Digestive Health
Your gastrointestinal system breaks down food into its basic
components so your body can absorb the energy you need to live.
Your digestive system includes all parts of the body that process
food and expel waste, from your mouth to the end of your... More
Your gastrointestinal system breaks down food into its basic components so your body can absorb the energy you need to live. Your digestive system includes all parts of the body that process food and expel waste, from your mouth to the end of your digestive tract.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract prevent your body from effectively using the food you eat. Constipation, heartburn, bloating and diarrhea are usually easy to treat with over-the-counter medications, but can also be signs of more serious problems. If you have persistent symptoms, blood in the stool, severe abdominal pain or unexplained weight loss, you should seek medical attention. Less
Recently Answered
- Q What is a nasogastric tube?
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A nasogastric tube is a long, flexible plastic tube inserted into a person's nose and threaded into the stomach to deliver fluid containing nutrients directly into the stomach (tube feeding). A nasogastric tube may also be used to suction excess gastric... More
A quick way to get things in or out of the stomach is to insert a nasogastric (NG) tube. It is used to relieve pressure caused by fluid behind an obstruction or to remove blood or stomach acid. A soft, clear tube is placed through one nostril and... More
- Q How can I help make inserting a nasogastric (NG) tube less uncomforatable?
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Yes, you are awake for this! Yes, it is uncomfortable. Here are a few things that might make the process less distressing: Speak up if you have had a broken nose, deviated septum or sinus surgery. This information will help determine which... More
- Q What is "dumping syndrome"?
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How did surgeons ever figure out gastric bypass surgery? They latched onto the fundamental ideas for this procedure when removing stomachs in people with ulcer disease (before antacids, H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors). Surgeons went in there... More
This term refers to the emptying of concentrated food directly into the small intestine. Gastric bypass surgery empties food from the small stomach pouch directly into the small intestine without first being diluted with fluids in the rest of the... More
Dumping syndrome is a common problem for bypass patients whereby food moves too quickly through the gastrointestinal (GI) system and causes nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and, sometimes, diarrhea. More
- Q What is bile?
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Bile is a green liquid material made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It surrounds and emulsifies the fat you gobbled down at last night's dinner. After having a pleasant visit in your stomach, food moves into the small intestine and mixes... More
Bile is a liquid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder that aids in the digestion of lipids and transports waste. Bile normally drains from the liver through a number of bile ducts to the duodenum and eventually back to the bile ducts and... More
Bile is an alkaline (basic) fluid secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder between meals. Upon eating, bile is discharged into the duodenum where it aids in the digestion of fats. More
- Q What are the best remedies for diarrhea?
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When you have diarrhea, the best solution isn't making camp on the toilet and waiting for the infection to run its course. It's chicken soup with rice. That combination of the rice and broth seems to break down certain sugars that suck water back up into... More
- Q How many times a day does the average person pass gas?
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The average person passes gas about 14 times a day (Howard Stern's guests were not included in statistical analysis). We all produce 1 to 3 pints of gas daily, and less than 1 percent of it smells. So passing gas is really nothing to be ashamed of,... More
