Traveler’s Diarrhea: Avoiding or addressing this unwelcome travel companion

You’re finally on that long-awaited overseas trip when you find yourself repeatedly and frantically running to the bathroom with unwelcome bouts of diarrhea. To top it off, you have explosive gas, cramps, fever, nausea and vomiting, malaise, bloating and loss of appetite. You are the unfortunate victim of traveler’s diarrhea – an illness that can wreck the best made vacation … Read More

Drug-induced liver injury: Are health supplements making you sick?

“Lose Weight!” “Feel Great!” There are more than 50,000 vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplement products on the market, and many of them make some fairly bold promises about bolstering health and improving your life. Do they really perform as advertised, or do they fall short? Worse yet, could some of the supplements actually be causing more harm than good?

Extensive international study unequivocally concludes colorectal cancer screening works

The evidence is in and it could not be clearer – colorectal screening works splendidly. The results of a landmark European study presented recently unequivocally concluded that mortality rates from colorectal cancer drop with proper screening tests. The study was conducted from 1989 to 2010 and was part of the comprehensive Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Philippe … Read More

Tattooing, manicures may increase risk of hepatitis C

It’s graduation time, and many grads are heading to the tattoo studio for their first body art experience. They may want to think twice, or at least take precautions. There has been much discussion lately about the alarming rise in hepatitis C, especially the growing number of deaths from this liver-destroying disease.

Cirrhosis: A Serious Condition

Weighing in at about three pounds, the liver is the largest organ in your body. It also is an important one, carrying out essential functions such as detoxifying harmful substances in your body, purifying your blood and manufacturing vital nutrients.

Your Gallbladder Can Be a Pain

The pear-shaped organ known as the gallbladder may only be three to four inches long, but it can be a large pain if it is not working properly, causing damage to pancreas, liver or even resulting in death if left untreated. The gallbladder is a storage tank for bile produced in the liver until the body needs it for digestion. … Read More