Since your liver plays a key role in all the metabolic processes of the body, it is important that we take care to keep our livers pink, flexible, and healthy. At The Digestive Health Center of the Four States, Dr. Allan Weston and his team use two state-of-the-art ultrasound machines to detect liver problems early and set patients on the path to recovery. These ultrasound machines uses special software to measure the extent of liver scarring (as stiffness/elasticity) as well as fat content (steatosis scoring) with a non-invasive, pain-free procedure. These machines produce immediate results, so patients can begin taking control of liver problems sooner. In the past, doctors diagnosed liver scarring and its severity with a biopsy that does have some risk to it. It involves poking the liver with a large needle so there was risk of bleeding and there may be some pain or other complications. Patients had to take the whole day off work. The importance of knowing what your liver stiffness and fatty score is important because their presence increases the risk of developing liver cancer, or having a stroke or heart attack. The most severe case of liver scarring is known as cirrhosis. One of the most frightening things is sometimes severe liver scarring/cirrhosis is completely silent without any symptoms or signs. When it does manifest, symptoms include yellowing of the skin and severe fatigue. Cirrhosis of the liver was in the past associated with excessive alcohol consumption or the chronic Hepatitis C infection, but in the USA, the most common cause is NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) due to longstanding diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure, and other factors. Fortunately, if detected early, liver scarring and fatty liver can be reversed or halted/stabilized with lifestyle changes and a Vitamin E regimen. The most effective treatment is weight loss, and sometimes we recommend bariatric surgery. If you are overweight, even losing just 10 pounds will have a big impact. Also, people should be sure to treat and control high blood pressure and diabetes properly. Our Center has over 4 years of extensive experience performing liver assessments with elastography and steatosis and are involved in four front clinical research surrounding these tools.

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Signs of Liver Disease

Liver disease, also known as hepatic disease, essentially refers to the liver’s failure to properly carry out its usual functions. The liver is quite resilient and can still function properly if even half of it is damaged or diseased. When more than three-quarters of the liver tissue is affected, it is no longer able to function properly. There are several symptoms of liver disease that are an indication the liver is not functioning properly. These symptoms include:

• Loss of Appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Jaundice
• Swollen Abdomen
• Mental Confusion or Disorientation
• Sleepiness
• Coma

Causes

There are several different causes of liver disease. Excessive long-term alcohol consumption can lead to both cirrhosis and liver disease. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C can both also cause liver disease, as can the Epstein Barr virus. Other potential causes of liver disease include malnutrition, excessive iron intake and ingesting poisonous wild mushrooms. Certain medications, such as acetaminophen, when taken in excess, can also lead to liver disease and even complete liver failure.

Treatment A liver that is not functioning properly can be life-threatening and requires medical treatment. If left untreated, liver disease can lead to complete liver failure in which the liver can no longer function at all. This condition is absolutely life threatening and requires immediate medical care. That is why it is so important to be treated during the early onset of liver disease before the condition requires emergency care. Liver disease can be treated. There are several different treatment options and the type that is used will depend on the cause of the liver disease.

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What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic intestinal disorder that commonly results in symptoms including gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. A fairly common condition, irritable bowel syndrome is estimated to affect nearly 60 million Americans every year. The condition affects more women than men.

What are the Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome include pain, cramping, bloating, gas, mucus in the stool, constipation and diarrhea. Symptoms can also include rectal bleeding and unintended weight loss though these are less common.

With irritable bowel syndrome, symptoms generally come and go. This means that, in addition to high symptom periods, you will also likely have periods where you have no symptoms at all.

What Causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Doctors do not know exactly what causes irritable bowel syndrome though they have identified several factors which may play a role in exacerbating symptoms. These factors will vary from individual to individual, however, so you will need to learn your own risk factors through trial and error.

Common risk factors for irritable bowel syndrome flare-ups include stress, hormones, certain foods, some antibiotics and other medical conditions. People who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome may also have intestines that are unusually weak, strong or sensitive, or there may be a problem with the way that the intestines send signals to the brain.

What Treatments are Available for Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Since individual symptoms vary widely among individuals who have irritable bowel syndrome, it only makes sense that treatment options would vary just as much. Some gastroenterologists in Galena, KS will recommend that their patients begin by making certain dietary and lifestyle changes to see if they help while others will prescribe medications right away. Talk to your doctor to find out which treatment method is right for you.

If you wish to start with dietary and lifestyle changes first, you can begin by exercising, reducing your stress level and eliminating common problem foods from your diet, such as broccoli, raw fruit, gluten, chocolate, fat, beans, milk, alcohol and carbonated beverages. Once your body has had time to detox, you can slowly add these foods back in to your diet one by one to see if the symptoms reappear. For more advanced cases of irritable bowel syndrome, gastroenterologists will likely recommend a medication or supplement to ease your symptoms. Common options include anti-diarrheal medications, antispasmodic medications, antibiotics, fiber supplements or antidepressant medications.

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Those with constipation may find themselves straining when using the bathroom. Bowel movements will also be less frequent, and some people may not pass stool for three days or more at a time. Constipation can also cause abdominal pain and swelling.

So, what’s causing your constipation? There are so many reasons why this digestive issue occurs including:

• Dietary changes
• Changes in your activity level (suddenly becoming less active)
• Not consuming enough fiber
• Not getting enough water in your diet
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Diets high in dairy
• Certain medications like iron pills or antidepressants
• Stress
• Pregnancy
• Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

If you are dealing with bowel movement problems for more than two weeks then it’s time you came into our office for treatment. Our team of medical experts will talk to you about your symptoms, lifestyle, diet and habits, while also performing certain tests to detect the cause of your constipation. You may require a blood test, barium swallow or colonoscopy in order to reach a proper diagnosis. We will also discuss simple things you can do to avoid constipation in the future.

You should see us right away if:

• There is blood in your stool
• If you are losing weight suddenly or quickly
• If you have severe pain when passing stools
• If you’ve never been constipated before

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Acid reflux is characterized typically by heartburn, which is the irritated feeling in your esophagus created by acid jumping back up into it from your stomach. Acid reflux also includes regurgitation, the physical manifestation of that stomach acid flowing up into your esophagus. These symptoms are not something that should be ignored– particularly because it’s often a sign of an underlying condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This can lead to various health complications including:

• Heartburn
• Esophagitis
• Ulcers
• Difficulty swallowing
• Esophageal spasms
• Greater risk of esophageal cancer

But at Digestive Health Center of the Four States, your gastrointestinal health can find the full effects of consistent, long-term care under the trusted techniques of the helpful physicians on site. They understand the causes and cures of acid reflux and GERD as a whole.

Some of the other leading symptoms of acid reflux include:

• Bloating
• Burping
• Dysphagia
• Constant hiccups
• Bloody or extremely dark stools
• Bloody vomiting
• Nausea
• Noticeable weight loss
• Dry cough
• Wheezing
• Perpetually sore throat

While the severity of patients’ GERD symptoms has to do with their lower esophageal sphincter dysfunctions, treating this surprisingly common condition can be accomplished in most cases through diet modifications and healthy eating.

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The Colonoscopy Procedure

A colonoscopy is performed using a colonoscope, which is a flexible tube with a tiny video camera attached to the end. The colonoscope is gently inserted into the colon through the anus. The camera at the end allows the gastroenterologist to observe the colon’s interior. If any suspicious areas are detected, the gastroenterologist can use the colonoscope to extract a sample for biopsy. Additionally, if polyps are found, they can be removed during the procedure, which is important because some polyps can develop into cancer.

Who Needs a Colonoscopy?

Everyone should have a colonoscopy exam around age 50. However, there are several situations that call for performing a colonoscopy at a younger age. For instance, adult men and women with a family history of colon cancer should have a colonoscopy by age 40. In some cases, depending on the age of the family member(s) with colon cancer, a colonoscopy might be performed even earlier than age 40. Colonoscopies are also performed on patients of varying ages who have Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or other gastrointestinal problems.

If you are age 50 or older and have never had a colonoscopy, consider scheduling an appointment with a gastroenterologist to discuss having one. For adults of any age struggling with gastrointestinal issues, a colonoscopy can potentially determine the cause of the gastrointestinal problems.

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