Digestive Health

Polyps that are on a stem (or stalk) are called "pedunculated" polyps. These polyps are shaped like mushrooms with a cap on the top and a stem (stalk) that attaches them to the inside lining (mucosa) of the colon. Because their stem elevates them above... Full Answer

Difficulty swallowing is called dysphagia.  It can occur if you eat too fast and try to swallow too much at once. Sometimes this difficulty can be attributed to aging with weakening of muscles in the esophagus that propels food down to the... Full Answer

The short answer is yes. Even if you're a young, healthy person, you always want to be sure that the blood you are passing is not due to something really bad. For the most part, your symptoms could be from something simple, such as eating... Full Answer

Barrett's esophagus is a pre-cancerous condition affecting the lining of the esophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach). Ablation (or coagulation) is a technique where tissue is heated until the unwanted cells lining the... Full Answer

During proctoscopy, a lighted tube is inserted into the anus, allowing the physician to completely examine the entire rectum. Full Answer

Also called a modified barium swallow test, this procedure is used to evaluate difficulty in swallowing. The patient is given small amounts of a liquid containing barium to drink with a bottle, spoon, or cup. Barium is a metallic, chemical, chalky,... Full Answer

Sedation may cause your child to feel nauseated, and he may vomit up to 24 hours after lower spine surgery. Sometimes car movement or pain medicine may cause nausea. You can help control nausea by encouraging your child to lie still and decrease... Full Answer

Digestion, the process by which food is broken down into simple chemical compounds that can be absorbed and used as nutrients or eliminated by the body, is one of the most energy-consuming functions of the human body. Food must be broken down all... Full Answer

When we consume artificial substances -- what we all know as junk food -- it tends to just lie there in your stomach. We are not genetically programmed to easily digest this kind of food. It then places a significant burden on the digestive... Full Answer

The majority of livers that are transplanted come from organ donors who have died. These organ donors are adults or children who have become critically ill (often due to an accidental injury) and have died as a result of their illness. If the donor is... Full Answer