Most people have experienced the occasional acid reflux after a heavy meal or when lying down with a burning sensation in the chest (heartburn) that may spread up to the throat leaving a sour taste in the mouth. If you experience these symptoms regularly (at least twice a week), you may be suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease.
The importance of going for a health checkup at the right time cannot be overstated. This is especially true for some men who tend to follow the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy. Unfortunately, good health is not something you can afford to take for granted. Just like any highly complex and intricate machine, your body needs a regular checkup.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is one of the newer, incision-less, weight-loss procedures that reduces the size of your stomach. It is a fairly simple procedure where an endoscope (a thin flexible tube with a camera and a suturing device) is passed through your mouth into your stomach. The size and shape of your stomach is then altered by a few strategically placed stiches making it physically impossible to have a large meal. The procedure is done under general anesthesia so you will not feel a thing. The total time taken is about 1-1/2 hours, after which you will be monitored in the recovery room for any complications. Most likely, you will be able to leave the hospital on the very same day!
Do you experience uncomfortable bloating in your stomach or burning in your chest after meals? You could be suffering from a digestive disease and Digestive Disease National Awareness month (May) is the opportune time to start working on your digestive health. All digestive diseases, ranging from the occasional acid reflux to full blown irritable bowel syndrome, can be controlled to some extent by the foods you eat. Here are a few suggestions to get you moving in the right direction.
Everyone has trouble with bowel movements from time to time, however, for those with IBS the abdominal pain, bloating, and sudden urge to move your bowels can wreak havoc with your plans on a regular basis. The possibility of not making it to the bathroom on time will have you constantly scouting for restrooms everywhere you go. Some people go to great lengths while making long-distance trips such as cleaning their system one day before the journey and thereafter not taking anything until reaching their destination to avoid having an ‘accident’ before reaching the restroom. Indeed, IBS can influence what you do for leisure, where and how you travel, and who you choose to hang out with.
Even though obesity rates have begun to slow in recent years, obesity still remains one of the most significant threats to the health of our nation. In 1985, not a single state in US had an obesity rate above 15%. As things stand today, at least 20% of the population across all states are obese. About 8% of the population are extremely obese. The reason for these alarming figures is a combination of factors – bigger portion sizes, confusing diet and nutrition information, and our technologically driven comfort-oriented lifestyle. Americans in general walk less when compared to any other industrialized country.
With significant advances in medical science, the number of deaths caused due to colon cancer has been declining over the past several decades. In the past year, the number of colon cancer related deaths in the US was down to approximately 50,260. It is estimated there are 1 million plus survivors of this disease in the United States alone!
Your overall health is directly related to the type of food that goes into your body. Recently, there have been many pre-packaged processed foods that have been introduced in the market as Superfoods with claims to provide extraordinary health benefits. However, if long term health is your goal then your best bet is to stick to fresh, unprocessed foods that offer a variety of essentials nutrients. Such Superfoods are affordable and easily cooked at home.
We have all experienced the occasional burning sensation or a sour taste in the mouth after a heavy meal. This is usually acid reflux aka heartburn. It occurs mainly because there is literally no place for the acidic contents in the stomach to go but up into the esophagus. It is a very common condition in the United States and is often the result of overeating, smoking, too much of salt and too little of fiber in the diet, and low-levels of physical activity.
If you’re considering bariatric surgery, first take a look at the Orbera weight loss system or intragastric balloon system. The Orbera system is ideal for obese individuals (BMI of 30 to 40 kg/m2) looking to lose weight that have not had success with diet and exercises alone.
