Latest news with #digestiveHealth
WebMD
30-06-2025
- Health
- WebMD
Is More Fiber Always Better?
Fiber is great for the digestive system. It helps keep you regular and nourishes your gut with healthy microbes. But more isn't always better, especially when it comes to a new crop of fiber-added products on the market. They're billed as healthy alternatives to foods like bagels and cookies — like the high-protein bagel with more than 30 grams of fiber or the keto-friendly cookie with 9 grams of fiber (36 grams if you eat all four in the box). Seeking out more fiber is a good thing, but be cautious with these fiber-fortified foods, advises Tamara Duker Freuman, a registered dietitian with New York Gastroenterology Associates and author of Regular. Ingesting that much concentrated fiber at one time can actually backfire and do more harm than good for some people. One reason why: Many naturally high-fiber foods like fruits and vegetables are rich in water, which fiber needs as it moves through the digestive tract. But fiber-added foods like bagels and cookies contain much less fluid. Naturally fiber-rich foods also tend to be filling. Think about how full you feel after eating a big apple, for instance. In contrast, fiber-fortified products like bagels and cookies aren't as satisfying, so it's easy to eat bigger portions of them. Then there's the matter of fiber content. Even the most fiber-rich produce, such as raspberries, tops out at 8 grams of fiber per serving. Many fiber supplements have just 2-5 grams of fiber. Compare that to more than 30 grams in one fiber-added bagel. 'The concern here is that you can end up eating an extremely high amount of fiber at once without much built-in water,' says Duker. 'This can have a 'bricklike' effect in the bowel.' That's especially risky if your system is already clogged, she says. For example, some pelvic floor issues can make it tougher to have a complete bowel movement, which can lead to a backup of stool. And some people with endometriosis or inflammatory bowel disease may have narrowed bowels, putting them at risk for severe constipation or even bowel obstruction with this kind of fiber bomb. The type of fiber these fortified products contain can be a problem, too. One kind of fiber commonly added to foods is inulin, which is broken down in the large intestine by gut bacteria. This process isn't bothersome to some people. But for others, it triggers gas and bloating that can be uncomfortable or even downright painful, says Duker. Bottom line: Fiber is a good thing, and there's nothing wrong with looking at labels for products that contain more. If you decide to try one of these fiber-concentrated products, eat a small portion with plenty of fluids. Or simply choose regular bagels and cookies and include plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and beans in your daily diet.
South China Morning Post
25-06-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Chinese man, 64, finds toothbrush he swallowed at age 12 stuck in intestine, needs surgery
Fran Lu in Beijing A 64-year-old Chinese man who felt a strange sensation in his stomach and went to the doctor was shocked to discover that a toothbrush had been stuck in his intestines for 52 years. The man, surnamed Yang, from eastern China's Anhui province, said he remembered swallowing it at the age of 12 and was too scared to tell his parents about it. Yang said he thought the toothbrush would dissolve on its own and had not felt anything untoward until recently. Hospital doctors checked his digestive system and found the toothbrush stuck in his small intestine. They performed endoscopic surgery on him and took the rogue 17-cm dental implement out of his body in 80 minutes. It was one of the longest items the hospital had taken out of a patient's digestive system in the past three years.
South China Morning Post
24-06-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Chinese man, 64, swallowed toothbrush at 12, finds it stuck in his intestine, needs surgery.
A 64-year-old Chinese man who felt a strange sensation in his stomach and went to the doctor was shocked to discover that a toothbrush had been stuck in his intestines for 52 years. The man, surnamed Yang, from eastern China's Anhui province, said he remembered swallowing it at the age of 12 and was too scared to tell his parents about it. Yang said he thought the toothbrush would dissolve by itself and had not felt anything untoward until recently. Hospital doctors checked his digestive system and found the toothbrush stuck in his small intestine. They performed endoscopic surgery on him and took the rogue 17cm dental implement out of his body in 80 minutes. Despite the toothbrush being inside his body for many years, the man said he had not felt anything untoward until recently. Photo: handout It was one of the longest items the hospital had taken out of a patient's digestive system in the past three years.
Irish Times
13-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
The onerous cost of Crohn's disease: ‘It becomes a choice between paying for a utility bill or medication'
People react in different ways to grief, but the day after the death of a close family member, Amy Dennis developed stomach cramps and diarrhoea. Just a teenager at the time, her GP put it down to being bereaved, but the symptoms persisted and the bouts of diarrhoea became a recurring issue that played havoc with her life. As time went on, and her situation didn't improve, it was thought that she could have had an intolerance to gluten – the protein found in grains – but it wasn't until she began to get 'properly sick' that a thorough investigation was undertaken. It was discovered that she had Crohn's disease – a chronic and debilitating digestive condition with lifelong consequences. The condition can require the need for surgery, hospitalisation, immuno-suppressing treatments and higher risks for some forms of digestive cancers. READ MORE 'At the start of 2021, during the second Covid lockdown, I began to lose extreme amounts of weight from both diarrhoea and vomiting,' says the now 23-year-old. 'I went from 84kg down to 48kg in under a year. I was hospitalised for an unrelated issue, but that is when I had more blood tests and a colonoscopy, which led to me being diagnosed with Crohn's disease in December 2022.' [ Inflammatory bowel disease: 'I remember being in primary school and thinking maybe if I skip breakfast, my stomach won't hurt' Opens in new window ] Once diagnosed, living well with this condition is possible, but it does come with a cost, as medication, new dietary requirements and other treatments add up. Crohn's disease and colitis, two types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), affect about 40,000 people in Ireland. Research published last month showed that 60 per cent of people living with IBD face 'financial difficulty' as a result of their condition. The report, launched by Crohn's and Colitis Ireland, showed that patients spend an average of €3,252 annually on managing their condition including treatment and dietary needs , while 47 per cent have avoided seeking necessary medical care due to cost. Figures showed 62 per cent reported that taking time off work due to their condition has negatively affected their financial situation 'to some or a great extent'. Costs associated with attending medical appointments also play a significant role. Some 85 per cent said that mileage and travel costs added to their financial burden, 83 per cent had issues with parking fees, 62 per cent with overnight stays for medical appointments, and 49 per cent cited childcare fees as taking a toll financially. Dr Orlaith Kelly, consultant gastroenterologist at Connolly Hospital in Dublin, says Crohn's disease can be diagnosed at any age, but commonly presents in people aged 15-35, with a second wave of diagnoses occurring at 50-60. Treatment is not curative, but can control the disease, which can have very debilitating symptoms. 'Given the age profile of patients, IBD can often impact people when they are ordinarily at the height of their working lives or entering work life or parenthood,' says Dr Kelly. She says that 60 per cent of people living with IBD face financial difficulty directly because of their condition, while almost half have avoided necessary medical care because of the cost. 'In a cost-of-living crisis, for some, often it becomes a choice between paying for school uniforms, a utility bill and maybe forgoing medication or missing an appointment to work to do so,' she says. 'And this has obvious impact on patients' wellbeing and health down the track, possibly resulting in an emergency visit or more hospitalisation when the disease flares or is out of control.' It would be good for us to be able to enrol in the long-term illness scheme, or at least lowering the cost of the drugs payment scheme for us — Amy Dennis Amy Kelly, chief operating officer at Crohn's & Colitis Ireland, urges the Government to 'listen to the needs of the community and to improve access to care in Ireland'. 'This includes including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in the chronic disease management programme and expanding medical card eligibility, ensuring equitable access to essential medical care,' she says. 'This inclusion would provide free, structured care, potentially reducing patients' out-of-pocket healthcare expenses through fewer emergency room visits, hospital admissions and lower medication costs.' According to Dr Orlaith Kelly, care for patients should cover access to more IBD physicians and multidisciplinary team members such as specialist nurses, psychologists and surgeons in a more timely and uniform manner across the country. This also includes timely access to intestinal ultrasound, endoscopy and MRI scans when needed and to infusions and theatre slots. 'This requires joined-up thinking at national programme level, provision of adequate resources to assess current needs through accurate data capture and adequate resourcing of this area in hospital and national health budgets,' she says. 'The truth is this type of strategy will in fact save money along with countless improvements in quality of life for the patients by avoiding the long-term complications and [emergency department] visits, which inadequate care or lack of access can so often lead to.' Dennis says this would be a welcome relief for herself and others with IBD. 'It would be good for us to be able to enrol in the long-term illness scheme, or at least lowering the cost of the drugs payment scheme for us,' she says. 'I shouldn't have to choose between putting petrol in my car or getting the food and medication which is necessary to control my condition.'
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
The 1 Thing Gastro Doctors Do When They're Constipated On Vacation
We've all been there. You're on a road trip or flying overseas when, a few days into your vacation, you become uncomfortably backed up. You're bloated, your stomach's cramping and no matter how badly you want to go, you can't. Travel constipation, or vacation constipation, occurs when people are unable to have a bowel movement when they're, well, traveling. It's a fairly common experience: estimates suggest it affects about 40% of travelers. The main reason so many people get constipated while traveling is because they fall out of a routine that normally keeps their bowels running smoothly. When you travel, for example, you sit for longer periods of time (in a car, plane or train) and tend to eat, drink and sleep differently. All that change occurring at once can do a number on your digestive tract and make it tough to have a bowel movement, according to Dr. Neena Mohan, a gastroenterologist at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia and an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. Most cases of travel constipation will improve when you get into a routine. But if the thought of waiting that long puts even more knots in your stomach, there are a few things you can do to regulate your gastrointestinal system so stubborn bowels don't ruin your vacation. Here are the general rules gastro doctors follow when they're vacationing and what they recommend for you as well: As we mentioned above, the main reason travel constipation occurs is because people stop adhering to their routine. Our daily routines and rhythms help regulate gastrointestinal physiology, including digestion and gut motility. When we switch things up and, say, take a long flight or car ride, it's natural for the digestive system to fall out of balance. 'Limited movement can contribute to constipation, as decreased physical mobility can slow gastrointestinal motility,' Mohan said. That's why Mohan recommends preserving your regular routine as much as possible when you're on the go. Of course, this can be tricky, especially when you're traveling to a new time zone, but do what you can. 'This can certainly be challenging during vacations, but it can help keep your bowel habits more regular.' Dehydration can make travel constipation worse. Liquids add fluids to the colon to bulk up and soften stools, making it easier to go to the bathroom. Water also lowers the risk of hemorrhoids, which you definitely want to prevent because they can further contribute to constipation, according to Dr. Roopa Vemulapalli, a gastroenterologist and an associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. 'If there is not enough fluid in the body, the colon will absorb extra water from stool, making stool harder in consistency,' Mohan added. While traveling, opt for water, juice or sports drinks, and skip the soda. Carbonated beverages can make constipation worse, Vemulapalli explained. 'It is recommended to drink 0.25 liters of water [8 ounces] for every hour of travel, especially during long journeys.' Another tip: Eat lots of fiber (fruits and veggies, like apples, oranges, small salads and broccoli, Vemulapalli said). These fibery foods can increase the weight and size of your stool and help soften them to keep things running smoothly. Fiber can also stimulate the growth of colonic flora, which help alleviate constipation, according to Mohan. When adding fiber to your diet, you don't want to overdo it. 'Sometimes, overconsumption of fiber can lead to bloating and flatulence, so try gradually increasing fiber intake according to tolerance and its efficacy,' Mohan said. While we're on the topic of foods, you may also want to avoid too many greasy, fatty foods. Because it can take your body longer to break down high-fat, processed foods, they can exacerbate constipation, Mohan said. The more you move, the more the waste in your bowels will move, too. Research shows that exercise helps move foods through the intestines, so try to stay physically active when you're on a trip. 'Walking, hiking and swimming on vacation can help,' Mohan said. If possible, try to schedule some breaks into your journey to get up and move around. If you're traveling by plane or train, take a few short breaks where you can get up and stretch, Mohan recommended. 'Mild physical activity increases colonic muscle contractions while a sedentary position can increase the chances of developing hemorrhoids, which can aggravate constipation and bowel evacuation,' Vemulapalli added. Finally, you'll want make sure you're getting enough sleep. According to Vemulapalli, poor or erratic sleep messes with the circadian rhythms that the gastrointestinal system relies on to keep waste moving through the digestive tract. In addition, evidence suggests a lack of sleep can increase inflammation in the body and impair gut motility. The takeaway: Obtaining enough regular sleep (at least seven hours a night) can lower the chances that you'll be battling constipation throughout your trip. If all else fails, you can always give stool softeners or polyethylene glycol a go, Vemulapalli said. These meds will help draw water into the stool, softening it up and making it easier to excrete. Travel constipation can be a drag, but once you start getting back into a routine — even while you're on the go — your bowels will spring back into action and, with time, clear out. The Most Hygienic Way To Pee On A Plane Is Your Poop Healthy? Check This Clinical Chart To Find Out. If Your Poop Looks Like This, It's Time To See A Doctor
