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]
Gastroenterology
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]
Managing Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is both a digestive disease and an immune disorder. When a person with celiac disease eats a food that contains gluten – which is a protein found in certain grains – the antibodies created by the condition attack when the gluten reaches your small intestine. This response eventually damages the lining of the small intestine. This can lead to malabsorption of important nutrients, fatigue, bloating, anemia, and diarrhea. The malabsorption of nutrients can cause malnutrition, ... [Read More]
Living Without a Gall Bladder
Did you know that you can live without a gallbladder? Many people do. Gallbladder removal surgery, or cholecystectomy, is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. It is a very common procedure and may be recommended to patients with symptoms associated with gallstones. There are an estimated 300,000 gallstone removal procedures performed annually in the United States. If your gallstones have become a problem lately, ask your doctor about gallbladder removal surgery. What Your Gallbladder ... [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]
