Can’t seem to lose the weight. What is that all about?
Q. My wife has tried every diet in the world but can’t seem to lose the weight she should. Now she says she wants weight-loss surgery. What is that all about? read more »
What exactly is an EGD?
Q I recently went to my doctor because I’ve had stomach pain. She has ordered an EGD to try to figure out the cause of my pain. What exactly is an EGD?
A. EGD stands for—get ready… esophagogastroduodenoscopy. It’s often called upper GI (gastrointesti-nal) endoscopy. The test is done to look for abnormalities in the upper digestive tract. Specifically, it allows inspection of the esophagus (the tube that con-nects the mouth to the stomach), the stomach, and the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). read more »
I’ve been experiencing a burning sensation on my tongue. What could it be?
Q. I’ve been experiencing a burn-ing sensation on my tongue. It feels like I scorched it while eating or drinking something really hot—but I didn’t. What could it be?
My father says he has had trouble swallowing ... perhaps cancer of the esophagus?
Q. My father says he has had trouble swallowing for the past several months. I’m concerned that he could have something serious, perhaps cancer of the esophagus. What else could it be?
A. Cancer of the esophagus—the tube that connects the mouth and stomach—can indeed cause dys-phagia, or difficulty swallowing. This type of cancer tends to progress quickly, however. By now if this cancer were present, you or your father would prob-ably have noticed other signs—such as weight loss. read more »
The 2005 Nobel Prize for medicine went to 2 doctors who discovered that most stomach ulcers are caused by a bacterium
Q. I read that the 2005 Nobel Prize for medicine went to 2 doctors who discovered that most stomach ulcers are caused by a bacterium. How did they figure that out?
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My 14-year-old niece has many issues with food. Could it be a serious eating disroder?
Q. My 14-year-old niece has many issues with food. Her parents think she’s just being fussy, but the family dentist suspects a serious eating disorder. Could he be right?
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I’m concerned that I may not be getting adequate vitamin D. How much is enough?
Q. I eat a pretty healthy diet and also take a multivitamin. Still, I’m concerned that I may not be getting adequate vitamin D. How much is enough?
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