Patient Education

Digestive Disease Center would like to be your partner in health care. Feel free to ask your questions and share your concerns with us. We will work with you to develop a wellness program for the care and treatment you need.

We welcome you to our practice and look forward to caring for you.

Digestive Disease Center provides a full range of medical services including the following:

Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain is a common problem affecting adults and children. Abdominal pain may be acute or chronic, and can have many possible causes, including:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Strep throat
• Gas
• Appendicitis
• Bladder infection
• Liver problem
• Pancreas problem
• Heartburn
• Intestinal obstruction
• Food allergy or poisoning

Some of these conditions are more serious than others, but patients should seek medical attention for abdominal pain that is severe or persistent. ...

Anal Fissure

An anal fissure is a tear in the mucous membrane that lines the anus and the anal canal. This condition often leads to pain, itching, burning and bleeding during bowel movements, as well as as to a visible crack in the skin around the anus. Anal fissures are relatively common in young infants, but can occur in patients of all ages. While most anal fissures heal on their own within 4 to 6 weeks, some require surgery. ...

Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett's esophagus is a medical condition in which the tissue that lines the esophagus is replaced by tissue that is similar to the lining of the intestines. Barrett's esophagus is the result of long-term exposure to stomach acid, most often due to gastrointestinal reflux disease, also known as GERD. The lining of the esophagus changes color and composition, and patients may develop cellular abnormalities, known as dysplasia. Patients with Barrett's esophagus may be prone to developing esophageal adenocarcinoma, a cancer of the esophagus. ...

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue or gluten sensitive enteropathy, is an autoimmune disease affecting both children and adults. It is a chronic digestive disorder that results in adverse reactions to foods that contain gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten can also be found in non-food products, such as lipstick and envelope glue. All sources of gluten must be avoided by patients with celiac disease. ...

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis, also known as hepatic fibrosis, is late stage scarring and deterioration of the liver. Resulting from various liver diseases, the scarring from cirrhosis affects blood flow in the liver, reducing the organ's ability to function. Because the liver plays many important roles in the body, including detoxifying the blood, aiding digestion, fighting infection, producing clotting factors and storing energy, cirrhosis is a life-threatening disorder. The condition is one of the leading causes of disease deaths in the United States. ...

Colon Cancer / Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, develops in the large intestine or the rectum. Cancer occurs when healthy cells become altered, growing and dividing in a way that keeps the body from functioning normally. Most cases of colorectal cancer begin as small, benign clusters of cells (polyps) on the lining of the colon or rectum. Certain types of polyps, called adenomas, can become malignant. ...

Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure performed to examine the inner lining of the colon, or large intestine, and the rectum. The colonoscopy procedure is performed routinely in patients over the age of 50 as a means detecting colorectal cancer in its early stages. It is also employed diagnostically to help determine the cause of abnormal bowel activity, abdominal pain or rectal bleeding. During a colonoscopy, tissue samples may be collected for a biopsy, and polyps or other abnormal growths may be removed. ...

Constipation

Constipation affects almost everyone at some point. A person is considered constipated if he or she has three or fewer bowel movements a week, or has bowel movements that are hard, dry and/or painful. How often a bowel movement typically occurs determines whether a person is considered constipated. ...

Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is a disorder that causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The inflammation is usually found in the small intestine (the ileum), but can occur in any area of the GI tract, which stretches from the mouth to the anus. Crohn's is an inflammatory bowel disease, which, like irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis, causes swelling of the intestines. ...

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is the inflammation of the diverticula, small pouches found in the inner lining of the intestinal tract. Diverticulosis, the condition that causes the pouches to form, is common in people age 40 and older. Nearly half the people in the United States develop diverticulosis by the age of 60. Diverticula, which are multiple small pouches, can occur anywhere along the digestive tract, but are most commonly found in the lower portion of the large intestine, the sigmoid colon. Most often, these pouches are not troublesome, but when they become infected and inflamed, the resulting condition is known as diverticulitis. ...

Esophageal Dilation

Esophageal dilation is a procedure that is performed to widen the esophagus, which is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Esophageal stricture (narrowing of the esophagus) is caused by various conditions that damage the lining of the esophageal tissue, resulting in uncomfortable and sometimes painful symptoms. During esophageal dilation, the esophagus is stretched (dilated), which helps to alleviate the swallowing difficulties caused by esophageal stricture. ...

Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer develops in the esophagus, the long hollow tube in the digestive tract that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Cancer cells may form and develop into growths or tumors in the walls of the esophagus. There are several different types, classified by the kinds of cells involved, of esophageal cancer. The most common types are adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma develops in the mucous-secreting glands; squamous cell carcinoma develops in the cells that line the surface of the esophagus. If left untreated, malignant tumors can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious complications, such as an obstructed esophagus, bleeding or severe weight loss. ...

Lower Endoscopy

A lower endoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure performed to examine the lower portion of the gastrointestinal tract. The procedure can aid in the diagnosis of conditions such as cancer, polyps or inflammation, as well as determine the cause of bleeding or other abnormalities. The procedure may be performed as either a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. ...

Esophagitis

Esophagitis is a condition that involves an irritation and inflammation of the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. This condition may cause pain,difficulty swallowing, bleeding and if left untreated, ulcers may form within the esophagus.

Causes of Esophagitis

Esophagitis is often caused by stomach acid and fluids that flow backward into the esophagus causing pain and irritation. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a common cause of esophagitis. It may also be caused by a bacterial, fungal or viral infection in the esophagus such as a yeast infection or herpes, both of which can develop when the immune system is weak. Other factors that may irritate the esophagus and lead to esophagitis may include: ...

Gallstones

Gallstones are small deposits of crystallized bile that form in the gallbladder, a small sac that sits below the liver and is located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. The gallbladder is connected to both the liver and the intestine by a series of ducts that transfer bile from the liver to the intestine to aid in digestion. Bile, which is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, helps the body digest fats and is composed of water, cholesterol, fats, salts and proteins. ...

Gastritis

Gastritis is the abnormal inflammation of the lining of the stomach. Gastritis can be acute, or chronic, but most often is not a serious condition.

Causes of Gastritis

Gastritis usually occurs when the mucous lining on the stomach is weakened and becomes damaged and inflamed by digestive juices. This weakening can be triggered by a number of factors such as: ...

Heartburn

Heartburn, also known as pyrosis, is a painful, burning sensation in the chest or throat. The problem occurs when stomach acid travels up into the esophagus, the portion of the digestive tract that transports food from the mouth to the stomach. Although heartburn is usually temporary and not serious, for some individuals it develops into a chronic problem. It may be a symptom of a more serious disorder, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which may eventually cause extensive damage to the esophagus. ...

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anal canal. In their normal state, these veins provide cushioning during bowel movements. They can, however, swell from lifting, straining, being constipated, passing hard stools and having diarrhea, or from pregnancy. Hemorrhoids are not life-threatening, but they can be painful. If swelling persists, the veins may become permanently stretched (prolapsed). ...

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver caused by the highly contagious hepatitis A virus.

Causes of Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is usually transmitted by some of the following:

• Eating contaminated food or water
• Close contact with either the stool or the blood of an infected person
• Sexual relations with an infected person
• Sharing needles
  
• Traveling to an undeveloped country

While hepatitis A is not usually serious, certain measures are recommended to prevent this infection. ...

Indigestion

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is a collection of chronic or acute symptoms that describes pain and discomfort experienced in the upper abdomen.

Causes of Indigestion

Indigestion may occur as a result of overeating, eating foods that are high in fat, eating foods that are spicy, and eating too fast. Some of the other causes of indigestion may include the following: ...

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS or spastic colon, is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. IBS is not a disease, but a functional disorder. Although, unlike Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, it is not a form of inflammatory bowel disease, it causes very uncomfortable, and sometimes embarrassing, symptoms that require long-term management. ...

Liver Disease

The liver is an essential organ that has many functions. The liver serves as a filter for the body by removing toxins and impurities from the blood. The liver also performs metabolically by converting food to energy. The liver also stores the fat soluble vitamins D and E. When diseased or damaged, the ability to perform these functions can lead to serious problems. ...

Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are uncomfortable symptoms that may or may not be indicative of a serious disorder. Nausea is a feeling of uneasiness in the stomach, usually accompanied by the sensation that one needs to, or is about to, vomit. Vomiting is the emptying, most often involuntarily, but occasionally voluntarily, of the stomach contents through the mouth. ...

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disorder in which an individual who consumes little or no alcohol accumulates fat around the liver. For most people who have this condition, there are no symptoms or complications. Nonetheless, because the liver is a vital organ, once NAFLD progresses causes liver dysfunction it becomes serious and potentially life-threatening. In fact, cirrhosis resulting from NAFLD is now one of the leading reasons for liver transplants in the United States. ...

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a large, flat gland located in the upper abdomen, between the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine, known as the duodenum. The pancreas produces enzymes that flow through the pancreatic duct and combine with bile to aid in the digestion of food. The pancreas also produces insulin and glucagon to help regulate blood sugar levels. When the pancreas becomes inflamed, the enzymes it produces become active and attack it, damaging the pancreas. Pancreatitis can be either an acute or chronic condition causing mild to severe symptoms. Both forms of pancreatitis may lead to complications. Severe cases of pancreatitis may cause permanent damage to the tissue. Pancreatitis is more likely to occur in men than women. ...

Rectal Cancer

Rectal cancer develops in the tissues of the rectum, which is the final six inches of the colon that extend to the anus. Most cases of rectal cancer begin as small, benign clusters of cells (called polyps) on the lining of the rectum. Certain types of polyps, called adenomas, can become malignant. Screening to locate and remove precancerous polyps can prevent rectal cancer from developing, so it is recommended that polyps be removed early in their growth. ...

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation in which sores develop on the innermost lining of the colon and rectum. One of the inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis often flares up during periods of physical and emotional stress. The disorder results in painful, often debilitating symptoms, and can eventually lead to colon cancer. It can, however, be managed with treatment. ...