What should you know about hemorrhoids? Picture of Internal and External Hemorrhoids What are hemorrhoids? Hemorrhoids (Piles) are blood vessels located in the smooth muscles of the walls of the rectum and anus. They are a normal part of the anatomy and are located at the junction where small arteries merge into veins. They are...
Viral hepatitis facts Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story Hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, most often is caused by hepatitis A, B, and C viruses. Many illnesses and conditions can cause inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), but certain viruses cause about half of all hepatitis in people. Viruses that primarily attack the liver are...
What is stomach pain or discomfort? Stomach pain and discomfort may be due to a variety of causes. Sometimes, you may have pain/discomfort in a particular part of your belly or all over the belly for a short or long period of time. You may also experience troubling symptoms such as bloating, belching and nausea...
When is stomach pain not an emergency? There are many causes of stomach pain and some are mild and some more serious. Most stomach pains are harmless. They may be caused by overeating, gas or indigestion. If your pain is short-term, goes away after passing gases or stools and with over-the-counter products (laxative and antacids)...
What is Crohn’s disease? Crohn’s disease in and of itself is not usually life-threatening, although it can cause serious or fatal complications, which include bowel obstruction, fistulas, anal fissures, and others. Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that causes inflammation in the gut (the digestive tract) and belongs to a group of conditions known...
What is the colon? The colon is part of the digestive system. It is also called the large intestine or large bowel. The colon is situated inside the abdominal cavity and travels down the left side of the abdomen and ends at the anus. Laparoscopic colectomy treats and prevents diseases and conditions of the colon....
What is the difference between the stomach flu vs. food poisoning? Share Your Story Listeria is bacteria that can cause a disease known as listeriosis. What is the stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis)? People use the term "stomach flu" to refer to a feeling of being sick with unpleasant symptoms such as: Fever Nausea Vomiting, abdominal...
What is H. pylori? H. pylori is considered to be contagious and passed from person to person by saliva, fecal contamination, and poor hygiene practices. Source by iStock H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) are spiral shaped bacteria. H. pylori bacteria are unique because they produce the enzyme urease that allows the bacteria to live in the...
Facts you should know about C. diff (C. difficile colitis) The symptoms of C. difficile colitis are fever, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Clostridium difficile colitis (C. difficile Colitis, C. diff) is an infection of the colon by the bacterium, Clostridium difficile (C. difficile ). C. difficile causes colitis by producing toxins that damage the lining of the...
What is percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage? In percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage a small, flexible, plastic tube is placed through the skin into the liver to drain a blocked bile duct system. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD) is a procedure to drain bile to relieve pressure in the bile ducts caused by...