Digestive Health Archives

Gastritis Treatment: Medication and Lifestyle Changes

Jul 11, 2018 · Leonaura Rhodes, MD · Digestive Health

Gastritis refers to inflammation of the lining of the stomach. It may last for a few days (acute gastritis) or it may linger for months or years (chronic gastritis). It is a clinical finding, caused by a variety of disease processes including medication reactions, excessive alcohol intake, and bacterial infection. … Read More

C Diff Treatments: Antibiotics and How to Manage Symptoms

Jul 11, 2018 · Cindy Foley · Digestive Health

If you’re experiencing symptoms associated with c diff, or clostridium difficile, you’re undoubtedly considering trying C diff treatments on your own. It’s mostly diarrhea with some stomach cramping, right? Surely, you don’t need a doctor? Aren’t most C diff treatments just anti-diarrheal? Wrong, wrong, and absolutely not. Just treating the … Read More

Kidney Stone Treatment: It Can Range from Home Remedies to Hospital Stays

Jul 2, 2018 · Kate Brophy · Digestive Health

A kidney stone is formed from substances that are present in urine. Usually these substances are excreted from the body in urine, but if you don’t drink sufficient fluids, they can crystallize and clump together to form tiny stones, creating a sometimes urgent need for kidney stone treatment. Some kidney … Read More

Probiotics and Antibiotics Should Go Together Like Cheese and Wine

Jun 27, 2018 · Cindy Foley · Digestive Health

Many people believe using probiotics and antibiotics together is a necessity. That’s because antibiotics do not discriminate. They wipe out all bacteria in their path, whether harmful or good, which can upset healthy balances in the gastrointestinal tract and other body functions. To avoid losing the good bacteria, many people … Read More

What Causes Diarrhea?

Jun 26, 2018 · UHN Staff · Digestive Health

Diarrhea is a digestive disorder that happens to just about everyone at some time. Loose, watery stools, cramps, bloating, and frequent bathroom trips are all common symptoms. So what causes diarrhea? There are all kinds of potential triggers; these are among the most common: Food intolerances. Lactose intolerance and other … Read More

Kidney Stone Diet: Can Foods You Eat—and Avoid—Help Prevent Kidney Stones?

Jun 15, 2018 · Lisa Cantkier · Digestive Health

According to the National Kidney Foundation, it’s estimated that 1 in 10 people will have a kidney stone at some point—the prevalence has more than doubled since the late 1970s, and it's nearly double in men compared to women. A few years ago, I had kidney stone surgery (percutaneous nephrolithotomy) … Read More

What Happens If You Swallow Gum?

May 23, 2018 · Shandley McMurray · Digestive Health

It was a warm summer day when I first wondered, “What happens if you swallow gum?” My 6-year-old self was doing cartwheels across the back yard when the gum I was chomping on decided to launch itself down my esophagus (luckily it didn’t get stuck). We weren’t allowed to chew … Read More

Bacterial Infection: Be Careful—It Can Become Deadly!

May 21, 2018 · Cindy Foley · Digestive Health

Bacteria are one-cell organisms that are everywhere. Literally. Most bacteria are harmless, and many are beneficial. We need “good” bacteria to digest our food and help arm our immune system. And “good” bacteria destroy “bad” bacteria that may ultimately cause a bacterial infection. A bacterial infection can be serious, especially … Read More

Probiotics: Benefits vs. Drawbacks

May 17, 2018 · Dawn Bialy · Digestive Health

Probiotics are live microorganisms—bacteria and yeasts—that are commonly referred to as “good” bacteria. Probiotic benefits, experts believe, extend to our digestive health by increasing the population of good bacteria in the intestines, which prevents “bad” bacteria (for example, Clostridium difficile and Escherichia coli) from causing illness. Yogurt and kefir (a … Read More

Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease Symptoms: Heartburn Is the Main GERD Culprit

May 11, 2018 · Kate Brophy · Digestive Health

Up to 15 million Americans every day are thought to suffer from heartburn—a form of indigestion that feels like a burning sensation in the chest. It isn’t normal, however, to have heartburn after every meal, according to Mount Sinai gastroenterologist Brijen Shah, MD. “If you do," he warns, "it’s possible … Read More

Digestive Health

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