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Your gastrointestinal system is important to your daily life and when you’re dealing with issues with it, it can really impact your ability to function on a daily basis. There are many issues that may affect your GI tract and it’s important to understand what the symptoms might be and how these disorders are treated so that you can find relief and get back to feeling comfortable. Common Gastrointestinal Disorders There are many gastrointestinal disorders that you might face throughout your life that have fairly common symptoms. This could include nausea, bloating, and stomach or abdominal pain. You should be sure to talk to your doctor about your symptoms so that they can determine what you might be dealing with and find the best treatment plan for you. Common disorders include: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)- IBS is when the colon muscle contracts either more or less often than it should. You might experience abdominal pain, bloating, or excess gas. You can treat this issue by increasing your diet and monitoring which foods trigger your symptoms and then avoiding those foods. Your doctor might provide medication to help manage your symptoms and you should be hydrating well throughout the day. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)- If you’re dealing with GERD, you’ll experience heartburn and acid reflux on a normal basis. This can feel like a burning sensation in your chest and throat and you may even feel nauseous or vomit. You should avoid eating fatty foods and be sure to wait to lie down after eating. Propping your head up can also help reduce inflammation and you may want to take anti-inflammatory medications. Crohn’s Disease- This is a chronic inflammatory digestive disease that can affect the GI tract and can cause it to become inflamed. You might experience unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and diarrhea. You should change your diet as recommended by your doctor and you may need to take medications to help with symptoms. In severe cases, surgery may be needed. Contact Our Gastroenterologist Today Don’t suffer from gastrointestinal disorders. Contact your gastroenterologist to find out how you can start treatment today.             

Your gastrointestinal system helps digest the foods you eat and convert them into nutrients and substances to fuel your body. Your colon gets rid of the waste products from foods, to prevent the buildup of toxic substances so that you can stay healthy. To maintain a healthy digestive system, it’s important to eat good foods that will help your digestive system function. Diet and Digestive Health When you eat food, digestion begins in your mouth. Food is broken down by the enzymes and other substances in your saliva. You need to remember to: Thoroughly chew your food to aid in digestion further down your digestive system Chew slowly to prevent swallowing air, which can lead to bloating and gastrointestinal pain After chewing and swallowing, the partially digested food travels down your digestive system and into your stomach, where it is fully digested. You need to remember to: Eat healthy nutrient-rich foods which are easy to digest Avoid high-fat foods which can cause fatty buildup in your arteries Avoid high-sugar foods, which can lead to inflammation throughout your body Avoid eating a large meal before you go to bed because the digestive process slows down at bedtime After the food is digested in your stomach, the waste products travel down your intestines, into your colon, and out through your rectum. You want the waste products to travel smoothly through your lower digestive tract, so it’s important to: Include a good amount of fiber in your diet, to provide the bulk necessary to eliminate waste products Eat foods like nuts, seeds, whole grains, and beans, to give you the fiber you need If your doctor spots any polyps during your screening, they will be removed and biopsied. This can help stop cancer from spreading throughout your body and causing further complications. Symptoms don’t always occur at early stages, so it’s important to get a colon cancer screening, even if you think you’re completely fine. You should be sure that you understand what your risks are and when you need to be screened. If you have a family history of colon cancer, you might need testing done at an earlier age than normal. It’s found that making healthy life choices and eating a proper diet can also help prevent colon cancer. You should be sure to maintain a healthy weight and engage in exercise on a regular basis. Contact Our Gastroenterologist Today If you have a chronic gastrointestinal condition like Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, or food allergies, you may not be able to eat certain foods. Your gastroenterologist can help you develop a diet that will be easy to follow and healthy for you and your digestive system. Talk with your gastroenterologist today to learn more about the connection between diet and gastrointestinal health.           

Dealing with colon cancer can be a nightmare. If you don’t catch it at an early stage, it can be difficult to treat and it can end up spreading throughout your body. There are ways to prevent colon cancer and it’s important that you are doing what you can to keep yourself cancer-free. Preventing Colon Cancer The most obvious and easy way to prevent colon cancer is by getting a colonoscopy done. Colon cancer screenings are done during a colonoscopy and your doctor will look for any impending signs of colon cancer. It always starts with precancerous polyps, which are abnormal growths in the colon or rectum. Polyps can be present for years before cancer develops, so it’s important to screen for them before they turn cancerous. You should start getting screened at the age of 45 and you’ll get a colonoscopy every ten years or so. If your doctor spots any polyps during your screening, they will be removed and biopsied. This can help stop cancer from spreading throughout your body and causing further complications. Symptoms don’t always occur at early stages, so it’s important to get a colon cancer screening, even if you think you’re completely fine. You should be sure that you understand what your risks are and when you need to be screened. If you have a family history of colon cancer, you might need testing done at an earlier age than normal. It’s found that making healthy life choices and eating a proper diet can also help prevent colon cancer. You should be sure to maintain a healthy weight and engage in exercise on a regular basis. Contact Our Gastroenterologist Today Find out how you can lower your risk of developing colon cancer. Contact your gastroenterologist today to learn more about preventing colon cancer and if you’re due for your next screening.         

If you’re dealing with digestive issues, you usually can tell what foods might trigger these issues. If you aren’t sure, it might be time to start keeping a food diary so that you can identify these triggers. Once your triggers are identified, it’s important that you’re avoiding them so that you aren’t putting your body through digestive distress and you’re able to enjoy food instead of worrying about the pain that might follow your meal. Common Dietary Triggers to Avoid One of the worst foods that often trigger digestive issues is anything fried. These foods are often high in fat and very oily. This can upset your stomach and cause pain and diarrhea. If these foods have rich sauces or lots of butter, your stomach will not enjoy them and you’ll likely be dealing with pain after your meal. Depending on what digestive issues you might deal with, citrus fruits can often trigger pain as well. Because these are high in acid and fiber, you might deal with an upset stomach. Similarly, while fiber is good for you, there is such a thing as too much. If you ingest an overload of carbs, your body will start feeling bloated and you might find that you’re feeling gassy and irritated. One common trigger for digestive issues is spicy foods. Many people might find that they experience indigestion or heartburn after ingesting spicy foods. It’s important to take it easy with spices and try to pair spicy foods with others that can ease the spice. Dairy also can cause bloating, gas, and diarrhea. Many people aren’t able to properly digest the lactose that’s found in dairy and end up feeling bloated and unhappy after ingesting dairy. Contact Our Gastroenterologist Today Find out what foods you might need to eliminate from your diet. Contact your gastroenterologist to see what foods might trigger your digestive issues.       

Diverticulosis is a common issue that many people deal with. It often doesn’t cause any symptoms and may not need immediate treatment. However, it is important to make sure you know if you are dealing with diverticulosis because it can lead to another condition known as diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is much more serious and cause complications to occur. If you are dealing with diverticulosis, it’s important that you take steps to ensure that inflammation doesn’t occur and lead to diverticulitis. Dealing with Diverticulosis Diverticulosis is the presence of tiny pockets that line the colon. These pockets are known as diverticula and can appear anywhere throughout your colon. Diverticulosis is very common and usually starts occur around the age of 50. It likely won’t come with any symptoms, but it’s important that you know what to avoid if you do have diverticulosis so that you can prevent diverticulitis from occurring. If you are dealing with symptoms, you might notice that your stomach is tender, you have abdominal cramps, bloating, and constipation. This condition might be spotted during a routine colonoscopy or a test for another issue that you might be dealing with. Diverticulosis doesn’t need any treatment, but your gastroenterologist might recommend making some lifestyle changes as a preventive measure. Changing your diet to include more fiber can help you manage your diverticulosis. You should be sure to eat more fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and beans. Try to cut down on red meat and drink plenty of water throughout your day. It’s also important that you’re maintaining your overall health and exercising on a daily basis. Contact Our Gastroenterologist Today Make sure that you’re taking all the necessary steps to prevent diverticulitis from developing in your colon. Contact your gastroenterologist to schedule an appointment today and learn more about managing diverticulosis and preventing diverticulitis.     

It’s common to have an upset stomach every once in a while, but there are signs to look out for that could point to it being something more severe. If you find that stomach pain lingers for days or weeks, you might be dealing with a gastrointestinal disorder. There are different digestive disorders that you might deal with that can make it difficult to eat certain foods or feel comfortable while lying down after eating. Recognizing early signs can help you avoid triggers and find the best form of management for your disorder. Spotting Digestive Disorders Early Often, digestive disorders start fairly mild and begin to worsen over time. It’s important to be able to spot issues when the overall problem is still mild. This helps you avoid it getting worse and more difficult to deal with. Common symptoms could include: Nausea Vomiting Abdominal pain Diarrhea Constipation Bloating Bleeding Incontinence Sudden weight loss or weight gain Difficulty swallowing If you start noticing that you have any of these symptoms recurring normally, it’s important to visit your gastroenterologist as soon as possible for care and treatment. Treatment will depend on your symptoms and the cause of your pain. Common digestive disorders include: Lactose intolerance Irritable bowel syndrome Gallstones Hemorrhoids Ulcers Gastritis Pancreatitis Liver disease Celiac disease Crohn’s disease Acid reflux Depending on what your disorder is, you may need to make certain lifestyle changes in order to avoid your symptoms and reduce any pain that you might experience. Contact Our Gastroenterologist Today Find out how you can recognize early symptoms and fight off digestive disorders. Contact your gastroenterologist to learn more about recognizing early symptoms and digestive disorders in general. Call today to schedule your next appointment and start living without the fear of digestive pain.   

When you’re dealing with digestive tract issues, it can affect your whole life. When your stomach hurts, you will often find that you aren’t able to function as you normally can each day. Digestive problems can cause you to miss out on events and hinder you from being as productive as you normally might be. It’s important to know that digestive health often depends on the lifestyle decisions that you make and it’s easy to maintain your digestive health with some easy tips from your gastroenterologist. Maintaining Your Digestive Health When you’re dealing with digestive issues, you might not be sure where to start with getting your digestive system back into proper working order. One of the most important things that you can do is start managing a healthy diet and taking steps to improve your physical health. Your gastroenterologist can guide you along your journey to making the best decisions to start feeling better each day. You should be eating a high-fiber diet in order to keep food flowing through your digestive tract and to avoid issues like constipation. A high-fiber diet can also help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight while also treating digestive issues like diverticulosis, hemorrhoids, and irritable bowel syndrome. You can increase your intake of fiber by using both insoluble and soluble fiber. Be sure to choose lean meats as part of your diet. This helps you get the protein you need while avoiding unnecessary fats in your diet. You should also be including probiotics and prebiotics with choices like low-fat yogurt. Another easy way to maintain a healthy digestive system is by making sure that you are properly hydrated. It’s important that you drink plenty of water each day and that you’re also getting regular exercise. While exercising, be sure that you continue to hydrate as you sweat. Contact Our Gastroenterologist Today Find out how you can improve your digestive health. Contact your gastroenterologist to learn more tips for maintaining your digestive health.     

Irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS, is a gastrointestinal disorder that can cause you pain and interrupt your daily life. You might find yourself having to avoid certain events because of some of the symptoms that are associated with IBS. When you start noticing these symptoms affecting your life, it’s important that you talk to your gastroenterologist to discuss treatment and what your triggers might be. Dr. Masi Khaja at Capitol Gastro in Austin, TX, can explain what symptoms you should be looking out for with irritable bowel syndrome and how you can deal with these symptoms. Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome When it comes to irritable bowel syndrome, one of the most common symptoms our gastroenterologist will look for is abdominal pain. This may also come with cramping and diarrhea or constipation. If you’re particularly stressed or if you’ve been eating fried and greasy foods, this pain is likely to happen and trigger your IBS. IBS is also usually linked with gas and bloating, as well as mucus in the stool. You’ll notice a distinct change in your bowel habits, and this can cause you to lose focus throughout the day. When you’re dealing with pain from IBS, it can be difficult to function and perform your daily tasks. In order to avoid these symptoms, you should be sure that you’re taking note of what foods can trigger your pain and avoid those foods. You also need to exercise on a regular basis and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Sleep is also crucial and is an important part of keeping you healthy. Contact Your Gastroenterologist Today Make sure that you can identify symptoms that could point to IBS. Contact Dr. Khaja at Capitol Gastro in Austin, TX, to learn more about irritable bowel syndrome and if it might be affecting you. Call for more information and to schedule an appointment today at (512) 593-6022. We have two offices in Austin, Texas, as well as offices in Cedar Park, Georgetown, Kyle, Dripping Springs, and Leander, Texas.   

Find out why you might be dealing with heartburn. Heartburn is a common issue. While it’s usually nothing to worry about, if you are dealing with this problem regularly, it might be time to see a gastroenterologist to find out what’s going on. After all, recurring heartburn could be a sign of a more severe condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and it’s vital that you address the issue properly. What Is Heartburn? So, you know that you feel a miserable burning sensation in your throat and chest, but you aren’t quite sure what’s going on there. Heartburn, also called indigestion, occurs when the acids in your stomach travel backward into the esophagus. Heartburn is often an excellent indicator that you are dealing with GERD. If left untreated, GERD can increase the risk of esophageal cancer. What Can Cause Heartburn? It’s essential to recognize what may trigger your heartburn. Women who are pregnant as well as obese or overweight individuals are more at risk for developing heartburn. What you eat could also affect whether you develop heartburn. It’s important to recognize common trigger foods, including, Citrus Alcohol Coffee, tea, and other caffeinated products Tomato-based products (this includes ketchup) Onions Chocolate Fried or fatty foods (think onion rings and French fries) Apart from diet, other things can trigger your heartburn, including, Overeating Smoking Lying down immediately after eating Taking certain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or blood pressure medications Intense exercise Should I Treat My Heartburn? If you are dealing with heartburn regularly, you must address this issue to prevent serious complications such as esophageal damage. If over-the-counter heartburn medications aren’t helping keep your symptoms under control, or if you are dealing with heartburn two or more times a week, then it’s the perfect time to visit a gastroenterologist for care. Remember: Over-the-counter antacids are not for long-term use. If you have to take antacids frequently, you need to see a GI doctor. How Will a Gastroenterologist Treat My Heartburn? One of the simplest ways to ease heartburn is through lifestyle changes. These include, Not eating 2-3 hours before bedtime Eat smaller meals more frequently and avoid larger meals Avoid belts or shirts that are too tight around the middle Limit acidic, spicy, fried, and fatty foods Eat slowly and chew food fully to aid in better digestion Sleep with your head raised in bed Get plenty of water Avoid eating 2 hours before exercise if you find that exercise triggers your heartburn Avoid alcohol and caffeine Quit or avoid smoking Lose excess weight Along with lifestyle changes, your gastroenterologist may prescribe medication to ease symptoms. These medications may include, Antacids H2 blockers Proton pump inhibitors These medications are designed to reduce or temporarily block stomach acid to allow the gut time to heal. Suppose heartburn has gotten too much for you to address on your own. In that case, it’s a good idea to turn to a gastroenterologist, as they specialize in treating heartburn and other digestive disorders.

Everyone has heartburn occasionally. It’s that stabbing, burning sensation in your chest, and it has nothing to do with your heart. Heartburn is known as acid reflux, and it’s a condition involving your digestive system. Your gastroenterologist can help you get relief from acid reflux. What You Need To Know About Acid Reflux So, what causes acid reflux? It has to do with a sphincter muscle between your stomach and esophagus. When it works normally, it keeps stomach acid from pushing back up into your throat. In cases of acid reflux, the sphincter muscle doesn’t close completely, allowing stomach acid to flow back up into your esophagus, and your throat. Acid reflux can cause: Throat pain or chronic hoarseness Chronic bad breath, nausea, and vomiting Tooth erosion and increased tooth sensitivity Chest or abdominal pain Dry coughing or wheezing For mild, occasional acid reflux, you can try a few simple tips at home which can help decrease symptoms. It’s important to: Avoid eating right before bed Eat smaller meals and avoid eating large amounts of food at one time Stay upright after eating for at least two to three hours after a meal Avoid spicy foods and try to maintain a healthy weight Avoid smoking and using tobacco products Take over-the-counter antacids to eliminate excess stomach acid If you have moderate to severe or chronic acid reflux symptoms, you need to seek out the expertise of your gastroenterologist. Untreated acid reflux can turn into gastroesophageal reflux disease. This disease, commonly known as GERD, can cause permanent esophageal damage, including esophageal cancer. Your gastroenterologist will begin with a thorough examination. Your doctor may recommend diagnostic procedures like an endoscopy, to view the inside of your esophagus. Then, your gastroenterologist will develop a treatment plan designed to help eliminate or reduce acid reflux symptoms. Your treatment plan may include: Prescription medications to reduce stomach acid Dietary changes to eliminate spicy and acidic foods Lifestyle changes including meal planning Want To Know More? To learn more about the causes, signs, symptoms, and treatment of acid reflux, talk with an expert. Call your gastroenterologist today.