Hirschsprung’s disease is a congenital condition that affects the large intestine. Here’s what you need to know. Causes and Risk Factors Hirschsprung’s disease occurs when a baby is born missing nerve cells in their colon. Due to these missing nerve cells, they develop issues passing stool. While we do know that it’s a condition people […]
Fecal incontinence is a condition in which you are unable to control bowel movements. Here’s what you need to know. Causes and Risk Factors Many things can cause fecal incontinence, and may occur in combination. For example, nerve damage in the rectum or anal sphincter, which can occur during childbirth, may be a cause. Muscle […]
Back in August 2020, we first explored how a COVID-19 infection could affect your GI system. There was very little data to work with at the time, as the pandemic was largely still unfolding across the United States and across the world. Since then, much has happened with the pandemic. Now, at a time when […]
A healthy digestive system can help you prevent many conditions, and reduce their severity if you do get them. While there are a lot of factors in your individual case that can impact specific advice, there are some general principles that are good to follow in most cases. Here are some important ways you can […]
Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic liver disease that causes damage to the bile ducts in the liver. Read on to learn more about this condition. Causes and Risk Factors PBC is considered to be an autoimmune disease. This means your body perceives your liver as invasive and attacks it. Your body’s T cells, […]
Dyspepsia, also known as indigestion, is a common condition. Here’s what you need to know. Causes and Risk Factors of Dyspepsia Dyspepsia can be caused by a number of things. Acid reflux and stomach ulcers can both irritate the lining of your stomach, leading to burning pain in your upper chest that is associated with […]
Colonic ischemia is a condition where blood flow in the colon is reduced. It can cause damage to the affected area of the colon. Here’s everything you need to know about this condition. Causes and Risk Factors Colonic ischemia, as noted above, causes diminished blood flow in the colon. This can be caused by a […]
An anal fissure is a tear or rip in the lining of the anal canal. Here’s what you need to know about anal fissures. Causes and Risk Factors Anal fissures are most often caused by trauma in the anal canal. They can be caused by straining during a bowel movement, chronic diarrhea, anal intercourse, childbirth, […]
Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a condition characterized by recurring periods of severe nausea and vomiting. Read along for a review of the condition. Causes and Risk Factors for Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Cyclic vomiting syndrome is an uncommon syndrome that can affect a variety of groups of people. In many cases, it begins when children […]
Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is a condition in which the muscle between the bile duct and pancreatic duct does not open like it should. This results in digestive juice backup. Here’s an overview of the condition. Causes and Risk Factors The sphincter of Oddi is a smooth muscle that surrounds the end of the common […]
