“Take a few billion bacteria and call me in the morning.” With all the advertising attention paid to probiotics these days, it seems that this unlikely remedy might be the best prescription for many ailments. Are the results as good as advertised, and are these “good” bacteria really safe? Recent research sheds some light on the subject.
GIA physicians routinely exceed national quality goal for colonoscopy
The specialist physicians at Gastrointestinal Associates who perform patient colonoscopies have consistently surpassed an important national quality benchmark for that procedure. The American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy set a benchmark of 95 for the percentage of colonoscopies in which the entirety of the colon was examined.
Behind the scenes: Highest caliber, fellowship-trained pathologists examine all patient specimens in GIA’s on-premises laboratory
Patients are accustomed to developing face-to-face relationships with their physician, the practice nurses and even the front desk staff. Delivering health care is a very personal endeavor. Conversely, laboratory services can be very impersonal, with many giant commercial labs located thousands of miles away from physician practices and patients.
The CRH O’Regan system offers hemorrhoid patients a simple, painless and quick treatment option
For hemorrhoid sufferers, the idea that there exists a quick, painless treatment that causes hemorrhoids to literally heal and “fall off” probably seems like wishful thinking. About half of adults 50 or older develop hemorrhoids, which are simply cushions of tissue in the rectum that get pushed into the anal canal, and frequently protrude outside the anus. They are painful, … Read More
May is National Celiac Awareness Month
Gastrointestinal Associates’ Dr. Sarkis Chobanian appeared on WBIR-Channel 10 to discuss the increasing prevalence of the disease caused by gluten intolerance. His recent blog article on the subject helps explain why more people are dealing with a celiac disease diagnosis.
May is National Celiac Disease Awareness Month
If it seems like you’re hearing more about gluten-free diets and celiac disease, you are. The condition is increasingly common. According to a several recent studies reported in The American Journal of Gastroenterology, celiac disease is an increasingly common disease that affects 3.1 million Americans. Celiac disease is an immune-based reaction to dietary gluten (a protein contained in wheat, barley, … Read More
GIA’s gastroenterologists have fun while videotaping Fox 43 TV spot
Who says physicians have to be serious all the time? GIA’s gastroenterologists have a little fun while videotaping this Fox 43 TV spot that helps raise awareness that colon cancer is preventable and treatable through screenings. Watch here.
Study Finds No Link between B Vitamin Supplements and Colon Cancer Risk
For some time, researchers have had mixed opinions as to the effect of B vitamins on the risk of colon cancer. Some have suggested that these vitamins might increase the risk of pre-cancerous lesions, while others believed they might provide some preventive benefit.
Are Antibiotics Making Patients Sick?
When you get sick, do you immediately think a prescription for antibiotics would help? Worse yet, do you take what’s left of an old antibiotic prescription? There is no doubt that antibiotics can be a vitally important medical tool that are effective in treating bacterial infections, certain fungal infections and some kinds of parasites. They are not, however, useful in … Read More
Statins May Reduce Esophageal Cancer Risk
A recent study indicates that statins, the cholesterol-reducing drugs taken by millions of Americans, may have the added benefit of reducing the risk of developing esophageal cancer (cancer of the esophagus).