Day after day, your digestive system works hard to process the food you eat. When it’s working properly, most people hardly notice their digestive tract. However, when any part of this complex system malfunctions, we become painfully aware of its importance. Below are some common causes of various gastrointestinal symptoms. If you are experiencing any of these, talk to a GI doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. Common Gastrointestinal Symptoms Digestive disorder symptoms can range from a ... [Read More]
Gastroenterologist
Fun Facts About Your Digestive System
Most people have a rough understanding of how digestion works thanks to biology class back in school. We know the essential parts of the digestive system, such as the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Get ready to smile. Here are some fun tidbits about our digestive system: Digestion Starts in Your Mouth When people think about digestion, many tend to visualize food breaking down in the stomach. However, it starts in the mouth. Although the teeth are part of the skeletal system, they ... [Read More]
Is it IBS or appendicitis?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and appendicitis both share similar symptoms, which can often confuse people. However, it’s important that you know how to identify symptoms of each condition, especially because appendicitis is a medical emergency and should be treated immediately. IBS Symptoms Approximately 15 percent of adults in the United States have IBS. The symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain and alternating constipation and diarrhea. It is a gastrointestinal disease that researchers ... [Read More]
How to Relieve Constipation
If you have fewer than three bowel movements in a week, and find it difficult or painful to pass one, you may be suffering from constipation. This is a common problem, as about 16% of all adults and 33% of adults over the age of 60 in the United States report having this issue, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Constipation can be caused by a number of factors, and treatments can vary depending on the frequency, cause, and severity of the condition. If you regularly suffer ... [Read More]
When Should I See a GI Doctor?
When people have abdominal pain or digestive problems, they are likely to think something is wrong with the stomach. However, the underlying issue could be a variety of things affecting any of the organs in the gastrointestinal system. GI doctors are experts of the gastrointestinal system and can diagnose and treat a plethora of conditions affecting the esophagus, stomach, intestines (large and small), pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, liver, colon, and rectum. An issue with any of these could ... [Read More]
Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder affecting the large intestine. It is a condition characterized by abdominal distress linked with modified bowel movements. Although not considered a life-threatening condition, it is a chronic disorder that needs long-term management. IBS usually comes and goes throughout life, which may bring frustration and discomfort. Irritable bowel syndrome is different from inflammatory bowel disease or IBD. It doesn't cause damage in your bowel ... [Read More]
Common Food Sensitivities
Food sensitivities are pretty common, with an estimated 20% of the U.S. population having some form of it. Food sensitivity is a way to refer to a food allergy and can be life-threatening for many people. Even if your food sensitivity isn’t dangerous to your life, it can still become problematic because of uncomfortable symptoms it causes. It may be difficult to diagnose a food sensitivity at first because of the wide range of other causes that have overlapping symptoms with the condition. If ... [Read More]
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]
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]
Prepping For A Colonoscopy
“Colonoscopy” is often associated with discomfort and embarrassment. However, this is not the case at all. Colonoscopies are not only crucial for early diagnosis of colon cancer, they are very comfortable procedures that patients do not have to be nervous about. A colonoscopy is performed with the patient being unconscious. You will not know what is going on during the procedure and by the time you wake up, it will be over. It is performed using a tool that helps the doctor see inside the ... [Read More]
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