If you are bloated, it means you are feeling a sensation of fullness or tightness in the abdomen. This may be accompanied by pain, gas, and belching. If you try to palpate your stomach, it may feel hard. In some cases, bloating can also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and trouble swallowing, which indicates a gastrointestinal disorder, and is likely not just a one-off incident. To receive specialized care, especially if you are frequently bloated, make an appointment with a ... [Read More]
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS versus IBD
IBS and IBD – how are these two conditions different? Many people incorrectly assume both these conditions are the same. IBS stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome and IBD stands for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. They are two distinct conditions with causes and symptoms that sometimes overlap. Determining which of the two conditions you have is important. Otherwise, you won't be able to find treatments that will actually help you get relief. Let’s talk about IBS and IBD to clear the ... [Read More]
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 the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). The lower GI tract runs from the small intestine to the large intestine (colon) to the anus. Let’s take a look at these sections of the ... [Read More]
What Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
We all have the occasional stomach ache or gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort. But if the problem becomes persistent or the pain gets worse, it’s time to seek a medical evaluation – it may be an issue in the intestines, or bowels. The two most frequently diagnosed types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Let’s take a deeper look into these two conditions, what they are, and how they can be treated. Types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease The two main ... [Read More]
Is Bloating a Cause for Concern?
We’ve all had that bloated, uncomfortable “full belly” feeling at some point. Most of the time, it’s perfectly normal and no cause for concern. On rare occasions, it could be an indication of a more serious problem. Unless your bloating is accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and weight loss, it’s probably nothing to worry about. Most of the time, diet and other simple reasons such as eating a big meal or too much salt can explain the bloating you’re experiencing. Let’s ... [Read More]
