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
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.
New study finds screening colonoscopy reduces colon cancer death risk by 70 percent
A new study supports what gastroenterologists have preached to their patients for decades, having a screening colonoscopy greatly reduces the risk of developing colon cancer. Now they know by how much. The study, published in the March 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that for average-risk people, screening colonoscopies produced a 70 percent reduction in risk for … Read More
Study findings: diabetics may benefit from earlier colonoscopies
A pair of physician researchers reported in May they have found a connection between diabetics and a higher incidence of precancerous polyps, leading to a recommendation that Type 2 diabetics may need to begin colorectal screenings earlier than the typical age 50. The researchers, Dr. Honga Vu, a clinical gastroenterology fellow at Washington University and Dr. John Petrini, a gastroenterologist … Read More
GIA’s Top 10 Digestive Habits to Avoid or Adopt
Digestive health is affected by age, genetics and personal habits — all the more reason to know the ways in which you can improve your daily eating routine and digestive lifestyle. Here are 10 of the worst digestive health habits and why they are so bad for you:
Is your medication causing diarrhea?
The Federal Drug Administration has recently warned that some common acid-reducing medications may increase the risk of Clostridium difficile (C-diff) infection-related diarrhea. C-diff is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation and damage to the lining of the colon leading to severe diarrhea. Typically the infection occurs after antibiotic therapy, when too much helpful bacteria has been destroyed allowing the C-diff … Read More
Patients are the true test of performance quality
Gastrointestinal Associates is committed to providing our patients with top quality medical care, whether you are coming in for an office visit or are a patient at one of our Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs). But how do you measure quality?
Leading the way in GI Healthcare
We are proud to be a national leader in research and technology in the field of gastrointestinal disease. At GIA, our goal is to advance the treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal illness and provide the best state-of-the-art health care for our patients.