lining of the stomach, small intestines, and/or the esophagus. Peptic ulcer disease and other acid peptic diseases are also caused by an impending bacteria, helicobacter pylori, a single-celled bacteria similar to ameba that takes advantage of the over-activity and over-secretion of gastric acid and juices. Antacids are mainstay in the treatment of ulcers. Modifying lifestyle, behavior, and outlook in life; in other words ‘getting rid of extra baggage’ is important.

Myth about acid peptic diseases

It is a myth that spicy foods can cause acid peptic diseases.