First, do you know what peristalsis means? A general definition of peristalsis as it relates to your body is involuntary rhythmically organized muscle contractions designed to advance a substance through a hollow organ or tube. Notable examples of this action takes place in your esophagus, stomach and intestines, which is vital for your digestion. However, peristalsis also moves urine from the kidney to bladder and bile from the gallbladder to duodenum.
Because peristalsis pushes and mixes food through your digestive system, any problems with it can affect your intestinal flora. When the contents of your digestive tract are slowed or stalled, bacteria overgrowth does cause digestion problems.
Certain health conditions can have an impact on the steady movement of peristalsis, like:
- diabetes
- amyloidosis
- Hirschsprung’s disease
- surgery ~ stomach, intestines
And your peristalsis can weaken with aging.
The strength of your peristalsis activity is inconsistent and it can even reverse the direction of flow. For instance, a moving problem counter to normal digestion might occur due to an intestinal obstruction.