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Can Medication Cause Liver Damage?

With the help of enzymes, the liver metabolizes food into nutrients for the body, converts toxins into harmless substances and helps eliminate waste from the body. With a fully functional liver the body metabolism is balanced and works efficiently. However, various factors can throw the system out of gear and cause dangerous liver problems and

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Dr. Becker Discusses the Complexities of IBD Treatments

More Than A Gut Feeling: How Dr. Scott Becker Helps Manage and Treat IBD Inflammation is an elusive disease – especially when it comes to diagnosing disorders related to it. Conditions linked to the GI tract can be perplexing, leaving both specialists and patients with many unanswered questions. According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation,

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IBD vs. IBS

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) broadly refers to chronic inflammation of the intestines. It’s often conflated with a noninflammatory condition called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Both can cause diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and cramping. Although the two disorders share similar names and symptoms, they are different conditions requiring different treatments. The exact causes of IBD and

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The Complete Guide to Hepatitis C

The liver is the body’s “food processor.” It tackles everything you ingest, aids digestion, stores nutrients, regulates various body functions and clears out toxins. Hepatitis C – commonly referred to as hep C – is a contagious, blood-borne, viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver. The condition can be mild to severe and last

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How a Colonoscopy Can Save Your Life

Colorectal cancer – popularly referred to as colon cancer – is the third-most common form of cancer among both men and women in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. It is also the second deadliest. However, it is also one of the most preventable. If everyone age 50 and older had regular

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When Would I Need an Endoscopy?

There are many reasons your doctor may recommend an endoscopy. An endoscopy is a procedure conducted by gastroenterologists – doctors specializing in diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract – to evaluate your digestive system and any suspected issues like infection, tissue damage or cancer. Two types are commonly performed: an upper endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD)

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Hep C: Speaking Out About “The Silent Killer”

According to HepCHope.com, a staggering 1 in 30 Baby Boomers has Hepatitis C. That’s 3.2 million people. These numbers are just an estimate, as many affected people are unaware due to the disease’s dormant symptoms; most don’t become perceptible until many years after being infected. The most chronic blood-borne infection in the United States, Hep

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10 Signs of Celiac You Shouldn’t Ignore

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed that gluten-free items have taken over prime real estate on the shelves at every American grocery store. And while some people dabble in gluten-free cuisine as a fad, for the 3 million US citizens living with celiac disease – gluten is the enemy. Targeting those

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Is it Food Sensitivity or a Bacterial Infection?

Food sensitivity is not to be confused with food allergies. Whereas food allergies are caused by the body’s immune system reacting to a certain food, food sensitivities and intolerances occur when the body is unable to process or digest a certain food. However, sometimes a bacterial infection can throw a wildcard on the table, so

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At What Point Should You Stop Self-Treating GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), acid reflux, or heartburn as it is more commonly referred to, is a condition most people experience at some point in their lives. For some people, spicy food may give them a burning feeling in their upper chest. For others, it could be burping up acidic liquid that burns the throat.

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