Confused over what “diarrhea alternating with constipation” actually means? The commonly used phrase, diarrhea alternating with constipation, is sometimes seen in symptom lists for colon cancer and IBS, even ovarian cancer. And it’s ambiguous. Alternating [...]
Yes, you should worry if your stools are gray. Gray stools are concerning. Sometimes when doctors talk about grey stools, they use the terms “clay colored” or “pale.” However, “clay” can bring up images of [...]
Wouldn't it be a relief to know that the blood in your poops is from Accutane rather than from an intestinal ulcer, or worse yet, cancer of the colon? Seeing blood in the toilet after [...]
Are your stools coming out like flat ribbons and scaring the daylights out of you? If so, you’ve no doubt read or heard that colon cancer can cause BMs to come out in the shape [...]
Here’s a comparison between colon cancer related constipation & IBS. “Constipation as a symptom itself can be caused by colon cancer or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with predominant constipation,” says Franjo Vladic, MD, a board [...]
Is it possible to tell the difference between colon cancer’s “change in bowel habits” and the change in IBS? “Both colon cancer and IBS can have constipation and abdominal cramps,” begins Franjo Vladic, MD, a [...]
If you find yourself occasionally smelling your hair, taking big sniffs…there is nothing wrong with you. This is actually no different than occasionally looking in the mirror and admiring the appearance of your hair. And [...]
Are you shocked over how delirious your elderly mother (or father) is after surgery—such as a hip replacement, knee replacement or coronary bypass? It’s called postoperative delirium, and about half of elderly patients experience this—and [...]
Feeling too hot to sleep can be caused by cancer, but there’s no need to panic. Being so hot at night that sleep is troublesome has an assortment of potential causes. Do you do rigorous [...]
Are you a burping machine? Do your burps smell? Scared that your new-onset burping is a sign of cancer? What about acid reflux? Can this cause belching? Is there ANY solution to all the embarrassing [...]
Does it drive you nuts when someone keeps repeating questions asked of them? I was inspired to write this article after proofreading a deposition transcript in which the plaintiff kept repeating—with upward inflection—the simple questions [...]
If you’re diabetic and love chocolate cake, there’s a best time for this. There are a few studies showing that the best time to eat chocolate cake is soon after you awaken in the morning. [...]
Would YOUR child ever tell you if their babysitter molested them? Do you have enough trust built with your child that he or she would immediately report to you that the babysitter “touched” them “funny”? [...]
Have you seen those online videos of people walking smack in the path of an oncoming motor vehicle? HOW could they not see the vehicle coming at them? Oddly, these "caught on video" pedestrians typically [...]
How can you tell if your new boyfriend is capable of abusing your children from another relationship or your future children with him? Are you sick and tired of reading about a toddler or baby [...]
A gastroenterologist names the top five drug treatments for microscopic colitis. There are five drugs that can be effective treatments. “Budesonide is a steroid and is the best available medicine,” says Matilda N. Hagan, MD, [...]
Do gluten sensitivity and microscopic colitis go hand in hand? “There is an association between microscopic colitis and celiac disease for reasons that are not clear," says Matilda N. Hagan, MD, an inflammatory bowel disease [...]
Do you have microscopic colitis and fear getting a deep vein thrombosis (DVT)? A deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in a deep vein) is a serious situation -- because the blood clot in your leg or [...]
Wondering if the nutrients you eat go out with the diarrhea of microscopic colitis? I sure was, after I was diagnosed and would see what appeared to be a lot of produce intake in my [...]
Microscopic colitis can cause numerous problems including tons of diarrhea. Can it also cause food -- even healthy food -- to be malabsorbed, depriving you of nutrients? “Malabsorption is not a classic feature of microscopic [...]
Do symptoms of acid reflux, esophageal spasms and hiatal hernia really overlap that much? “There is a continuum of disorders that can affect the esophagus,” says gastroenterologist Larry Good, MD, who’s been in practice for 40+ [...]
If you suffer from heartburn that comes and goes without any apparent cause, you should keep track of what you eat. This tracking includes how much you eat and when, since food may very well [...]
Lexapro can trigger GERD, but just how does this happen? Lexapro is an antidepressant drug, but it can also help reduce anxiety. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). [...]
Here is a symptom comparison pitting GERD vs. costochondritis. […]
Uh oh, chest pain from heart attack vs. esophagitis can be “very difficult to distinguish,” says a gastroenterologist. “Esophagitis, inflammation of the esophagus, can cause severe chest pain,” says Gastroenterologist Larry Good, MD, in practice [...]
GERD breathing problems can lead to feelings of suffocation and serious lung issues. Ever feel that the breathing problems from GERD could suffocate you to death? Sorry to say, but the very medical condition that [...]
Lifting free weights CAN cause GERD, but wait till you learn which particular weightlifting exercises can especially do this! Lifting weights, of all things, can actually bring on GERD, which stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease, [...]
With all the advice out there on what to eat after strength training, what should diabetics eat? “Post-workout refueling wouldn't be much different from someone who doesn't have diabetes,” says Alison Massey, MS, RD, LDN, [...]
You may want hundreds of moles removed all at the same time, after reading that having hundreds of moles is a risk factor for melanoma. Or maybe you want hundreds of moles removed for cosmetic [...]
“Hormonal changes that occur in pregnancy can cause new moles to arise and moles to change” in the vaginal area or elsewhere, says Dr. Jennifer Gordon, who is board certified by the American Board of [...]
If you've noticed dozens of new moles over only a few months, you'll want to bring this to the attention of a dermatologist if you're worried about melanoma. Dozens of new moles in only a [...]
Have you discovered tiny moles growing in a cluster or groups on your skin and are fearing this could be a sign of melanoma? First off, one thing you need to make sure of is [...]
Whether you deliberately scratch an itchy mole or just happen to scratch it because it's in an itchy area, you may wonder if melanoma can be caused by this. Melanoma from scratching a mole is [...]
Whether or not moles can grow from a scab is a popular question. And it has a definitive answer. Composition of a scab vs. composition of a mole -- do you know the difference? A [...]
Unfortunately, excessive burping new in onset can be caused by cancer, but more likely it has perfectly harmless causes. Let’s look at this more closely. What are the benign causes of recent excessive burping? “People [...]
Have you ever heard that a diabetic must ALWAYS avoid sweets or else something really bad will happen? Some people still believe that if a diabetic eats candy, cake or a brownie with ice cream, [...]
If a patient’s diabetes is controlled, why would it still be considered a risk for heart disease? What if this person is a type II diabetic and controls the condition with exercise and diet? In [...]
That number you see in your glucose meter after eating is very important. The non-fasting value of blood sugar levels can indicate the possibility of prediabetes or diabetes. “The timing of non-fasting blood glucose levels [...]
Do you have diabetes and are wondering how long you can safely exercise after eating carbohydrates? “Any physical activity after eating is good;, there isn't a specific requirement,” says Alison Massey, MS, RD, LDN, registered [...]
Bodybuilding can have a protective effect against type II diabetes, but this doesn’t’ mean you must develop huge muscles. “Any type of regular physical activity (both cardio and strength training) are beneficial in reducing the [...]
