Acid reflux occurs when the sphincter muscle located at the base of your stomach fails and allows acid from your stomach to re-enter, or reflux, into your esophagus. The sensitive tissue that lines the esophagus is not intended to come in contact with the acid. The result is a burning sensation.
Bleeding from any location along the gastrointestinal tract should be evaluated by your physician. Causes can range from tiny fissures (tears) and hemorrhoids, to the more serious peptic ulcers, colon polyps and cancer.
Everyone experiences occasional constipation, or dry and hard stools that are difficult to pass, but chronic constipation should not be ignored. Make sure you are eating the recommended 30 grams of fiber per day and are drinking at least 64 fluid ounces of water daily.
Polyps are small growths on the lining of the colon. During a colonoscopy your doctor will look for polyps and remove them. While most polyps are harmless, some (adenomas) are precancerous. Removing polyps before they can become malignant is a life saving procedure for millions of people every year.
Colitis is an inflammatory response in the colon, caused by an infection, use of some medications, allergic reactions, or an autoimmune reaction.
Crohn’s Disease is part of the family of illnesses known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD. Crohn’s can be found in any part of either the small or large intestine, and irritates not only the lining, but also deeper into the tissue layers.
Diverticular disease describes small pouches that form in the wall of the intestine. They are quite common as we age, and typically a patient can live their life without even being aware of their existence. Diverticulosis is rare in people who eat high fiber diets.
No one likes to talk about it, but everyone has it on occasion. Diarrhea refers to either the increase in the number of bowel movements in a day or the increase in the looseness of those bowel movements, or both.
Acute Pancreatitis – inflammation of the pancreas that appears with a sudden onset of severe abdominal pain
Acute Pancreatitis - a condition characterized by abrupt inflammation of the pancreas characterized by swelling and at times even destruction of pancreatic tissue. The most common causes of acute pancreatitis are gallstones and excessive alcohol consumption. Other causes include smoking, high triglyceride levels, high calcium levels...
There are several common diseases of the gallbladder which can be treated by your physician.
Dysphagia is a term used to describe someone’s difficulty or inability to swallow food or liquid. There are several reasons why someone might experience dysphagia, it might be because they didn’t chew their food well enough, muscle spasms, or other internal issues.
H. Pylori is a spiral shaped bacterium may be found in peptic ulcers. The discovery of this bacteria transformed the treatment of ulcers. If you test positive for the H. Pylori bacteria, your ulcer can be treated with a round of a specific type of antibiotic. The presence of H. Pylori is also associated with the development of gastric cancer.
When veins in your anus and lower rectum are under pressure they become inflamed and swollen. The result is known as hemorrhoids.
Low levels of iron cause the cells in your body to not carry enough needed oxygen throughout your body. This can cause extreme fatigue, hair loss, dizziness, and headaches.
Many people deal with the symptoms of IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, daily. They suffer without seeking the help of a gastroenterologist because they think it’s just “life.” Usually beginning in young adulthood, many people suffer for years before seeking medical attention.
Lactose is a sugar molecule found in milk and other milk products including yogurt and ice cream. In a healthy digestive system, your body produces an enzyme called lactase which digests the lactose.
There are many different types of hepatitis. The most common types, identified alphabetically as A, B, and C are all viruses that can cause liver damage.
NASH is characterized by the build-up of fat in the liver that is accompanied by inflammation. Often found in patients who are overweight, have diabetes or high blood sugar, and/or have high cholesterol; part of your treatment will be addressing these pre-existing conditions.
