Diverticulitis in Younger Populations Widely considered a disease of the elderly, since incidence increases steadily with age, acute diverticulitis now seems to be on the rise in younger urban populations. Diverticular disease is when small sac-like out-pouchings of the inner bowel lining push through the outer muscle wall of the colon. Called diverticula, these pockets [...]
Diverticular Disease: Who Says You Can't Eat Nuts? Conflicting advice regarding nuts and diverticular disease ends with results from large study! There is good news for individuals with diverticular disease who are longing to eat garden ripe strawberries and blueberries, munch on popcorn at the movies, and get their share of the healthy oils in [...]
Time-Tested Natural Remedies for Digestive Disorders Peppermint Mentha piperita comes from the Greek, Mintha, the name of a mythological nymph who transformed into the plant, and the Latin, piper, which means pepper. Peppermint is a hybrid of two different plants: spearmint and water mint. Throughout the ages, people have used peppermint for culinary and [...]
Fibre May Reduce the Need for Gallbladder Surgery Consumption of insoluble fibre may decrease the risk of gallbladder surgery in women, according to a study examining the relationship between dietary fibre and gallstone disease. As part of the Nurse’s Health Study, (see note) approximately 70,000 women completed biennial questionnaires on their fibre intake, as well [...]
Nutrition and Lifestyle Tips for GERD Foods Eat slowly and chew very well. This will help optimize digestion and give you time to feel full. When we are too full, it is harder for our bodies to efficiently break down and process food, and easier for our stomach contents to move back up into the [...]
Fundoplication Fundoplication, an anti-reflux surgery, has become popular therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) using a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique. The Nissen fundoplication is a surgery performed on the stomach and the esophagus, and is one type of operation used to treat GERD. Before the widespread use of laparoscopic procedures, surgeons performed the Nissen fundoplication [...]
GERD and Heartburn Tips If you suffer from frequent heartburn, the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), then even the most basic day-to-day life activities can affect your condition. What were once regular habits; such as eating, sleeping, and exercise, can be either aggravators or alleviators. The best approach for alleviating symptoms is [...]
Therapeutic Substitution: Does one size really fit all? Your Health Could Be At Risk Just Because You Are Different! Medicine rationing has crept into the fabric of Canadian life. As various administrations take a nip at our rights here and trim our access there, we need to pay close attention. Some of the new policies [...]
Treating Sleep Apnea May Ease GERD Nighttime heartburn is common among people with a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea, and a device used to treat this disorder may ease patients’ heartburn as well, according to a new study. People with sleep apnea stop breathing for short periods during sleep. Most commonly due to upper [...]
Habba Syndrome Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common disorder, which affects as many as six million Canadians with symptoms that include abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and/or diarrhea. IBS represents 12% of all patients seen by primary care physicians and about half of the patients seen by gastroenterologists. About one third of patients with [...]
Liver Disease & Fatigue Everyone complains now and then of being tired. Perhaps you were up all night cramming for a final exam, caring for an ill family member, or maybe you just could not fall asleep. We experience many situations that result in decreased energy levels, but a night or two of good sleep [...]
Frequently Asked Questions About Inflammatory Bowel Disease Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term that primarily refers to two diseases of the intestines: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These diseases have a few similarities, but differ significantly in two key ways: the area of the digestive tract affected and the extent of the inflammation. Ulcerative [...]
Prednisone and Diet Prednisone is an anti-inflammatory medication which is commonly used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. This medication has some potential side effects that relate to the food we eat. These dietary guidelines may help to minimize these possible side effects. Sodium and Fluid Retention Prednisone may cause sodium (salt) [...]
IBS vs IBD: What's the Difference? People can be forgiven if they confuse irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). “IBS” and “IBD” sound the same. Both are very common illnesses that affect the gut. However, about the only features that they have in common are gut symptoms such as abdominal pain and [...]
Intestinal Gas Leaks Imagine this scenario. You’re sitting in a meeting, all is quiet, only one person is speaking softly but clearly. Suddenly, it arrives. Gas. You can feel it squirming through your guts. The time is near. A bead of sweat rolls down your forehead as the tension rises. There is no time to [...]
Chinese Medicine Alleviates Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and/or diarrhea. Doctors in China routinely use Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbal remedies to treat IBS. While Western medical doctors have shown reluctance toward these products, many are becoming more accepting. Medical researchers at the University of [...]
Endometriosis and IBS A study published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology investigated whether women with endometriosis in the United Kingdom have an increased chance of being diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Endometriosis – Endometrial cells normally line the inside of the uterus. Endometriosis is a [...]
Further links between Fibromyalgia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Researchers have long known of a link between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) & fibromyalgia. In some studies, as many as one third of fibromyalgia patients were also diagnosed with IBS. Fibromyalgia and IBS are both common conditions that account for 30% or more of referrals to [...]
Gray Matter Changes in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Ever been told your IBS symptoms are all in your head? They might be, but in a much more literal way. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder defined by abdominal pain and bloating, as well as constipation and/or diarrhea. It affects 13-20% of Canadians, with more [...]
Hidden Costs: The Economic Impact of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) How can we measure the true costs of an illness, especially one as neglected as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? So many factors are at play. There are the intangible costs of decreased quality of life for patients and the direct personal financial expenses incurred from [...]
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