All too often, it seems, the news reports contain stories about a salad or hamburger manufacturer having to recall its lettuce or beef (or other foods) due to an E. coli contamination. So, what exactly is E. coli? Short for Escherichia coli, these bacteria are found in the intestines of healthy people and animals. Most types of E. coli are harmless. However, certain varieties can make you violently ill and may even be fatal. The most common of these bad strains are Shiga toxin-producing E. ... [Read More]
Digestive Disease
The Signs and Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease
An estimated 500,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract, but primarily affects the small intestine. The start of the large intestine is also affected, though the disease can really affect any and all parts of the digestive tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, the rectum and anus; and are responsible for processing food as it passes through the body. The s ... [Read More]
What is Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease is a form of irritable bowel disease that causes inflammation and irritation of the digestive system. The digestive system includes every organ between the mouth and anus that processes food: the esophagus, stomach, intestines, rectum, and anus. For the more than half a million Americans who suffer from Crohn’s Disease, any day can present a bout with diarrhea, stomach cramps, and loss of appetite, weight loss and more. More definitively, Crohn’s disease can attack any part of th ... [Read More]
Correlation Between Coffee and Liver Disease
This might be the best news you have heard in some time: drinking coffee isn’t dangerous to your liver. In fact, there is some evidence that coffee actually is good for your liver, and drinking it could even reverse liver damage, but first, what is liver disease, and what exactly is the correlation between the liver and America’s favorite morning pick-me-up? Liver Disease Liver disease – cirrhosis – is a devastating complication of liver disease and is a leading cause of death in the Unit ... [Read More]
What is IBS?
According to the National Institutes of Health, Irritable bowel syndrome – IBS – “is a group of symptoms that occur together, including repeated pain in your abdomen and changes in your bowel movements, which may be diarrhea, constipation, or both.” In other words, IBS is defined by its symptoms rather than its cause. There’s good reason for that. The root cause hasn’t been defined. Medical science has not yet been able to pinpoint why IBS occurs, only that it does for some people and that the ... [Read More]
How Probiotics Help Your Gut Health
The ancient saying “food is medicine” is increasingly becoming a mantra in modern culture. More people understand that good health is best managed through conscious healthy food consumption. Many diseases are triggered or aggravated by unhealthy food habits, so maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is crucial. It can be an active weapon against disease – or a direct contributor. It helps in reducing inflammation and risks for diseases, both trivial and serious. Gut health also helps in burning ... [Read More]
Most Common Signs and Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Disorders
Gastrointestinal disorders are among some of the most commonly diagnosed medical conditions, yet some people hesitate to discuss them with a doctor, especially those ones that affect bathroom habits. However, GI conditions aren’t limited to the bowel. They comprise a variety of issues, from heartburn to hepatitis C. These disorders can range in severity from acute, mildly annoying, to chronic, debilitating and potentially life-threatening. In other words, they’re well worth talking with your doc ... [Read More]
Chronic Pancreatitis Overview
Pancreatitis, the disease that 28-year-old Swedish DJ Avicii lived within the years before his recent death, is on the rise in the United States. Pancreatitis is characterized as inflammation in the pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach. Acute pancreatitis can come on suddenly, signaling a new and concerning problem. However, whether from lifestyle choices or a lingering health issue, chronic pancreatitis can build up until it becomes unbearable and even dangerous. The pancreas serves ... [Read More]
Preparing for an Endoscopy: Do’s and Don’ts
Do you have ongoing nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain in the upper GI (gastrointestinal) region; gastric reflux, trouble swallowing, anemia or unexpected weight loss? If the answer is yes to any of these conditions, then you may need to undergo a gastroenterology procedure called an upper endoscopy, which is useful in finding the exact cause of your GI Tract problems. If your primary doctor recommends you get an upper endoscopy, there is no need to fret. An endoscopy is a common and safe ... [Read More]
10 Diet Tips for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
If you are like the one if five Americans who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), you know every bathroom along your well-traveled routes, and pretty much have given up on comfort food. IBS – also known as spastic colon or spastic bowel – is a chronic disorder that affects the muscle contractions of the bowel but is not characterized by intestinal inflammation, ulcers or bowel damage. That’s because IBS is not a disease – patients with IBS show no clinical signs of disease and often ha ... [Read More]
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