Stomach and Digestive + Original Articles

Is this process really as beneficial as proponents claim it to be? And could it even be dangerous? Proponents of colon cleansing-also known as colonic irrigation, detoxification therapy, colon hydrotherapy, and enema irrigation-claim that the unhealthy American lifestyle (including a poor diet, extreme stress, and lack of exercise) all contribute to clogging of the lower intestinal track.

If left undiagnosed, Celiac Disease can result in potentially serious complications. According to a recent study by the Mayo Clinic, celiac disease, a chronic intestinal disorder caused by a hypersensitivity to gluten proteins found in wheat, rye, barley and possibility oat products, is four times more common today than it was 50 years ago.

While what's considered normal will vary for everyone, knowing what's normal for you can help spot potential problems early on. It's a subject many people feel uncomfortable discussing, but one that can be a leading indicator of your health: your bathroom habits, specifically your bowel movements. While what's considered normal bowel elimination will vary for everyone-for some it may be as many as three times a day or as few as three times a week-knowing what's normal for you is important so you can spot potential health problems early.

If you've been experiencing chest pain, bloating, and difficulty swallowing, it's possible you have a hiatal hernia. For people who have an abnormality called a hiatal hernia, the opening of their esophageal hiatus is larger than normal, which means that a portion of their upper stomach slips up or passes through their hiatus and into their chest. In other words, part of their stomach comes through their diaphragm and into their chest.

If you frequently suffer from acid reflux, your health could be paying the price. Could it be that the innocuous burning pain behind your breastbone after a heavy meal is more than heartburn? Or that the reflux you experience lying down too soon after the meal is doing more than giving you a bad taste in your mouth? For the 60 million Americans who experience heartburn with regularity, oftentimes an antacid can relieve the discomfort[1].

Learn how you could prevent this potentially deadly complication. When you're diganosed with a disease, one thing you need to know is if it has any long-term effects. According to a recent study, 2/3 of people with GERD do not know if the disease has any long-term risks.[1] This is rather troubling, given that one of GERD's long-term effects can be fatal.

If you have asthma, your odds of having GERD may be significantly increased. Two Related Conditions The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports that as many as 70 percent of all people who are diagnosed with asthma also have co-existing GERD symptoms, too. In addition, many people with the most severe asthma symptoms that don't seem to respond to traditional treatment methods could find that their condition are actually related to their GERD.

When it comes to the digestive system, there are plenty of of myths and misconceptions. Here, we present five. When it comes to the digestive system, there are plenty of of myths and misconceptions. Here, we present five: 1. Heartburn is a disease. Heartburn, in fact, is not a disease. Rather, it is the main symptom for adults who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is a disease.

Is there proof behind the theory? Find out here. People who practice Complimentary and Alternative Medicine have long used probiotics to treat various illnesses. Recently, however, they have been in the limelight, especially by manufacturers touting the health benefits of foods that contain probiotics.

There are many types of surgical procedures physicians can perform to treat people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Here’s what you need to know about J pouch surgery. Seventy percent of Crohn's patients eventually require surgery to manage their disease. However, surgery may induce remission and provide relief from difficult symptoms, significantly improving patients' quality of life. One such method is J pouch surgery.

If your doctor has recommended an ostomy, here’s what you need to know. What is an ostomy? An ostomy is a surgical opening in the abdomen to remove your body's waste. A physician may perform an ostomy in patients who've had a portion of their large bowel removed or bypassed. It's also a common procedure for people who have Irritable Bowel Disease.

Learn more about prebiotics can do for your digestive health. We tend to think that bacteria in the digestive system are what we want to rid our bodies of. But there is a certain food ingredient that helps these bacteria grow and is actually beneficial to our digestive health. They are called prebiotics, nondigestible food ingredients that help bacterial species grow in the colon, which is good for our overall health.

You might want to think twice before steering towards the drive-thru of your favorite take-out restaurant. It's no secret that most take-out food is dangerous for your waistline, but it can also be downright disgusting. From rats to food stored in unsanitary locations, some restaurants have served up more than just convenient, tasty food. Beware, what you're about to read might make your stomach turn.

Follow these steps to help find relief. We often think of heartburn as a food-induced pain resulting from eating too much too quickly, or as something we experience when we’re stressed. Typically this is the case. But the truth is that heartburn can be caused by an unlikely source: medication.

Read on determine when your condition requires medical attention. Studies show that 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month, and that 25 million experience it on a daily basis. Heartburn, a burning pain behind the breastbone that radiates upward, is the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Environment, eating habits, and genetics all play a key role. There are risk factors associated with every disease, and Crohn’s is no exception. You can’t change the genetic hand that nature deals you, or your family history. Recognizing you are at greater risk for developing Crohn’s (or any disease) is invaluable.

Early studies of the effectiveness of fish oil in maintaining remission in Crohn’s patients have been quite promising. Fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties because of the omega-3 fatty acids it contains—and Crohn’s is an inflammatory disease. Crohn’s is characterized by alternating periods of flare-ups and remission. The first goal of intervention is to control symptoms and bring the disease into remission. Once in remission, the goal of treatment is to keep the patient in remission for as long as possible.

Find out if surgery may help ease your symptoms. Surgery is one step in the treatment program for patients who have Crohn’s disease. In fact, approximately 70 percent of Crohn’s patients will eventually need surgery. Surgery often initiates remission, providing relief from symptoms, and improves quality of life.

The incidence of Crohn’s in children under 16 is increasing. But why? If your child has Crohn’s disease, he or she is not alone. Approximately 140,000 people under the age of eight are affected this disease. And unfortunately, the incidence of Crohn’s in children under 16 is increasing. In fact, teens are more likely to develop Crohn’s disease than any other age group; about sixteen out of every 100,000 teens will be diagnosed with Crohn’s.

With some careful preparation, you can enjoy a successful and stress-free time away from home. Whether you are taking a much-anticipated family vacation or an essential business trip, don’t let Crohn’s disease get in the way. The key to traveling successfully is preparation. Here are a few things to consider: Take a supply of medicine.

Vitamins, minerals and other key nutrients must be included Crohn’s disease affects the intestines, which absorb food that produces energy for your body. When inflamed, it cannot adequately perform this essential function. Furthermore, when patients aren’t feeling well, they may not eat enough to support their body’s increased nutritional needs.

Learn how diet and lifestyle changes help eliminate this common problem. Power saws and car horns, at 110 decibels each, are jarring noises that cause you to cover your ears. They’re annoying and obnoxious. Yet neither of them is louder than what an Englishman did in 2001—burped at 118 decibels, the loudest belch ever recorded.

A big part of managing your condition is avoiding certain trigger foods. When a meal must adhere to specific dietary guidelines, a single phrase should sum up the guideline’s essence. Those who suffer from GERD should, above all, remember this: go easy on the fat. The GERD Information Resource Center suggests making a number of lifestyle changes for those with the disease.

Some simple dietary changes can help ward off heartburn symptoms. Cooking in the comfort of your own kitchen should be a painless process: you make and eat what you want. Those who suffer from heartburn need not be sidelined by symptoms—so long as they know which foods are safe. Abiding by a few standard rules limits the chance you will experience heartburn when reaching for a recipe.

They may be small, but they have big benefits. Seeds--they're for the birds, right? Sure, but they're also great for you. Whether you're a vegetarian, a vegan or a meat-eater, seeds have a place in your diet. You can eat them in larger quantities as a main course, grind them into butters, or use them in smaller quantities as garnishes for other foods.

Learn more about this new, non-surgical option. When it comes to managing heartburn, the basic treatments are available and reliable. Most of the 60 million Americans who suffer from heartburn at least once a month, after consulting their doctor and understanding their symptoms, find relief with one of three over-the-counter (OTC) medicines: antacids, H2-receptor antagonists, or proton pump inhibitors.

Learn more about cigarettes' negative effects on your digestive health. Whether you choose cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, smoking can be increase your risk of oral tumors and various lung diseases. But those aren't the only consequences: Now we know that smoking can lead to heartburn. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a valve that keeps stomach contents out of the esophagus.

Learn simple strategies for controlling your condition while away from home. If you spend enough time going from home to office to home, soon you'll find yourself dying for a long weekend, or even a month-long vacation. Anything to change the routine. But as we all know, travelling can come with a host of headaches. There's bumper-to-bumper traffic on the highway.

Find out about the new and innovative treatments available to help you better control your condition. Ever had a burning pain in the middle of your chest? How about a feeling that food is coming back up your throat, or an acidic taste in the back of the throat? What about an increasing pain behind the breastbone when you lie down or bend over? If so, you're one of the 60 million American adults who experiences heartburn at least one time each month.

Follow these tips to stay heartburn-free while on the move. For those who suffer from heartburn, an important part of managing the pain is maintaining a healthy weight. A great way to achieve this is through regular exercise Every day, researchers uncover new ways that fitness can benefit people of all ages. In...

Follow these tips to prevent alcohol from aggravating your condition. Heartburn and alcohol have a unique relationship. A study published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences found that those who drank 12 ounces of red wine with lunch or dinner had higher-than-normal levels of acid in the esophagus. Other studies have shown that of those people who suffer from heartburn, roughly 6 in 10 said alcohol led directly to heartburn symptoms on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

These good eats get the thumbs-up for heartburn sufferers. When heartburn sufferers talk about food, they usually talk about what they can't eat, not about what they can eat. That's because the worst trigger foods-fats, spices, citrus-can lead to painful symptoms. When determining foods that won't aggravate your symptoms, the first thing to do is to assess their ingredients.

Approximately 50 percent of pregnant women will experience heartburn. Learn how to find relief. Approximately 50 percent of pregnant women will experience heartburn (most common during the second and third trimester.) The reason: As a woman's level of progesterone increases during pregnancy, her lower esophageal sphincter relaxes. This allows food and acid to reflux back into the esophagus, thus creating the feeling of heartburn or indigestion.

A few simple changes can make a big difference. It may not be dinner-table conversation, but sometimes what we eat at the dinner table can affect us in negative ways. If you've ever left a meal feeling bloated, or suffered from heartburn or pain, your digestive system may not be operating at top capacity.

Learn more about this undeniable connection. If you wake up before sunrise, down a cup of coffee, rush to work, spend all day in the office, eat a large dinner, then lay on the couch watching TV before bedtime, you're like most stressed Americans. And if you suffer from heartburn, your lifestyle is almost definitely a contributor.

Sometimes medication isn’t the only answer. Some of us are obsessed with medicine. We get a stomach ache and rush to the doctor, screaming for a prescription; our throat hurts so we down an over-the-counter (OTC) syrup, all the while carrying on with our everyday lives as if the meds will miraculously cure us.

There may be more of a connection than you think. Most people probably wouldn't rate getting enough sleep as the most important aspect of their life, but maybe they should. In addition to feeling rested and invigorated, studies have shown that a lack of sleep can increase your odds of becoming overweight, incurring an emotional disorder, and performing poorly in the workplace.

Dining out doesn't have to be difficult. Just follow these simple tips. Sharing meals is at the heart of most social activities with family and friends. If you have Crohn's disease, you know firsthand that dining out can be difficult. However, there's no reason your social life should take a back seat. The key to dining out successfully is to plan carefully and be mindful of what you eat.

Learn more about different types of treatment options. If you suffer from heartburn, one of the first things to determine is how you wish to treat it. When it comes to treatment, there are three over the counter medications available: antacids, H2-receptor antagonists, and proton pump inhibitors. While each is effective in controlling heartburn, each treats the condition differently.

Beware: the following foods may exacerbate your condition. One way to minimize heartburn is to alter your diet. Unsurprisingly, this means healthier eating. Sugars, chocolates, and citrus products are bad for heartburn, and as a rule, fatty foods, by stimulating the over-production of stomach acid, are more likely to lead to heartburn.

Learn how relaxation can help you better manage your condition. We can trace the belief in a mind-body wellness connection all the way back to ancient Greece. Today, the medical literature is mixed when it comes to the relationship between stress and illness. We know for sure that the underlying cause of Crohn's disease is biological-it's an inflammation of the digestive tract.

There’s no need to abandon carbs completely. It’s all a matter of selecting the right ones. In the wake of popular protein-heavy diets such as South Beach and Atkins, some people still consider carbohydrates to be the enemy. But it's important to remember that there actually are two types of carbs: complex carbs and simple carbs, otherwise known as good carbs and bad carbs.

While medical advancements are constantly being made, Americans continue to fall behind on some basic health measures. How healthy are you? No, really. Your health goes beyond having the sniffles, an upset stomach, or a strained muscle. What's the state of your overall health and well being? Well, if you're anything like most Americans, it's not great--and it's getting worse as more people are being diagnosed with diseases like diabetes and asthma, are exercising less, and are gaining more weight.

Disgust is a powerful emotion shared by all people across all cultures, yet its triggers are very different. Where did the sense of disgust come from, and why do we have it? We people eat some very disgusting things. Fish heads in Scotland, ox penises in China, pig intestines the American south, spiders in Cambodia, field rats in North Korea, cow kidneys in England, hog brains in the Ohio River Valley, cow tongue in Mexico, and even duck fetuses in the Philippines.

Irritable bowel syndrome affects up to 20 percent of the U.S. adult population, and the disorder has no known cause. Here, a look at IBS, from symptoms to treatment. Imagine not being able to make dinner plans with your friends or not eating your favorite foods for fear that it will send you running for the bathroom. For people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), these scenarios may sound all too familiar.

Colon cancer is the third most common form of cancer in the United States. Here, a guide to the disease, from screening to treatment. Colon cancer, also known as colorectal or large bowel cancer, is the third most common form of cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the Western world, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Nationally, there were 112,000 cases of colon cancer and 41,000 cases of rectal cancer in 2007, the organization estimated.

Tired of flabby abs or love handles? If diet and exercise haven't worked for you, abdominoplasty may be the solution. Who doesn't want a trim, flat stomach? Millions strive for tighter tummies, usually starting by improving their diet and exercise routines. However, these changes often aren't enough to achieve desired results. While body fat can be reduced through a healthy diet and workout plan, the loose muscles and skin that frequently result from extreme weight loss, pregnancy, and even aging and heredity aren't as easily eliminated.

Think you know everything about the human body? Check out 10 bizarre facts you didn't learn in anatomy class. From WiFi and plasma screens to picture phones, modern technology might seem pretty complex. But according to biologists, the human body is still the most sophisticated—and mysterious—machine on Earth. A single brain cell, for example, can hold as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica, while human stomach acid is strong enough to dissolve razorblades.

Every year, more than 100,000 people undergo this popular weight-loss procedure. Is it right for you? Over the past decade, a slew of celebrities including singer Carnie Wilson, talk-show personality Star Jones, and NBC weatherman Al Roker have elected to undergo gastric bypass surgery to help manage their weight. The procedure, which involves stapling...

Millions of people have difficulty digesting milk and other dairy products. Find out how to identify and diagnose lactose intolerance. If you've ever eaten too much cheese or polished off a pint of ice cream in one sitting, you probably felt sick to your stomach. Most likely, the cramping, bloating, and abdominal pain you felt were caused by your body's inability to break down lactose, which is found in most dairy products.

Want to get rid of freckles? A hangover? A burn? Don't try these methods at home...or anywhere else, for that matter. For every one ailment, there are a score of home remedies that claim to cure it. Some are effective--like drinking ginger tea for a troubled stomach or soaking in Epsom salts to soothe achy muscles--while others are pretty useless or, worse still, dangerous.

Follow these steps to help ease the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects up to 20 percent of the general population, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). And for those living with it, the condition can be uncomfortable, inconvenient, and even embarrassing.

Mom always said to eat slowly to avoid getting a stomachache. Apparently, these people weren't listening. Although competitive eating has been around since the early 1900s when contestants traveled to their local county fairs to eat pies without their hands, organized eating officially became a sport in 1997. An organization called the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE) regulates eating rules and safety standards, unifies international eating competitions, tracks world records, and ranks the world's top eaters.

Your bellyaching over your bellyache may be caused by some of your favorite foods. Find out which foods are common offenders. Stomachaches, indigestion, gas, bellyache, agita, heartburn, upset stomach: Whatever you call it, digestive problems can be inconvenient and sometimes downright painful. Indigestion can be caused by a variety of reasons, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a physical condition in which stomach acid flows backward up into the esophagus.

Occasional heartburn isn't dangerous, but if it occurs on a frequent basis, it could indicate a more serious health condition. Here, a look at heartburn by the numbers. Heartburn is a digestive problem that occurs when stomach acid comes into contact with the lining of the esophagus, causing irritation. Classic symptoms include an uncomfortable burning sensation in the chest and throat along with a bitter taste in the mouth.

Pizza and doughnuts and burgers, oh my! These all-American treats top the nutritional hall of shame. Fried chicken, cheeseburgers, milkshakes, candy bars--these tasty treats are as American as, well, apple pie. Unfortunately, so, too, is obesity. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, more than 66 percent of U.S. adults are currently overweight, and 32 percent are obese.

Follow these tips to minimize nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and hair loss. Any cancer patient knows that chemotherapy means two things: a potential cure for cancer and side effects. Thankfully, there are several strategies to help minimize these adverse effects and get you back on your feet. Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly.

Heartburn--or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), if it occurs regularly--is a common digestive disorder that affects about 15 million Americans. Learn about symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. The symptoms are all too familiar: a burning sensation just under the breastbone startles you awake in the middle of the night, or an unbearable acidic or sour taste in your mouth. Your stomach feels bloated, full. This scenario repeats itself for several nights, possibly over several weeks and months.

Although there's no known cure for Crohn's disease, these tips may help patients to manage their symptoms. Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects an estimated 500,000 Americans. The disease is characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, and symptoms may include frequent diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, anal tears, and bowel obstructions.

These friendly bacteria can do wonders for your digestive system. Learn how your body can start reaping the benefits. The literal translation of the word probiotics is "for life." But just what are probiotics, how are they helpful in maintaining digestive health, and how can they be included in daily diets? Probiotics Defined The normal human digestive tract contains over 1,000 types of bacteria that reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and help promote a healthy digestive system.