Gastroenterology

Do At-Home Genetic Tests Offer Reliable Disease Screening?

Genetic testing is no longer a rarity. Once only ordered by doctors, genetic tests are now more accessible and affordable than ever before. It’s not uncommon to know someone who has recently given – or received – a DNA testing kit as gift. And it’s no wonder. The sheer number of testing kits available directly

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Upper vs. Lower GI Tract: What Are They?

The path food takes in the body, in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, starts with the mouth and ends with the anus (rectum). The GI tract is divided into two main sections: the upper GI tract and the lower GI tract. The upper GI tract is generally considered to be the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and finally

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A Day in the Life of a GI Doctor

We’ve all suffered from an unsettled stomach at some point in our lives. But for some people, digestive issues aren’t just a fluke; they stem from a much larger issue. Whether you “power through” despite persistent heartburn – or are in a state of perpetual constipation, you may have made a visit to a gastroenterologist,

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Simple Methods for Improving Your Digestion

Digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, bloating, abdominal pain, and acid reflux (heartburn) are very common, yet usually treatable and preventable with basic care. Most digestive problems are related to our lifestyle, the foods we eat and life stresses. Make the right choices and it will help your body will stay on track. Here

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What are the Different Kinds of Functional GI Disorders

There are many different types of gastrointestinal disorders but functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are unique. In FGIDs, your gastrointestinal tract malfunctions. FGIDs do not have “outside” causes, such as tumors or chemical imbalances. What may frustrate some patients is that although FGIDs cause very real, and sometimes very painful symptoms, traditional tests and imaging scans

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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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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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Dr. Carl Frank and Liver Disease Patient Raise Awareness and Warn Others

Austin Gastro physician, Dr. Carl Frank and his patient, Patricia Murphy, were interviewed by the Williamson County Sun on the issue of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and why it is so important to take action quickly if you are diagnosed with this increasingly common liver condition. Patricia Murphy didn’t take Dr. Frank seriously when

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Readers Digest Interviews Dr. Sheila Reddy on The Gallbladder Diet: 8 Super Foods You Need

One main job of your gallbladder, a pear-shaped organ just beneath your liver, is to digest fat. When it’s not working right, you might get acid reflux, gas, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. There’s no gallbladder diet, per se, but certain foods can keep your gallbladder in prime shape—while others may make its job harder…

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The Difference Between IBS and IBD

Do you have frequent abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation? Maybe you feel good some of the time, but other times you are just miserable. It might be that you think that you have eaten something bad, or that you have a food intolerance. Sometimes, this can be the case. However, if you are experiencing

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