[ad_1] Lactose is a natural sugar that is common in dairy products. Lactose intolerance is the inability to breakdown lactose. The condition is due to the body’s inability to create a sufficient amount of lactase, an enzyme that is supplied by the small intestine. Lactase’ job is to break down lactose. When the small intestine doesn’t […] The post Symptoms of Lactose Int...

[ad_1] If you are feeling a strange pain in your upper back, right shoulder, or upper-right side or center of your abdomen, then you may have gallstones. These are hard deposits of cholesterol or digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder. You have a greater propensity for developing gallstones if you are overweight or eat […] The post What Are Gallstones? appeared firs...

[ad_1] The digestive system is made of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. It is responsible for breaking down foods and liquids into their basic chemical components like fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. The body then absorbs them as nutrients, which can be used as energy to build and repair cells and help you function. The […] The post The Importan...

[ad_1] Behind the stomach and next to the small intestine is where the pancreas is located. It delivers insulin and glucagon, which like insulin assists the body in controlling how it processes food and energy. The pancreas also aids digestion by releasing enzymes into the small intestine. Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed (“-itis” = […] The post How I...

[ad_1] Your liver plays a vital role in your body, particularly in the digestion and processing of food. But sometimes, you can be exposed to a virus or bacterium that can cause inflammation of the liver – which is hepatitis. There are several different forms of hepatitis, and people can contract them in different ways. Hepatitis […] The post Treatments for Hepatitis A appea...

[ad_1] Undergoing a colonoscopy may seem daunting. Here at Austin Gastroenterology, we do our best to ensure that the process is smooth-sailing for you. A colonoscopy can help us detect and understand any problems in the large intestine as well as the rectum. While it may seem like an ordinary medical procedure, colonoscopy has the potential […] The post What Can a Colonoscopy...

[ad_1] Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGID)  The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a continuous tube that connects the mouth to the anus. Its walls contain a layer of muscles, which can contract and relax in a coordinated fashion to convey food. These muscles are directly connected to the central nervous system (CNS). The inner lin...

[ad_1] The tradition in medicine was always to take a ‘history’ from the patient. The doctor would ask some simple ‘open’ questions and listen to the responses. (S)he would then ask a few highly directed ‘closed’ questions to elicit some important details and would then, as if by magic, announce a suspected diagnosis. Of course, the good doctor would then examine the patient to...