The latest in Gastrointestinal Disorders

Gastroenteritis strikes cruise ship in Brazil

2010-03-12T11:45:09Z

<div id="subtitle">Gastroenteritis strikes same cruise ship in Brazil for the 2nd time; 47 passenger sickened</div><div><p>Nearly 50 passengers aboard an international cruise ship docked in Brazil have been stricken with vomiting and diarrhea, a health official said Friday. It was the same ship that last week was briefly placed under quarantine after hundreds of people came down with gastroenteritis.</p><p>"At least ...

Kids' tummy bugs tied to irritable bowels

2010-03-10T11:17:08Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A serious bout with a stomach bug can raise a child's risk of having irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) later on, new research shows.</p><p>People with IBS often have stomach pain, bloating, gas and altered bowel habits such as diarrhea and constipation. While the root cause of the condition isn't known, adults who have had stomach infections are known to be at greater risk. ...

Adding gluten early may cause constipation in babies

2010-03-09T13:01:14Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Giving gluten-containing foods to infants too soon may trigger long-lasting tummy troubles but more study is needed before changing recommendations for parents, Dutch researchers conclude.</p><p>Writing in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, J. C. Kiefte-de Jong a...

Biofeedback may ease chronic constipation

2010-03-05T11:01:23Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Biofeedback training can have long-lasting benefits in people who suffer from chronic constipation due to a condition called "dyssynergic defecation," new research indicates.</p><p>People with this condition have difficulty emptying their bowels because the muscles in their rectum and anus are out of sync. Consequently, when they attempt a bowel movement, their bowels emp...

Could germs be making you fat?

2010-03-04T13:31:06Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Germs that make their home in the gut may help cause obesity and a range of health-threatening symptoms that go along with it, researchers reported on Thursday.</p><p>It could be that certain bacteria cause inflammation that can affect appetite as well as inflammatory bowel conditions like Crohn's disease and colitis, the researchers reported in the journal Science.</p>&...

Some painkillers have more bleeding risk than others

2010-03-03T14:17:26Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - When it comes to gastrointestinal side effects, particularly bleeding into the stomach, not all painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are created equal, new research shows.</p><p>"Balancing the safest NSAID with the most effective is always a trade off," Dr. Luis A. Garcia ...

Milk's Benefits for Fit Guys

2010-02-28T21:15:16Z

<div><p>Got milk? If you're trying to put on muscle, you better. Whole milk was once a staple for guys who were packing away calories and moving massive amounts of iron in order to go from pencil neck to bull neck. These days we know enough to shun or restrict the saturated-fat-filled whole variety in favor of skim, but even the fat-free version has its detractors. Some claims against milk link it to childhood diabetes, while others allege widespread pesticide contamination of dairy ...

Gene links to celiac disease may help drug search

2010-02-28T10:15:16Z

<div><p>LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists have identified new genetic links to celiac disease and say their findings could speed the search for better ways to diagnose and treat the gluten-intolerance disorder.</p><p>British researchers scanned the genetic maps of more than 9,400 celiac patients and found areas of immune system disturbance which lead to the development of the auto-immune disease, which affects ...

Stomach bugs up risk of heartburn woes years later

2010-02-26T13:52:13Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A serious bout with a tummy bug may mean heartburn years later, new research shows.</p><p>Serious bacterial or viral infections of the digestive system-known medically as infectious gastroenteritis-may lead to some cases of irritable bowel syndrome, possibly by causing low-grade inflammation in the intestine, Dr. Alex Ford...

Got milk intolerance? U.S. experts say it's unclear

2010-02-25T06:17:46Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Many Americans believe they have lactose intolerance and thus avoid dairy products, but no one really knows whether they are damaging their health, experts told a national conference on Wednesday.</p><p>In fact, no one has even done the research needed to tell how many people have actual lactose intolerance, which makes it difficult or impossible for them to digest milk, chees...

US panel: Too little known on lactose intolerance

2010-02-25T05:00:41Z

<div id="subtitle">US panel finds no good count of how many dairy avoiders really are lactose intolerant</div><div><p>Many people who think they cannot digest dairy products might do all right if they eat a small amount at a time, but surprisingly little is known about just how many have true lactose intolerance, a government panel concluded Wednesday.</p><p>Lactose is a sugar in milk, and most babies are born producing enough of the enzyme lactase in the smal...

Panel: Too little known about lactose intolerance

2010-02-24T14:45:48Z

<div><p>Many people who think they can't digest dairy products may do OK if they eat a small amount at a time — but surprisingly little is known about just how many have true lactose intolerance, a government panel concluded Wednesday.</p><p>Lactose is a sugar in milk, and most babies are born producing enough of the enzyme lactase in the small intestine to digest it. But worldwide, most people's lactase levels progressively decrease throughout childhood. How low those le...

Blood disease flare-ups raise risk of blood clots

2010-02-22T09:23:46Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People with active forms of a group of conditions known as inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, seem to be at far greater risk of developing potentially life-threatening blood clots than previously recognized, a British study released Monday indicates.</p><p>The study, appearing in the Lancet, found that non-hospitalized patients dealing wit...

Bowel disease flare-ups raise risk of blood clots

2010-02-22T10:29:35Z

Reflux surgery no guard against throat cancer

2010-02-22T13:50:01Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Patients who have surgery to treat severe heartburn -- also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD -- continue to have a very high risk of developing cancer of the esophagus even after 15 years or more, a new study has found.</p><p>GERD is a known risk factor for esophageal cancer. "This study should put to rest the notion that an...

Public swimming ups risk of gastrointestinal ills

2010-02-22T13:50:09Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A dip in the public pool or local lake may boost people's odds of catching a case of "stomach flu," a new study shows.</p><p>Australian researchers found that among more than 2,800 adults and children they followed for 15 months, participants were somewhat more likely to develop gastroenteritis in the week or two after a public swim.&lt...

Diarrhea vaccines could save 2 million lives: report

2010-02-22T14:07:19Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vaccines against rotavirus, which can kills babies and young children within days by causing severe diarrhea, could save 2 million children over the next decade, experts said Wednesday.</p><p>Two studies published in the New England Journal of Medic...

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

2010-02-22T14:15:31Z

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?<br><br>It is a functional Bowel Disorder that is characterized by severe abdominal discomfort, pain, bloating, and change in any detectable organic cause.<br><br>Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be classified into:<br><br>1. Diarrhea-Predominant<br><br>2. Constipation-Predominant/ Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Alternating Stool Pattern.<br&gt...

Tips on Eating Pizza on a Gluten-Free Diet

2010-02-22T15:46:40Z

Its 2010, people are trying to stick to New Year?s diet resolutions, but it is difficult when bombarded with pizza commercials throughout various media outlets. You cannot turn on the television without seeing a pizza company advertise a new and improved pizza crust and/or ingredients. When you click on the internet, there are viral videos plastered by pizza corporations. It is one of the most common foods found in American households today. There is carryout, delivery, restaurants, and at-h...

Cure Hemorrhoids Naturally - Treating Hemorrhoids With Ginger, Olive Oil and Spinach

2010-02-22T16:05:15Z

Hemorrhoids (also known as piles) are a very common ailment today that affects both women and men, both old and young. Hemorrhoids develop when the veins in the anal and rectal regions become varicosed. This is sometimes because of the difficulty in passing stools when a person is frequently constipated. There are other factors that contribute to the growth of hemorrhoids, such as aging, frequent diarrhea and old age.<br><br>Hemorrhoids are a very uncomfortable and...