Affecting the large intestine, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the digestive system. Its main symptoms include abdominal pain, gas, cramping, bloating, and constipation and/or diarrhea. IBS is a chronic condition – so once someone is affected, they will have the condition for their entire lifetime. However, many people successfully manage the symptoms without causing great upheaval in their lives. Below, we talk about the basics of IBS and the various options you h ... [Read More]
Digestive Care
Reasons to See a Gastroenterologist
Among the many different types of doctors that people commonly see are gastroenterologists. This type of physician is a specialist in the health and diseases of the stomach, esophagus, intestine, colon, pancreas, gallbladder, liver, bile ducts, and rectum. A gastroenterologist deals with a lot more health issues than you may think. Here are the some of the reasons you may need to see a gastroenterologist: Heartburn Heartburn is a burning sensation felt in the chest and/or throat. ... [Read More]
What Is Hepatology?
The liver, the second-largest organ of your body – and the largest internal organ, because the largest organ is the skin – helps in digestion and in removing impurities from the body. It filters out all of the unwanted and unneeded compounds from the food and drinks that you consume. Our liver also produces bile, which helps your body metabolize fat. The bile is stored in the gallbladder until it is needed for digestion in the small intestines. The branch of medicine specializing in the dia ... [Read More]
Benefits of Getting an Endoscopy
An endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure that is used to examine the digestive tract of a patient and, if necessary, to apply certain treatments. It involves the use of an endoscope, which is a long, thin, flexible tube with a camera at one end so the physician can view the patient’s digestive organs in real-time. During an endoscopy, the patient is placed under mild general anesthesia. The endoscope is then inserted into the patient’s mouth, down the throat, and into the esophagus. The doctor ... [Read More]
Diverticulitis Treatments
When it comes to gastroenterological issues, most people know about irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. However, not many people know about diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is the infection or inflammation of pouches that can develop in your intestines. The pouches are called diverticula – if you have them, the condition is called diverticulosis. Diverticula can develop anywhere along the GI tract but are most common in the lower parts. They are vulnerable to ble ... [Read More]
When to Visit a Gastroenterologist
A gastroenterologist is a digestive disease specialist. They are educated and trained to treat, diagnose, and prevent diseases and conditions of the digestive system, which includes the small intestine, colon, rectum, gallbladder, liver, bile ducts, esophagus, and stomach. Your primary care doctor will most likely recommend you seek medical help from a gastroenterologist if you have chronic or severe digestive system issues. A gastroenterologist’s main duty is to help restore patients’ opt ... [Read More]
Common Treatments For Indigestion
Indigestion is a condition that causes discomfort in your abdomen. Every person experience indigestion differently. Also called dyspepsia, symptoms can include pain, a feeling of fullness soon after eating, vomiting, issues that affect the frequency of going to the bathroom, and weight loss. Indigestion is either occasional or chronic. And while indigestion is common, the condition is not normal. If you experience indigestion once in a while, over-the-counter treatments will work just fine. ... [Read More]
Can Constipation Be Dangerous?
Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints people see their doctors for in the United States. Unhealthy diets, not drinking enough fluids, and not getting enough exercise can cause or worsen constipation. The most common symptom of constipation is being unable to pass stool with ease. The stool may be hard to pass or you may be unable to go to the bathroom completely. Constipation can also cause a host of other symptoms such as pain in the abdomen and bloating. Most ... [Read More]
How Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treated?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a generalized term that refers to the inflammatory disorders that affect the digestive tract. IBD affects more than 3 million Americans. This digestive disease has two primary types: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis causes ulcers in the inner lining of the colon (large intestine) and the rectum, whereas Crohn’s disease is when the lining anywhere in the digestive tract is inflamed. Both conditions are accompanied by similar sym ... [Read More]
Treatments for Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which results in the irritation and chronic inflammation of your digestive tract. Unlike other gut-related illnesses, ulcerative colitis affects only the large colon and, in some cases, the rectum. This disease affects the innermost lining of both the colon and the rectum, often causing the formation of ulcers (also known as sores) which tend to bleed and excrete mucus or pus. It may also prompt frequent trips to the bathroom. There ... [Read More]
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