Hepatitis C (HCV) is a contagious liver disease that comes from being infected with the Hepatitis C virus. The word “hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. The inflammation of the liver could be from many causes, such as viruses like hepatitis A, B or C being among them; other causes of inflammation can include medications… Read more »
Crohn’s disease is one of the conditions belonging to the group known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Crohn’s disease affects approximately half a million Americans and is a condition that causes chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The doctor who first described this eponymous disease in 1932, Dr. Burrill B. Crohn, worked with two colleagues on… Read more »
For years, doctors have known that regular use of aspirin can reduce the risk of heart problems. Now, researchers have discovered another potential use of aspirin: the prevention of digestive cancer. A new study from the Center for Cancer Prevention at Queen Mary University of London’s Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine found that taking aspirin daily reduced… Read more »
Colon polyps are noncancerous growths in the lining of the colon or rectum. Although polyps are not cancerous in and of themselves, they can become cancerous later on. Screening for colon polyps can help prevent the development of colon cancer, by allowing their removal before they turn into cancer. Colon Polyps Can Become Cancerous On… Read more »
The American College of Gastroenterology recently released a review of the data for the management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). Patients with IBS experience issues such as abdominal pain, constipation, and frequent diarrhea. Unlike inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) conditions such as Crohn’s, IBS does not involve changes to the structure of the bowel but is a”functional” problem, how… Read more »
A recent study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that opioid use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was associated with higher mortality and greater rates of opioid abuse. This information highlights the importance of close monitoring and compliance with the established medication regimen to prevent flare-ups. IBD encompasses a group of bowel disorders in which the bowel becomes chronically inflamed, resulting… Read more »
On Polyps and Previous Colonoscopies A patient’s report of a previous colonoscopy as, “it was normal” or “it showed such and such” is not sufficent and may suggest something entirely different when said in non-medical terms. Many patients say they had polyps but “they were nothing”, “they were benign”, or “they were not cancerous”. These statements leave… Read more »
How to Manage Health Records and Doctor Relationships – A Doctor’s Perspective Your doctor, especially a primary care doctor, or the first specialist you see for a problem, has been with you during the entire course of a problem (during flare- ups, etc), and he /she has reviewed you from the starting point of symptoms. … Read more »
Prediabetes, a state of elevated blood sugar that can lead to diabetes as time goes on, is most obviously associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes. However, there are a number of other conditions that prediabetic patients are at an elevated risk of developing, including colon cancer. Given the health consequences of prediabetes, it… Read more »
In the information age that we live in, it is easy to take the path of least resistance and avoid inconvenience when an ailment starts to cause concern and physical impairment. Our desire for instant gratification can frequently be met with the quick Google search for a diagnosis fitting all of our symptoms. Limitless outcomes… Read more »
Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US. It is also the 3rd leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women. This doesn’t have to be the case. With proper screening and early detection, colorectal cancer is 90% preventable. It’s important to have a basic understanding of colorectal cancer and its prevention.… Read more »
This is part of a series of 3 blog posts whereby a family member (FM) of a patient is having a discussion on colonoscopy and colon cancer screening with a gastroenterologist (D). Many individuals find reasons to put off their recommended colon cancer screening. Many of these objections to screening are addressed in this series. If you… Read more »
