Blog Archive
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a digestive condition that affects both your stomach and intestines and can lead to symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, excessive gas, bloating, and heartburn. Thankfully, IBS can be managed well through medication and diet changes. However, there’s no one-size-fits-all diet for those living...
Colorectal cancer — or colon cancer — is a common cancer that results from an abnormal growth of cells in your colon, the first section of your large intestine. Colon cancer often starts as a group of polyps that are only detectable through a colon cancer screening called a colonoscopy. ...
When you’re constipated, it means you have bowel movements that are hard and happen less often. It’s typically diagnosed when you have less than three bowel movements in a week. Constipation is incredibly common. In fact, more than 2.5 million people living in the United States seek medical attention for...
Biomes are distinct ecosystems defined by both their inhabitants and their environment. Your gut — located in your intestines — is its own microbiome, a microscopic ecosystem that exists within the larger picture of your whole body. This microbiome is unique to you and consists of thousands of species of...
Hemorrhoids — also referred to as piles — are swollen veins in the lowest parts of your rectum and anus. They’re caused by high amounts of pressure typically due to pregnancy, being overweight, or straining too hard during bowel movements. Usually by age 50, over half of the population has,...
While you may already realize how important colonoscopies are to the detection and prevention of colorectal cancer, you might still be putting this all-too-important screening off due to the inconvenience of the prep and procedure itself. Fortunately, modern colonoscopies are designed to keep your comfort in mind as you go...
It’s normal to struggle with diarrhea or constipation from time to time. However, if you deal with both on a regular basis, you might have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Even more specifically, you could be struggling with the mixed type known as IBS-M. While many people are living with IBS,...
When you’re digesting food, those food particles have to travel 25 feet to get through all of your digestive system. However, this process can’t happen if something is blocking the path. This type of blockage is known as a bowel obstruction and keeps your body from being able to pass...
A colonoscopy is a vital tool that’s used to screen for colorectal cancer, and with colorectal cancer being the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, it’s important that you stay up-to-date on yours. Unfortunately, up to 33% of those over the age of 50 aren’t up-to-date on their colonoscopies, and...
If you struggle with constipation, you’re not alone. In fact, constipation is one of the most common reasons people seek care from a gastroenterologist, with 2.5 million people seeing their doctor for constipation each year. While constipation is common, it doesn’t mean that you have to live with it. Our team — led by Ven...
Abdominal pain refers to any pain in your belly region — between your ribs and your pelvis. While abdominal pain is often thought of as a stomachache, it can also be emanating from other organs besides your stomach. Everyone is bound to get a bellyache from time to time, and...
Hemorrhoids — also referred to as piles — are swollen veins around or in your anal area. They’re similar to varicose veins that significantly bulge from your body, and they can cause symptoms like itching, pain, and rectal bleeding. Due to the nature of hemorrhoids, it’s easy to feel self-conscious...
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal health condition that causes symptoms like abdominal cramping, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and gas. While the cause of IBS is unclear, it most likely is related to an overly sensitive colon or immune system. Up to 16% of the population in the United States...
Acid reflux — also referred to as heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — is a condition that happens when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus. This irritates the lining of your esophagus and can result in symptoms like a burning sensation in your chest, a sour taste in your...
A colonoscopy is an essential tool for screening for colorectal cancer, and with cases of colorectal cancer in younger people on the rise, getting your regular testing is more important than ever. Research shows that 33% of adults over the age of 50 aren’t up-to-date on their colonoscopy screenings, and...
Most of us have been constipated at some point during our lives. It’s inconvenient, but at least it doesn’t happen often. For some people, though, constipation is a regular part of their lives. These women and men have, on average, three or fewer bowel movements per week, leaving them feeling...
If you are looking for a way to feel better, improve your energy, and detoxify your body, you might find your answer in an unexpected place: your colon. A colon cleanse may be just what you need to kickstart your health and get you back on the right track, or...
When you have severe abdominal pain, you may not even question whether or not you need to see a health professional. But, if you have less alarming symptoms, such as a loss of appetite, you may not be so quick to schedule an appointment. Of course, stress or an acute...
It’s estimated that more than half a million people in the United States have Crohn’s disease. Though it’s not clear why, the number of people diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in the country is on the rise. Crohn’s disease is a condition that causes inflammation and ulcerations to develop in the...
More than 50% of women complain of heartburn during pregnancy. That burning sensation pregnant women feel in their chest is a symptom of acid reflux. Hormones and your growing belly play a significant role in the development of acid reflux. Though you may not be able to control these pregnancy-related...
Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the United States. However, thanks to advances in colon cancer screenings, we are seeing a reduction in colon cancer cases. However, many people still put off getting a colonoscopy — which is the gold standard when it comes to...
Hemorrhoids are a common problem, affecting millions of Americans every year. According to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, many people with hemorrhoids suffer from their condition for a long time before seeking medical help. But there’s no need to suffer at all, and certainly not for a...
For the 15 million Americans living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), summer travel can be fraught. Traveling and interrupting your routine is stressful, but the expert team at GI Physicians Inc., led by Ven Kottapalli, MD, CNSP, is here to help. They share the following 5 tips for managing your...
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Colon cancer does not initially cause noticeable symptoms, and a malignant tumor in your bowels grows slowly. When there are signs of colon cancer, they’re often unspecific. This is one of the reasons colon cancer is sometimes recognized too late. Colon cancer usually starts from the intestinal mucosa cells, which...
An estimated 75% of Americans will get hemorrhoids during their lifetimes. It’s an extremely common problem, but the embarrassment surrounding the condition keeps many people from seeking the treatment they need. Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins located in or around your anus. Common signs of hemorrhoids include bleeding with bowel movements,...
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects about 12% of United States adults. This chronic disorder of the large intestine appears twice as frequently in women as in men, and it’s most common in people under 50-years-old. Doctors don’t know the exact cause of IBS, but they do know it affects the...
Are you concerned about your abdominal pain? Most people experience abdominal pain at some point. However, if you’re experiencing persistent abdominal pain, you may need medical attention, as there are many vital organs in the abdominal area. We asked our experts at GI Physicians Inc to share the five most...
If your stools are hard or lumpy, and if you struggle to have even these unpleasant bowel movements, you may be suffering from constipation. Relax. That can help, and so can changing lifestyle habits that fuel constipation. Dr. Ven Kottapallil of GI Physicians Inc in Lima, Ohio, can coach you...
If you suffer from acid reflux, you know how much it can disrupt your life, to the point that it makes you downright anxious and brings you down emotionally. You don’t have to “grin and bear it,” especially if the condition morphs into gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is when...
An endoscope is a long flexible tube with a camera and a light affixed to it. It’s used to examine your internal organs without the need for a big incision. When an endoscope is used, the procedure is called an endoscopy. Dr. Ven Kottapalli at GI Physicians, Inc. has performed...
Virtually everyone needs to start having colonoscopies at some point. The safe and routine exploratory exam allows your doctor to detect abnormalities or changes in your colon and rectum. In addition to other benefits, colonoscopies have made colorectal cancer one of the most preventable forms of cancer. This is especially...
Hemorrhoids are a normal part of your anatomy, vessels that move blood to and from the anus. Normally, they cause no problems. It’s only when issues occur that “hemorrhoid” refers to a medical issue. Nearly 75% of American adults experience hemorrhoids at some point. They may be an occasional problem,...
Acid reflux. You may know it as heartburn and an occasional annoyance when you overindulge in certain food or drink. You’re not alone, since about one in five people have the same problem. However, for about one-third of that group, it's chronic and much more frequent. When you have acid...
Virtually everyone experiences digestive disorders from time to time, usually brought on by illness or change of diet. Gas, cramps, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea happen occasionally, then the cause of the problem passes and so does your gastrointestinal distress. When you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), however, these symptoms recur...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone 50 years of age or older start screening for colon cancer. The reason is simple. This age group accounts for about 90% of all new colorectal cancer diagnoses. As with many conditions and cancers, early discovery leads to the best...
Constipation is so uncomfortable. You feel blocked and bloated, and even gassy and crampy. You strain to pass a lumpy, hard stool. Everyone suffers from constipation sometimes. But when the condition doesn’t resolve, or it becomes chronic, it’s time for professional help. Our medical team at GI Physicians Inc. wants...