Hiccups The hiccup, hiccough, hicka, geehouk, hoquet, hipo, hikke, whatever you call it, nearly everyone has had this annoying experience. You may be wondering what causes them and, more importantly, how to stop them. What are hiccups? A hiccup is an often-repeated, breathing-related movement that does not serve any respiratory function. It involves a sudden, [...]
The Human Genome: Implications of Knowledge What Is The Human Genome? It is no accident that offspring resemble their parents. Our genetic code is stored within our cells. Every cell nucleus (the “brain” of the cell) contains a special chemical called deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA. Each of our genes is actually a segment of the [...]
Capsule Endoscopy Capsule endoscopy refers to the ability to assess the gastrointestinal tract with a wireless capsule. The test is primarily designed for assessing a variety of small intestinal disorders. Approved for use in Canada and the United States in the fall of 2001, capsule endoscopy has rapidly gained acceptance as an important diagnostic advance [...]
Chronic Disease Management Checklist Do you need a refresher on the management of a chronic disease? Download a printable PDF version of this Chronic Disease Management Checklist Individuals faced with a new diagnosis, or those in the midst of a flare-up, may find these points from our support groups useful. Medically Speaking □ consult appropriate medical [...]
Bowel Surgery and Gum Having Bowel Surgery? Don’t Forget to Pack Your Chewing Gum! Chewing gum after intestinal surgery can help reactivate paralyzed bowels and get patients out of the hospital sooner, according to a 2006 study published in the Archives of Surgery1. Patients who have abdominal surgery often suffer a slowdown or shutdown of [...]
Impact of Digestive Diseases and Disorders CSIR’s mandate covers all areas of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The impact of these conditions on persons affected is enormous and there is a huge societal cost as well. GI illness keeps Canadians from enjoying their daily life and from living to the fullest. Here are just some of [...]
Making the Most of a Visit to Your Doctor Individuals living with a digestive disease or disorder are usually destined to a long-term relationship with a gastroenterologist. How can you make the most of this? As a patient, you can take an active role in managing your disease. You can set the tone for a [...]
If You’ve Got a Life to Live, You Need MedicAlert® When it comes to living life, there’s a lot to enjoy. However, if you have a health condition, drug or food allergy, or take medication on a regular basis, you may be exposing yourself to undue risk every single day. That’s why there is MedicAlert. [...]
Radiation Effects on the Bowel A study from Texas published in the June 2006 issue of the journal, Cancer, shows that lower gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity after radiation therapy for prostate cancer continues for at least five years and may be more common than previously reported. The prostate gland is located just below the bladder at [...]
Scoping Your doctor may have explained that you require a special examination with a scope. This examination gives the doctor a close-up view of the inside of your digestive tract. If necessary, biopsies are easily taken during the procedure. The scope has a flexible tube that contains special fibres that carry a picture image from [...]
Should I See a Psychologist for a Digestive Problem? In this article, I will explain what a psychologist is, what types of things a psychologist can and cannot do, and how they differ from other health professionals. A person with a disease or disorder of the gastrointestinal system is vulnerable to the effects of anxiety. [...]
Diet for Short Bowel Syndrome What is short bowel syndrome? Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a malabsorptive condition in which more than 50% of the intestine is surgically removed. Symptoms include chronic diarrhea (or high output ostomy), dehydration, cramping, bloating and heartburn. Malnutrition is a common issue when a person is unable to absorb adequate [...]
It's The Thought That Counts Wisdom throughout the ages has explained how the world operates according to the law of cause and effect: as you sow, so shall you reap. If you plant seeds for an orange tree, it doesn’t matter how much you pray, affirm, or visualize, you will not produce apples. The law [...]
Want to communicate better? Try listening with your gut! How well you listen to others depends on how well you listen to your gut. Your gut sends you regular physical signals that represent your emotional state. When you are listening to someone with understanding, empathy, and confidence, you will find that your gut is calm, [...]
Stress and Your Gut Unreasonable deadlines. Being stuck in traffic. Having too much to do and not enough time to do it in. Most of us are familiar with these kinds of daily stresses that get our heart racing, our breath quickening, and our stomach churning. Of course, just having a digestive condition can be [...]
Acupuncture: What the Research Shows While acupuncture (AC) successfully relieves pain in many areas of the body, the clinical evidence for its use in other conditions is mixed. This is partly due to the nature of AC, which makes it challenging to conduct randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, which is the gold standard for evidence-based research. [...]
Finding the Science in Herbs and Roots After a questionable encounter several years back, I have come to regard herbal remedies, naturopathy, and traditional Chinese medicine with a great deal of skepticism. My mother had brought me to see a well-known herbalist in Vancouver’s Chinatown for a persistent cough that I couldn’t quite get rid [...]
Role of Fats in Ulcerative Colitis The data from a recent study published in the journal, Gut, shows that a high dietary intake of linoleic acid (n-6 PUFA) more than doubles a person’s risk of developing ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease consisting of fine ulcerations in the inner mucosal lining [...]
The Role of Sulphur in Ulcerative Colitis There are some interesting developments in research around the role of nutrition in ulcerative colitis. Recent studies have singled out sulphur as a possible culprit in exacerbating some of the symptoms associated in some individuals with ulcerative colitis. What is sulphur? Sulphur is found in a wide range [...]
What do UC Patients want in a Medication? In a report published in the journal, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, based on an American internet survey, and a subsequent similar Canadian survey, ulcerative colitis patient voices are clear – they want fast symptom relief from their medication above all else. Patients in the US survey described their [...]
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