There are approximately 1.2 million people in the United States who have hepatitis B, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a division of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). This is a type of liver infection that is caused by the hepatitis B virus, or HBV. There are two main types of hepatitis B: acute and chronic. If you have acute hepatitis B, you should be able to recover from the disease within about six months; however, it can become chronic. ... [Read More]
Stomach
What is a Peptic Ulcer and How Do I Treat It
A peptic ulcer is an open sore that develops on the inside lining of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine. Peptic ulcers also include gastric ulcers which form on the inside of the stomach and duodenal ulcers that develop in the upper portion of the small intestine. Symptoms of a Peptic Ulcer A lot of people who have peptic ulcers are asymptomatic – which means they experience no symptoms. The most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is a dull pain in one particular part of ... [Read More]
Why Stomach Ulcers Develop and How to Treat Them
Suffering from stomach ulcers can negatively impact your quality of life. One in 10 people in Western countries will develop stomach ulcers at least once in their life. Understanding why ulcers form can help you take preventive measures to avoid their development. Stomach ulcers or gastric ulcers occur in the lining of the stomach. Normally, protective mucus in the stomach protects against the very strong stomach acid that breaks down the food you eat. But when the mucus lining the stomach ... [Read More]
Stomach Flu vs. Food Poisoning
Whether you’re keeled over with stomach pains or making regular visits to the porcelain “throne,” you may have stopped to wonder what caused this wave of sickness. Stomach flu and food poisoning have many similarities, so they often leave those affected stumped as to the culprit. Was it the fast food you ate on Friday, or did you come into contact with the stomach flu while babysitting a sick toddler? To make an accurate diagnosis, it’s important to stay abreast of your symptoms; and as always, ... [Read More]
How Food Affects Your Gut Health
To understand the role that food plays to gut health, it’s good to have some understanding of the digestive system and its processes. Your gut refers to the stomach or belly area, but really it’s more involved than that, when a discussion concerning gut health ensues. In this case, the word gut and the digestive system are interchangeable. The gut is quite involved and includes several organs and body parts that aid digestion, the first of which is the mouth. Your mouth is the beginning of ... [Read More]
