Articles on Digestive Problems

The digestive system is the root of all health.  It processes what we eat and sends energy and nutrition to every cell in our bodies, including support for our immune systems.  It can easily be disrupted by disease, diet and emotional stress.  Common digestive problems such as heartburn/GERD, IBD and IBS cause millions of people to suffer and limit their quality of life.  Some common symptoms of digestive problems include bloating, diarrhea, gas or stomach pain and cramps.  Learning more about the digestive system may help with managing these problems.

 

09/17/2011 - Articles
How to avoid constipation

How To Avoid Constipation: Simple Tips To Avoid Constipation

Not everyone can go to the toilet every day. Constipation is generally considered to constitute less than three stools per week. Action is warranted if the feces are hard and the . Read more

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05/20/2010 - Articles

Cirrhosis of the liver is linked to cognitive problems

Cirrhosis of the liver may lead to deterioration in mental performance similar to that seen in Alzheimer’s disease,  according to a new study from researchers at Loyola University. Team leader Dr Christopher Randolph has devised a battery of neuropsychological tests called the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS™) which is a paper and pencil test taking 20 to 25 minutes to complete. It tests memory, attention, language and visuo-spatial functioning. The patient will do tasks like identifying line drawings of common objects, repeating lists of numbers, copying geometrical figures and recalling a story. The general population would get an average score of around 100 on RBANS. Read more

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05/20/2010 - Articles

Which therapy for Crohn's disease?

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory condition of the digestive system which tends to flare up and follow a chronic course. Complications of Crohn’s disease can include painful fistulas and abscesses. The standard treatment for Crohn’s disease is a corticosteroid, which may be followed by a drug called azathioprine if the patient does not respond to the steroid. More recently, biologic treatments known as monoclonal antibodies have been introduced. These block a key molecule of the inflammatory cascade known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Infliximab is a biologic treatment for Crohn’s disease. It has to be given by infusion and it is expensive. Therefore, infliximab is generally reserved for patients in whom all other treatments have failed. But could more patients with Crohn’s disease benefit from infliximab? To answer this, a comparison between infliximab, azathioprine and a combination of the two is needed. Read more

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04/30/2010 - Articles

Hypnotherapy may help with irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is often diagnosed when doctors cannot find any underlying cause for symptoms like diarrhoea and/or constipation. While there are treatments available for IBS, they are not always effective and people with the condition may suffer ongoing distress and discomfort. Dietary approaches, based on excluding certain foods, may help. However, according to Professor Ronald Valori, editor of a new journal called Frontline Gastroenterology, both medication and diet have limitations when it comes to tackling the root cause of IBS, which is an overly sensitive gut. In a podcast discussion with Professor Eamonn Quigley of University College Cork, he says that hypnotherapy is an effective way of dealing with IBS. In the first 100 patients Prof Valori treated with hypnotherapy for IBS, nine out of ten said their symptoms were significantly improved. In four out of ten, IBS symptoms even stopped completely. And even when some symptoms remained, the IBS patients said they at least felt more in control. Read more

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02/10/2010 - Articles

Abdominal surgery riskier for older adults

Abdominal surgery is carried out on two million older Americans every year. One factor that should be considered when proposing abdominal surgery is the increased risk of complications and mortality in the older patient after these operations. A team from the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, has carried out a study of complications and death rates after abdominal surgery in a group of 101,318 adults aged 65 or more. The abdominal surgery included operations like gall bladder removal, hysterectomy and colectomy. They recorded complications occurring within 90 days of discharge from hospital and deaths occurring within 90 days of hospital admission. Read more

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01/18/2010 - Articles

New diet for IBS introduced

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition characterized by diarrhoea/constipation, pain and bloating, affects one person in five at some point in their lives. Current treatments are not always effective but a new dietary approach looks promising. Recently introduced to the UK from Australia, the Low FODMAP™ diet restricts foods containing poorly absorbed sugars (also known as FODMAPs). These foods include honey, apples, pears, stone fruits, onion, leek, garlic and artichoke. Also on the restricted list for those with IBS on the Low FODMAP diet are polyol sweeteners like xylitol often found in sugar-free foods, and beans and pulses. Read more

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11/17/2009 - Articles
Fissured tongue: Why is my tongue fissured?

Fissured tongue: Why is my tongue fissured?

Fissured tongue (or cracked tongue) is a condition frequently seen in the general population. It's also known as ‘scrotal tongue’ or ‘lingua plicata’ and is characterized by one or more fissures or grooves on the tongue. Why is your tongue fissured? What are the causes of fissured tongue? Can a fissured tongue heal? There are other questions you might want to ask if you're suffering from a fissured tongue. We will try to answer some of them. Read more

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09/23/2009 - Articles
Borborygmi and Apple Juice

Borborygmi and Apple Juice: What is Borborygmi and how to treat it.

Borborygmus (plural borborygmi) is the rumbling sound made by gas and fluids moving through the intestines. Read more

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06/26/2009 - Articles

Air pollution is linked to appendicitis

A study sheds new light on the cause of appendicitis, which was previously unknown. A link between high levels of air pollution and appendicitis has been uncovered by environmental researchers in Canada. Read more

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06/19/2009 - Articles

IBS and Sex Problems

Introduction The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is often associated with significant symptoms affecting areas outside the gut - sleep disturbances, loss or increase in appetite, changes in body weight, and sexual problems; these changes can add to the misery of IBS itself. Read more

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