Pie, gravy, potatoes, cookies — many of the foods traditionally served at holiday meals are also some of the hardest to digest. Unpleasant heartburn symptoms can put a damper on your holiday celebrations. For the more than 40 million Americans who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, these symptoms are even more serious. GERD …
Up to 15 percent of people will develop gall stones at some point during their lifetime, and four percent of those people will face complications. Gall bladder disease can impact anyone, but there are several factors that have proven to be a good indicator of who is most at risk. Although these four characteristics do …
Do you have these 4 risk factors of gall bladder disease? Read More »
Born in 1981, I consider myself part of both Generation X as well as the millennial demographic. As one of the youngest Gen X-ers and oldest millennials, I try and keep a pulse on the labels and trends associated with both groups — the good, the bad and the ugly. Recently, I was taken aback …
After losing an alarming 17 pounds in a month, Wayne Weaver, 80, learned he had a rare and potentially life-threatening swallowing condition called achalasia. Treatment for achalasia includes cutting the muscles in the lower esophagus, and the treatment of choice at most hospitals is an extensive surgery involving incisions in the abdomen through to the esophagus. But …
Achalasia: Rare swallowing disorder treated with new minimally invasive procedure Read More »
On the surface, our bodies may seem fine. Inside the gut however, there is a continuous war between invaders and our immune system’s defenses. Attackers (bacteria, viruses and toxins) keep arriving in our food and drink. White blood cells in the gut are on constant alert to fight off these attackers. At the same time, the …
Your sensitive stomach might be caused by Inflammatory Bowel Disease Read More »
Heartburn can be a pain, especially following the holiday season. To find relief, millions of Americans have relied on a class of drugs called Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)—medications that bind to stomach cells to reduce acid, often associated with conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and ulcers. But a new study casts doubt on …
Popular heartburn medications associated with stroke: Should you be concerned? Read More »
Belching and heartburn was a daily part of Madalyn Miller’s life. “Prior to living in Dallas, I lived in San Diego and saw various doctors for an issue with belching,” the 29-year-old financial consultant said. “My belching and acid reflux had grown increasingly prominent over the past few years.” She tried keeping a food diary …
A game-changing treatment for acid reflux and GERD Read More »
Probiotics are living bacteria or other microorganisms that have beneficial health effects in people when they’re ingested. Probiotics have become very popular and many of my patients are taking probiotics to gain some health advantage, but enthusiasm for a concept is not the same as scientific proof of effectiveness. Here’s the truth: Very few marketed …
Viruses may play a role in inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, according to a new study. Earlier research linked the diseases to bacteria in the gut. Researchers found that patients with inflammatory bowel diseases had a greater variety of viruses in their digestive systems, indicating viruses may play a role …
Could viruses contribute to inflammatory bowel diseases? Read More »