Posts

Dr. Akram Ismail - How a Gastroenterologist Can Keep Your Liver Healthy

Image
It’s no secret that a gastroenterologist is who you need to see for digestive problems or to have a colonoscopy. However, the exact scope of care provided by a gastroenterologist is often misunderstood. Beyond the gastrointestinal tract, these specialists also care for other organs that are involved in the process of digestion, including the gallbladder, pancreas, and liver. Location and Function of the Liver The liver is located on the right side of the abdomen, above the gallbladder. It is divided into two separate lobes. As part of its role in digestive health, the liver is responsible for filtering blood and processing nutrients from the digestive tract, as well as secreting bile to aid in the digestion of fat. Additionally, it is responsible for detoxifying chemicals which could be potentially harmful to the body and metabolizing drugs. Diseases that Affect the Liver Given the vital role it plays in healthy body function, disease of the liver can be serious and requires proper med...

Dr. Akram Ismail - Health Benefits Of Digestive Enzymes

Image
What are digestive enzymes and how do they support health and wellness? Digestive enzymes are proteins that are primarily produced in the small intestine and pancreas, as well as in saliva, that help break down the foods we eat into nutrients that can be absorbed and used by the body. Overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine (SIBO), Celiac Disease, and Pancreatic Insufficiency are all medical conditions that can lead to a lack of digestive enzymes the body needs to break down food, causing significant GI symptoms. People with these medical conditions often benefit from digestive enzyme supplements. In addition, people who are lactose intolerant and or who consume primarily plant based diets may also benefit from digestive enzymes to avoid gastrointestinal symptoms. Digestive Enzymes and Neuro-Developmental Disorders Kids with neuro-developmental disorders often experience higher instances of digestion issues related to food intolerance, sensitivities, and/or allergies and may bene...

Dr. Akram Ismail - Gall bladder diseases

Image
The gall bladder is a small sack attached to the liver. It’s function is to store the bill which is excreted by the liver. It then provides this bile to the intestine when it’s needed to digest ingested fat. Diseased gall bladder occur in two forms. Either it becomes lazy and inflamed. Or develops stones that can cause problems. Gall bladder disease is common among middle age females. Symptoms of gall bladder disease include: Abdominal discomfort when eating fatty meal or pain at the right upper part of the abdomen. Other systems are usually related to the presence of stones. When one of the stones gets outside the sack to the ducts that lead to the bowels. When a stone gets stuck in the ducts, it could block the pancreatic and/or the bile dusts. Blocking of the bile ducts can cause jaundice which is yellowish discoloration of the skin and the eyes. Blocking of the pancreatic duct can cause pancreatitis which can lead to severe pain in the upper part of the abdomen that radiate to the ...

Dr. Akram Ismail — Colon Cancer

Image
C olon cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths in developed countries. Hundreds of thousands of people die every year from colon cancer. It is a preventable disease. Rare cases of colon cancer are caused by inherited disease but in the majority of people, it starts as benign tumor that grows in the colon as we get older. As time goes by, these benign tumors turn malignant and eventually spread and cause death. The benign tumors of the colon are called polyps. Colon polyps cause no symptoms. That is why there is no early warning signs for colon cancer. As the benign tumors turn malignant they start causing signs. The most common early sign of colon cancer is bleeding. Most of the time the bleeding is very little that can’t be seen or noticed except by specific tests. That slow gut bleeding eventually cause anemia and low iron level in the blood. Therefore the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia in elderly men and non menstruating elderly women is colon cancer. Some of the ...

Dr. Akram Ismail - 8 Remedies To Relieve Constipation

Image
If you find yourself having difficulty going to the toilet and emptying your bowels, there are a number of non-medical methods to encourage a dormant gut to relieve you of constipation. In this article, we cover some ideas you can try at home to remedy constipation and encourage bowel movements. Firstly, if you notice a change in your regular pattern, you shouldn’t start to worry. If you make a few simple changes, you are likely to find yourself getting back to normal habits. If you are in need of immediate constipation relief, you may consider one or more of the following to encourage your gut to get back to normal (though we acknowledge prune juice may not be to everyone’s taste). Natural Constipation Remedies to Empty Your Bowels Lemon juice – a cleansing way to encourage bowel movements is to try taking a glass of water mixed with the juice of half a lemon before bed and when you wake up. You may want to drink with a straw as you could find your teeth becoming sensitive after a reg...

Dr. Akram Ismail - 7 Tips To Fight Disease And Strengthen Immunity

Image
When it comes to your health, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Follow these everyday lifestyle habits to give your immune system everything it needs to fend off illness and function at its best. 1. EAT HEALTHY A healthy immune system must be fueled with nutritious food. That means a diet with plenty of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, and time-tested immune boosters like fresh garlic, spinach, citrus and, yes, even chicken soup. 2. GET ADEQUATE SLEEP Getting less than the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep can lower your immunity, putting you at greater risk for diseases like diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. In addition, your body makes and releases disease-fighting substances while you sleep. 3. EXERCISE Important to overall good health, regular exercise keeps your body strong to protect against diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, bone loss and some cancers. Regular, moderate exercise helps circulate cells that attack viruses and bacteria, and lo...

Dr. Akram Ismail - Gastroenterology Specialists - What Can They Treat?

Image
Physicians who specialize in gastroenterology diagnose and treat the digestive systems of the body. This is a complex field. Medical practitioners who specialize in the field of gastroenterology diagnose and treat many portions of the body's digestive systems. Gastroenterologists are grouped with the focus of hepatology in order to offer diagnostics, treatment and preventative care for more than just the stomach. There are many organs and body parts that play a part in digestion including the colon, intestine, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, esophagus and stomach. The food that we eat goes through many channels and stages in order to nourish our bodies. According to Dr. Akram Ismail , Some of the treatment services these physicians may offer include: Constipation: Constipation can occur for many different reasons. Diet can be a component as can dehydration and lack of exercise. Function of the rectum and pelvic floor must also be tested for proper workability. Fecal incontinence: On ...