OVERVIEW Abdominal pain is pain or discomfort that's felt in the stomach area, between your chest and genitals, known as your abdomen or belly region. Abdominal pain can occur for many different reasons, including a stomach virus, indigestion, constipation, or for some people, during menstruation. A

OVERVIEW Commonly referred to as a liver panel or liver enzymes, these are a series of tests that check the functioning of your liver and its performance. While it's not uncommon for a liver panel to be part of your routine health checkup, liver function tests can be used if your gastroenterologist or

OVERVIEW Responsible for the production of hormones and the important role it plays in digestion, your pancreas plays an integral role in your body's digestive system. Damage to your pancreas can lead to inflammation and swelling, a medical condition that's known as pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can be

OVERVIEW Adalimumab (also known as Humira) injections are a type of medication that's used to treat the symptoms of autoimmune disorders like swelling, inflammation, and pain. When prescribed for gut health, adalimumab injections are used for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative

OVERVIEW Ambulatory pH monitoring is an outpatient procedure that is used to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If you're experiencing the symptoms of GERD, which can include heartburn or regurgitation, your board-certified gastroenterologist may recommend ambulatory pH monitoring. It may

OVERVIEW An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the anus as a result of trauma or injury to the anal canal. Most of the time this occurs with constipation, diarrhea, vaginal delivery, or anal sex. The most common symptom is anal pain that can worsen during or after having a bowel movement. Bleeding

OVERVIEW Anemia is a medical condition resulting in a low red blood cell count. Red blood cells are responsible for supplying your body with oxygen. A lack of oxygen delivered to your body's cells can result in shortness of breath or fatigue, as well as a decrease in the functioning of your tissues and

OVERVIEW Anorectal manometry is a test commonly used to check the muscle pressure and function of the anal sphincter and rectal muscles. The better these muscles function, the easier it is for you to pass and eliminate stool from your bowels. Your board-certified gastroenterologist may recommend you

OVERVIEW Part of a class of drugs known as immunosuppressants, azathioprine (also known as Azasan or Imuran), and mercaptopurine—sometimes also referred to as 6-MP or Purixan—are prescribed for patients with the following gastrointestinal conditions: Ulcerative colitis Crohn's Disease Also known

OVERVIEW Barrett's esophagus is a gastrointestinal condition that results in damage and changes to the tissue that lines the wall of your esophagus. The esophagus is a tube that carries food and connects the mouth and stomach. Barrett’s esophagus is a risk factor for the development of esophageal cancer. What

OVERVIEW Also known as a urea breath test (UBT), this test checks your breath to see whether you have an infection caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterial infection of the stomach. This infection is the most common chronic bacterial infection in the world. Over time H. pylori can result

OVERVIEW Hydrogen breath tests are recommended by gastroenterologists for certain gastrointestinal conditions that affect your digestive health. One of these conditions, known as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or SIBO, most commonly results in: Bloating Flatulence Abdominal discomfort Watery

OVERVIEW You may be familiar with different diagnostic procedures like X-rays or MRIs, but CT scans are slightly different. If you've ever heard of a CT scan, you know how important it can be in diagnosing illness and injury. But what exactly is a CT scan, and how does it work? In this article, we'll

OVERVIEW Capsule endoscopy is a procedure that makes use of a wireless camera in a capsule. This type of endoscopy allows your gastroenterologist to get a live look at your small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum), which is the middle portion of the digestive tract. Video images of your gastrointestinal

OVERVIEW An autoimmune disorder, celiac disease (previously known as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy) is triggered by an abnormal immune response when you consume anything with gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and sometimes oats. The resulting immune response causes

OVERVIEW An autoimmune disorder, celiac disease (previously known as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy) is triggered by an abnormal immune response when you consume anything with gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and sometimes oats. The resulting immune response causes