| Are You Suffering from Stomach Problems?
Learn About Treatment Options at Upcoming Health and Wellness Seminar Tri-City Voice,
October 1, 2008
Do you ever have heartburn? Stomach
pain? Abdominal gas and bloating?
Nearly everyone suffers from some sort
of digestive problem at one time or
another. Such discomforts generally
subside fairly quickly. Recurring
symptoms, however, may indicate a more
serious condition.
“It’s normal to have stomach upsets from
time to time,” says Washington Township
Medical Group gastroenterologist Dr.
Annamalai Veerappan. “If you have
frequent indigestion, though, it helps
to understand what is causing your
problems and what your treatment options
are.”
To promote greater awareness of
digestive disorders, Washington Hospital
will conduct a Health & Wellness seminar
on Tuesday, October 7 from 1 to 2:30
p.m. The seminar, featuring Dr.
Veerappan, will be held at the
Conference Center adjacent to the
Nakamura Clinic at 33077 Alvarado-Niles
Road in Union City. For more
information about the Health & Wellness
seminar, or to register to attend,
please call (800) 963-7070.
Among the topics Dr. Veerappan will
discuss are gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD), peptic ulcers and
abdominal gas.
GERD
“Gastroesophageal reflux disease,
commonly known as heartburn, is one of
the most common digestive problems,” Dr.
Veerappan says. “Sometimes the sphincter
muscles between the esophagus (or food
pipe) and the stomach relax
inappropriately. Then acid from the
stomach moves up into the esophagus and
produces a burning sensation in the
chest, which is why they call it
heartburn. It’s normal to have some
brief episodes of heartburn after a full
meal. In some people, though, the
sphincter muscles are weakened and allow
acid up into the esophagus frequently.
That’s when we would consider it to be
reflux disease. ”
Dr. Veerappan notes that the problem
generally can be treated by making a
variety of lifestyle changes such as
avoiding spicy and fatty foods,
caffeine, chocolate, mints and alcohol.
He also advises avoiding both large
meals and eating late at night, smoking
and tight-fitting clothes. Patients who
are overweight may benefit from losing
weight. In most cases, raising the head
of the bed four to six inches can help.
Medications also can be useful.
“Some people can alleviate their
heartburn with the use of
over-the-counter antacids such as
Mylanta or Maalox,” he says. “If those
don’t suffice, the patient can progress
to medications called H2 blockers.
These drugs, such as famotidine (Pepcid)
or ranitidine (Zantac), block the
histamine receptors in the stomach that
produce gastric acid. For frequent,
persistent heartburn, people might use
more potent medications called proton
pump inhibitors, such as
over-the-counter Prilosec or
prescription drugs such as Nexium.
These medications are all very
effective, but in rare cases when a
patient doesn’t respond to medications,
it may require surgery to correct the
problem. Fortunately, this surgery can
now be done laparoscopically, so it is
less invasive.”
Peptic Ulcers
Another fairly common digestive ailment
is that of peptic ulcers, which can
occur in either the stomach or the
duodenum, the first portion of the small
intestine. The most common symptom of
an ulcer is a burning pain in the
stomach, between the breastbone and
navel. The pain is most common when the
stomach is empty, but it can occur at
any time. Other symptoms may include
nausea, vomiting or blood in the stool.
“More than 90 percent of ulcers are
caused by overuse of medicines such as
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories
including aspirin and ibuprophen or by
an infection of H. pylori bacteria,” Dr.
Veerappan says. “These ulcers can be
treated with medications such as H2
blockers and proton pump inhibitors and,
in cases where H. pylori bacteria is
present, antibiotics. We also advise
patients with ulcers to use alternatives
to aspirin and ibuprophen – medications
such as Tylenol or Celebrex do not
irritate the stomach as much.”
Dr. Veerappan notes that untreated
peptic ulcers can result in
complications such as internal bleeding,
dramatic weight loss, perforation of the
duodenum or stomach, and obstructions
from scarring that prevent food from
continuing down the gastrointestinal
tract.
Abdominal Gas
“Forming and passing gas is absolutely
normal – everyone does it,” Dr.
Veerappan remarks, “but some people
produce more gas than others. For
example, people with a disorder such as
irritable bowel syndrome or lactose
intolerance would produce more gas.
Another cause of excess gas production
is swallowing too much air, which can
happen when you eat too fast, chew gum
(especially with your mouth open), drink
carbonated beverages or hyperventilate
when you are overly anxious.”
Excess gas also can result when the
normally harmless bacteria in the large
and small bowel act on incompletely
digested carbohydrates to produce gas.
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli,
cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts
and asparagus are common culprits.
People with lactose intolerance are
unable to break down the carbohydrate
component of milk.
“Obviously, the first line of treatment
would be to avoid those foods that are
causing the problem,” Dr. Veerappan
advises. “Also, there are various
over-the-counter drugs containing
simethicone – an ingredient that breaks
up gas bubbles in the stomach or
intestine. Some examples would include
Gas-X, Mylanta, Maalox and
Pepto-Bismol. Another product, Beano,
contains an enzyme that breaks down
complex carbohydrates, making them more
digestible and thus reducing gas
production. Some people also might
benefit from taking activated charcoal
capsules.”
If problems with excess gas and bloating
continue despite diet changes and
medications, you should ask your doctor
for examination to rule out any
significant disorders such as irritable
bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease,
colitis, malignancies or malabsorption
syndromes.
“It’s important for people to recognize
how valuable their digestive health is,”
Dr. Veerappan says. “If you experience
problems with your digestive system,
don’t hesitate to consult your
physician.”
Health &Wellness Seminar Information
Topic:
Are You Suffering From Stomach Problems?
When:
Tuesday, October 7
Time:
1 to 2:30 p.m.
Location:
Conference Center adjacent to the
Nakamura Clinic at 33077 Alvarado-Niles
Road in Union City.
Call:
(800) 963-7070 to register |
