You’ve waited months for this trip, planned every detail and managed to remember to pack everything you need. But now, it’s Day 2, and you realize you haven’t pooped. Suddenly, you’re panicking. When’s the last time you’ve used the bathroom? “With spring break and summer vacation on the horizon, people will be taking vacations with...
For sufferers of seasonal allergies, spring and summer are not always something to look forward to. Alongside celebratory barbeques and picnics, warm weather means the return of pollen season and unexpected allergy triggers that may be part of these food-centered activities. Oral allergy syndrome (OAS), also known as pollen-food syndrome, is a condition caused by...
In recent years, new products have hit the medical market as alternatives to having a colonoscopy. These alternatives, typically a take-home sample test, have gained popularity due to their convenience and relative non-invasiveness. However, they are far from perfect and not recommended for everyone. Gastroenterologist Dr. Kevin Liebovich of Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Ill.,...
“Why does it hurt so much when I poop?” Rectal pain is one of the most common symptoms encountered in my office. A common cause of rectal pain during bowel movements is external hemorrhoids. However – this is not always the case. I cannot stress enough how many patients enter my office thinking they have...
Constipation is one of the most common ailments troubling patients of all ages, male and female alike. Unfortunately, I find that constipation is also one of the most undertreated conditions when I see patients in my office. Many people tend to ignore constipation and simply “live with it”. By the time a patient with chronic...
Stress, dehydration, a low-fiber diet and even medication can wreak havoc on your GI tract and lead to constipation. Dr. Anshuman Chawla, a gastroenterologist at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Ill., says constipation is a very common problem. “Most of the time, constipation is not related to an illness or digestive disorder. Instead,...
