Patient Education

Advanced Digestive Center, Inc would like to be your partner in health care. Feel free to ask your questions and share your concerns with us. We will work with you to develop a wellness program for the care and treatment you need.

We welcome you to our practice and look forward to caring for you.

Advanced Digestive Center, Inc provides a full range of medical services including the following:

Capsule Endoscopy

A capsule endoscopy, also known as capsule enteroscopy, is a procedure that uses a pill-sized wireless camera to visually examine the inside lining of the three portions of the small intestine, which includes the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. The camera will take a series of photographs as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract. These photographs are sent wirelessly to a small recording device that is worn on the body. The photographs are then downloaded to a computer about 24 hours after the procedure. The capsule will then be passed through the digestive tract by the patient. ...

Indigestion

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is a collection of chronic or acute symptoms that describes pain and discomfort experienced in the upper abdomen.

Causes of Indigestion

Indigestion may occur as a result of overeating, eating foods that are high in fat, eating foods that are spicy, and eating too fast. Some of the other causes of indigestion may include the following: ...

Colon Resection FAQs

What is a colon resection?

A colon resection is a surgical procedure to remove either part of or all of colon, or large intestine. When the whole colon is removed, the operation is also known as a colectomy. A colon resection is performed to treat or prevent the spread of certain diseases of the colon. ...

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is the inflammation of the diverticula, small pouches found in the inner lining of the intestinal tract. Diverticulosis, the condition that causes the pouches to form, is common in people over the age of 40. Nearly half the people in the United States develop diverticulosis by the age of 60. Diverticula, which are multiple small pouches, can occur anywhere within the digestive tract but are most commonly found in the lower portion of the large intestine, also known as the sigmoid colon. Most often these pouches are harmless but they can become infected and inflamed, causing diverticulitis. ...

Fecal Incontinence

Fecal incontinence is a common condition involving a loss of bowel control, resulting in a leaking of stool from the rectum, which often occurs during the passage of gas. It typically affects older adults and is more common in older females because of past pregnancies. Although it may be embarrassing to discuss, fecal incontinence is a common condition affecting millions of people, and should receive proper medical attention so that patients can engage in their everyday activities without the worry of incontinence. ...

Bard EndoCinch%u2122 Suturing System

Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD, have many treatment options available to them to reduce the symptoms of their condition. While many patients find relief with acid-blocking medication, others prefer surgery to relieve severe symptoms or eliminate the need for daily medication. ...

Food Intolerance

Food intolerance occurs when an individual has an adverse reaction to certain food or foods. Food intolerance is differentiated from food allergy because the former denotes a sensitivity, the latter a reaction of the immune system. Where a food allergy can be extremely dangerous, at times resulting in a life-threatening anaphylactic response, a food intolerance causes localized problems. Also, while food allergies often come on suddenly, may be increasingly severe, and, once established, can be set off by a very small quantity of the offending food stuff, food sensitivities usually come about gradually and cause milder symptoms. In addition, individuals with food sensitivities are often able to eat small quantities of the food in question without difficulty. ...

Heartburn

Heartburn, also known as pyrosis, is a painful, burning sensation in the chest or throat. The problem occurs when stomach acid travels up into the esophagus, the portion of the digestive tract that transports food from the mouth to the stomach. Although heartburn is usually temporary and not serious, for some individuals it develops into a chronic problem. It may be a symptom of a more serious disorder, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which may eventually cause extensive damage to the esophagus. ...

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease, also known as IBD, is a group of chronic or recurring disorders that cause the digestive tract to become inflamed. The most common forms of IBD include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD is considered to be an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks various parts of the digestive tract. ...

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS or spastic colon, is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. IBS is not a disease, but a functional disorder. Although, unlike Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, it is not a form of inflammatory bowel disease, it causes very uncomfortable, and sometimes embarrassing, symptoms that require long-term management. ...

Jaundice

Jaundice is a symptom of several different conditions that cause a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. It is the result of too much bilirubin that has built up in the body. Bilirubin is formed when hemoglobin, a component of red blood cells that transports oxygen in red blood cells, breaks down. As blood cells break down, they are processed by the liver. If the liver is unable to process the red blood cells, bilirubin builds up in the body, causing the skin to yellow, urine to darken, and skin to itch. ...

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance, also known as lactase deficiency, is the inability to fully digest lactose, a milk sugar found in dairy products. While lactose intolerance is not usually a serious condition, it can produce uncomfortable symptoms. In order to manage or eliminate such symptoms, certain dietary changes are necessary. Patients with lactose intolerance, depending on the severity of the condition, have to limit or eliminate their intake of dairy products, take supplements of the enzyme their bodies fail to produce, or consume lactose-free dairy products. Lactose intolerance is a common condition, affecting more than half of adults as they age. ...

Malabsorption

Malabsorption is the inability of the body to absorb nutrients from the intestinal tract. This condition often occurs as a result of an underlying medical condition, which may include:

• Chronic liver disease
• AIDS and HIV
• Lactose intolerance
• Crohn's disease
• Celiac disease
• Parasitic infection

Symptoms of Malabsorption

Symptoms of malabsorption may include: ...

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue or gluten sensitive enteropathy, is an autoimmune disease that affects children and adults. It is a chronic digestive disorder that results in reaction to foods that contain gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and triticale. It is most often found in foods like bread, pasta, and pizza crust, but can also be found in products like medicine and lipstick. While this condition was once considered rare, it now affects more than 2 million people in the United States. ...

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis, also known as hepatic fibrosis, is late stage scarring and deterioration of the liver. Resulting from various liver diseases, the scarring from cirrhosis affects blood flow in the liver, reducing the organ's ability to function. Because the liver plays many important roles in the body, including detoxifying the blood, aiding digestion, fighting infection, producing clotting factors and storing energy, cirrhosis is a life-threatening disorder. The condition is one of the leading causes of disease deaths in the United States. ...

Exercise

Regular exercise has many benefits that may help individuals live longer, healthier lives. Individuals who engage in regular moderately intense physical activity may reduce their risks of developing heart disease and other serious illnesses.

Benefits of an Exercise Routine

Regular physical activity can improve health and lengthen life expectancy by helping a patient to achieve and maintain an appropriate weight, become energetic and fit, strengthen the immune system, and preserve emotional balance. ...