Your gallbladder is an organ near the stomach that collects bile from the liver. It stores this liquid for digestion, sending it down the bile duct into the small intestine. Under certain circumstances, chemical imbalances in the gallbladder may cause stones to form, or the organ may simply become infected. In either case, these may…
The majority of people who take heartburn medications such as PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) are satisfied with the effect those medications have. Still, some 40% report at least occasional problems with heartburn caused by GERD, even while taking medications. In some cases, continued symptoms aren’t frequent, but in others, the medication may seem to do…
Portioning meals for weight loss can be a challenging ordeal, especially when you really, really want that one piece of pie or that gravy-slathered Salisbury steak. There is nothing really wrong with enjoying what you eat, but you need to make sure the food you consume is going to be worthwhile. If you’ve just had…
Most dentists will cite multiple causes of tooth decay: sugar, acidic foods, chewing ice, etc. However, one source of tooth erosion that many people don’t consider is acid reflux. Certain foods can cause acid reflux, or it may result from physiological issues, such as a weak lower esophageal sphincter (or LES, which is the muscle…
Winter 2010 Dr. Malladi’s patient, Jinnean Askew, is featured on the cover of the Methodist Shine Magazine. Read her story on page 10. You will need the Adobe Reader to view and print these documents.
Weight loss surgery can change your life in dramatic ways. Depending on the type of procedure you go for, you’ll find you cannot even stomach certain food choices that you once craved. You’ll lose weight quickly, and that itself will mean certain changes to your lifestyle.
Weight loss surgery sounds frightening, especially when you consider that you’re making permanent changes to your stomach or small intestine. In past times, these types of operations were done as open surgeries, and therefore involved lots of cutting and long recovery times.
Any instance in which an internal organ is pushing through the muscles holding it in place is called a hernia. Hernias occur in various areas in the body, but the most common are through the abdominal muscle. Often, they can cause a small bulge that can be felt through the skin, and you may experience…
Morbid obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more. Additionally, those with a BMI of 35 or more who have serious health conditions as a result of their weigh are also considered to be morbidly obese.
Diet and exercise will always be the primary method of losing weight and both are extremely important for keeping the weight off. Bariatric surgery can’t act as a substitute for diet and exercise, but it can limit the amount of food that you are able to eat in a single serving. This is the role…
Hernias are never very pleasant and are often painful. A hernia occurs when one of your organs pushes through the muscles holding it in, which most often happens with the intestine through the abdominal wall. While not necessarily life-threatening, a hernia can lead to more serious conditions later on, and it won’t go away on…
Your body mass index—or BMI—is a number that shows roughly how much mass you have per inch of height. It’s calculated by taking your weight in pounds multiplied 703 divided by your height squared in inches. A healthy BMI is generally somewhere between 19 and 25, though for some people it might be a bit…
More and more Americans find themselves suffering from multiple chronic conditions at the same time. When you suffer multiple conditions simultaneously, those conditions are considered to be comorbid. In other words, comorbidities are chronic conditions or diseases that exist at the same time as in a patient.
Chronic heartburn is painful and can lead to long-term health issues if left alone. It can also be tricky to manage, so people may try numerous treatments before something works. If less invasive treatments fail to stop your heartburn from coming back, it may be time to look into surgical solutions.
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a painful condition, but many people who suffer from it treat it as an annoyance at most. However, chronic heartburn can have long-term effects on your health, particularly with relation to your esophagus. Some of these issues include the following:
