Recent statistics state that 69% of American adults are overweight and more than half of these people are obese. Obesity is considered to be one of the most serious health concerns facing Americans today, because those who are obese are at greatly increased risk for a host of other life threatening health conditions.
If you have difficulty swallowing, regularly regurgitate food after swallowing, experience chest pain, heartburn, or coughing, or have noticed dramatic, unexplained weight loss, then you may be suffering from a condition called esophageal achalasia.
If you have been experiencing upper gastrointestinal bleeding, pain, problems swallowing, nausea, persistent heartburn, unexplained weight loss, anemia, or nutritional deficiencies, your doctor may perform an upper GI endoscopy.
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped pouch in the abdomen. Its job is to store bile (a digestive liquid composed of water, lecithin, cholesterol, bile salts, and bilirubin) produced by the liver. The gallbladder aids in the digestion of fats by releasing bile into the common hepatic duct. The gallbladder is also connected to the…
The holidays are here, and if you are among the millions trying to lose weight, you may be dreading the next few weeks. You want to lose weight, but the path before you is lined with decadent, sweet treats.
On average, Americans gain about a pound of weight over the course of the holidays. That may not seem like much, but that’s weight that doesn’t usually disappear. Over the years, it will accumulate, so the best thing to do is to prevent it from accumulating during the holiday season.
Weight gain during the holidays is common, and the pound or two usually gained between Thanksgiving and New Year’s will often stick around longer than welcomed. Preventing weight gain during the holiday season can be difficult, and in some cases, individuals may feel the need for bariatric surgery.
About nine out of every ten cases of type II diabetes are due to excess body fat. Losing weight is one of the best ways to combat diabetes. If you have tried and been unsuccessful at shedding extra pounds, you may qualify for bariatric surgery.
As the temperatures start to drop this time of year, we’ll be having multiple holidays in fairly rapid succession. Holiday meals will likely be part of your celebrations, but they can also lead to excess calorie intake.
If you’ve been in a grocery store at all in the last few years, you’ve doubtlessly noticed a wide selection of gluten-free foods. As the label suggests, these foods are made without anything that contains gluten, namely wheat, rye, barley, spelt, and several other grains.
The gallbladder is a pouch-like organ located above the duodenum (the top of the small intestine) and below the liver. Its primary function is to store and concentrate bile produced by the liver. Often, gallstones may form inside the gallbladder, and those will occasionally cause problems. If a sizeable stone leaves the gallbladder and gets…
Gallbladder attack and appendicitis both cause pain in the abdominal region, and they may often exhibit other symptoms besides. However, beyond that, the two are very different and require their own distinct treatments.
If you’re looking to lose weight, you are probably well aware of the need to reduce your caloric intake. However, lowering the number of calories you consume day in and day out may only be part of the equation. In addition, there are foods that can actually boost your body’s ability to burn fat. Five of…
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…
