2. To prevent excessive belching, avoid: 

•     Carbonated beverages
•     Chewing gum
•     Hard candies

3. Abdominal bloating and discomfort may be due to intestinal sensitivity or symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. To relieve symptoms, avoid: 

•     Broccoli
•     Baked beans
•     Cabbage
•     Carbonated drinks
•     Cauliflower
•     Chewing gum
•     Hard candy

4. Abdominal distention resulting from weak abdominal muscles: 

•   Is better in the morning
•   Gets worse as the day progresses
•   Is relieved by lying down

5.     To prevent Abdominal distention: 

• Tighten abdominal muscles by pulling in your stomach several times during the day
• So sit-up exercises if possible
• Wear an abdominal support garment if exercise is too difficult

6.     Flatulence is gas created through bacterial action in the bowel and passed rectally. Keep in mind that: 

• 10-18 passages per day are normal
• Primary gases are harmless and odorless
• Noticeable smells are trace gases related to food intake

7.     Foods that are likely to form gas include: 

• Milk, dairy products, and medications that contain lactose--If your body doesn't produce the enzyme (lactase) to break it down.
• Certain vegetables--baked beans, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage
• Certain starches--wheat, oats, corn, potatoes. Rice is a good substitute.

8.     If flatulence is a concern, see your doctor to determine if you are lactose intolerant. 

9.     Identify offending foods. Reduce or eliminate these gas-forming foods from your diet. 

10.   Activated Charcoal may provide some benefit. 


8 Tips on Peptic Ulcer Disease

1.  Ulcers are "sores" that frequently affect the stomach and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). 
2. Bacterial infection is the most common cause of duodenal ulcers. 
3. Stomach ulcers are often a side effect of pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs used primarily to treat arthritis. 
4. Alcohol ingestion, cigarette smoking, and emotional stress may also influence the development of an ulcer or interfere with its healing. 
5. Upper abdominal pain is the most common symptom of ulcers, but many ulcers cause no symptoms at all. 
6. Ulcers may hemorrhage (bleeding) into the gastrointestinal tract; this results in the passage of black ("tarry") stool. Very serious ulcer disease may also cause a blockage between the stomach and small intestine and this complication results in persistent vomiting. Severe pain results from the most urgent complication of ulcers - peritonitis caused by a tear through the wall of the stomach or duodenum. 
7. Almost all ulcers can be treated successfully, usually without surgery. Many ulcers can be prevented. 
8. Ulcer treatments include antibiotics, agents that neutralize gastric acid or reduce its secretion, and drugs that strengthen the resistance of the stomach and duodenum. 


5 Tips on Swallowing and Heartburn

1. Abnormal swallowing is commonly perceived as food "sticking on the way down." If this complaint persists, it is sometimes due to a serious condition and should always prompt medical attention. 

2. Swallowing difficulty may be caused by a number of different problems including: 

• Poor or incomplete chewing (possibly the result of dental problems, poorly fitted dentures, or eating too quickly)
• Abnormal muscle contraction
• Scar tissue from chronic inflammation
• Infection
• Cancer

3. Heartburn is a very common problem caused by regurgitation or reflux of gastric acid into the esophagus, which connects the mouth 
    and the stomach. 

4. Heartburn can often be eliminated by avoiding: 

• Smoking
• Fatty food in the diet
• Caffeine
• Chocolate
• Peppermint
• Overeating
• Bed-time snacks
• Tight-fitting clothes that constrict the abdomen
• Certain medications
• Heavy lifting, straining

5. It is important to consider the possibility of heart disease before attributing any kind of chest pain to gastroesophageal reflux. 


5 Tips on Nutrition and Aging

1. Nutrition plays a role in cardiovascular disease, some malignancies, adult-onset diabetes, osteoporosis, alcoholism, and recovery from major injury. 

2. Malnutrition can weaken the immune system, impair healing following surgery or injury, lessen mobility, and reduce mental capabilities and function. It is common in older adults. 

3. To maintain good health, total fat intake should be reduced to 30% or less of calories. Saturated fat intake should only account for 10% (one third of fat calories). Salt and alcohol intake also should be limited. 

4. Dietary fat content composed primarily of monounsaturated fat (eg, olive oil) and polyunsaturated fat (eg, canola, corn and fish oils) may be associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease. 

5. Foods to be avoided include whole milk and dairy products (ice cream, cheese, butter); commercially baked goods (cookies and crackers); hot dogs, ham, and cold cuts; and oils, gravies, and salad dressing. 


5 Tips on Gallstone Disease

1. Gallstones typically develop over many years, although they can form in months. Gallstones are present in about 20% of women and 10% of men over the age of 55. 

2. There are two basic types of gallstones: cholesterol and pigment. Cholesterol gallstones are the most common type in the United States. 

3.  About 75% of gallstones do not cause symptoms. The most common symptom caused by gallbladder stones is episodic upper abdominal pain. 

4. For healthy patients who have no symptoms, no therapy or change in diet is needed. Patients with uncomplicated symptomatic gallbladder stones should reduce dietary fat and consider surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). An alternate approach is oral bile acid therapy. For complicated disease, gallbladder removal is warranted. 

5. Patients who undergo rapid weight loss are at risk for the development of small cholesterol gallstones and may benefit from bile acid therapy. Gallstones can seldom be prevented, although a low-fat diet may provide some protective benefit. 


6 Tips on Hepatitis

1. Five different hepatitis viruses have been identified: type A; type B; type C; type D, or delta virus; and type E. Type A is probably the most prevalent         type of viral hepatitis worldwide, followed by types B, E, C, and D. 

2. Hepatitis A and E are transmitted through fecally contaminated food or water. Other modes of transmission include needle sharing among intravenous drug abusers; sexual contact; maternal transmission; and transmission by blood transfusion. 

3. A simple blood test is used to determine that a person has one or more of the different types of hepatitis. 

4. Acute hepatitis is typically characterized by flu-like symptoms (including fever, headaches, fatigue, nausea and vomiting) and jaundice. Chronic hepatitis is often asymptomatic. 

5. Vaccines are available to protect against hepatitis A and B. Additionally, immune globulin for hepatitis A or hepatitis B is recommended when someone has been exposed to an infected person. 

6. Among the ways to care for your liver are: limiting alcohol consumption; avoiding liver- damaging drugs; practicing safe sex; avoiding use of illegal drugs; avoiding high doses of vitamins unless prescribed; avoiding tattoos and the sharing of razors; not eating raw shellfish from questionable sources; and carefully following directions for use of toxic substances (e.g., cleaning products). 


4 Tips on Circulatory Disorders of the GI Tract

1. The small intestine and the colon have a relatively restricted blood supply and are frequently affected by circulatory disorders, whereas the esophagus, stomach, and rectum are well supplied with blood and are only occasionally involved in circulatory disturbances. 

2. The colon is commonly affected by ischemia (reduction of blood flow to a level not permitting normal function). In most cases, symptoms subside within days and healing is seen within 2 weeks. Antibiotics and bowel rest usually suffice. In complicated disease, damaged parts of the colon must be removed surgically. 

3. Acute mesenteric ischemia results from inadequate circulation of blood to the small intestine. Treatment is aimed at dilating (opening) the blood vessels with drugs and/or surgery to restore intestinal blood flow and to remove any irreversibly damaged bowel. 

4. Chronic mesenteric ischemia results when blood flow to the small intestine is reduced to an insufficient level. It causes pain associated with eating. Surgery is often warranted to correct the problem.