The Physicians at Brooklyn Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Associates
November 8th, 2012The Power of Probiotics
May 14th, 2012“Good” bacteria?
Deep inside our intestines, there’s a complex microbial ecosystem, known as the “gut flora” which we now know contains nearly a thousand species of bacteria which may affect our overall health in unimaginable ways!
It has long been recognized that our gastrointestinal system relies heavily on these gut flora or “good bacteria”. They exert a pronounced effect on the nutrients and energy that get pulled out of food. In fact, these bacteria are thought to play a big role in a slew of health conditions, including combating obesity, diabetes, infections, lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, high cholesterol, and even colon cancer. There are many theories as to how these bacteria confer their positive benefits such as an anti-inflammatory effect for the body, increased immunity and therefore healing power after an infection, and even the power to fight off potential cancer cells in a microenvironment by competing for the same nutrients.
New Study: Aspirin May Thwart C. Difficile
October 31st, 2011Dr. Rabin Rahmani studies on Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) were featured at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) press conference this October. Dr. Rabin Rahmani is the newest addition to the Brooklyn Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Associates and the Greater New York Endoscopy Surgical Center. Dr. Rahmani currently serves as Director of medical education and research for department of Gastroenterology at Maimonides Medical Center. Dr. Rahmani has conducted and published extensively on this topic for past few years. Also it is important to mention his studies showed taking probiotics before starting antibiotics reduced the risk of developing antibiotic-associated diarrhea by about 60 percent.
These are some of the materials that were covered at the event:
Aspirin users had a 40% lower risk of Clostridium difficile diarrhea in a retrospective study of almost 30,000 hospitalized patients. The risk declined even further among patients who reported using a 325 mg aspirin as opposed to the 81 mg dose commonly used for cardioprotection.
"Our thought is that perhaps, in addition to the pH change that occurs as a result of aspirin, there is also a decrease in the inflammatory cascade that is present in the gut, which is known to be very important for C. diff infection," told by Dr. Rabin Rahmani.
"We know that toxin A, one of the toxins of C. diff, induces expression of COX-2 [cyclooxygenase 2], so the thought is that perhaps by inhibiting or modulating that, very simply by giving aspirin, you decrease the chances of patients at high risk getting C. diff.
Manage your Constipation
October 4th, 2011Constipation is an extremely common problem. Each year millions of Americans visit their doctor for help. A number of factors can influence this:
1- Constipation occurs more frequently as you get older.
2- Constipation may be a side effect of one of your medications.
3- A sedentary lifestyle can contribute. Remember: “If the body doesn’t move, the bowel doesn’t move!”.
4- Dehydration can cause or worsen constipation.
5- And, of course, your diet plays a very important role in the health of your colon.
How should you manage your constipation?
1- Remember that the bowels are most active following meals, but if you ignore your body’s signals to have a bowel movement, the signals become weaker and weaker over time. By paying close attention to these signals, you may have an easier time moving your bowels.
2- Increasing fiber in your diet. The recommended amount of dietary fiber is 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day. You may need to supplement this with commercial fiber preparations, but do it gradually to avoid bloating.
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Understanding Hemorrhoids
September 14th, 2011Hemorrhoids are inflamed and irritated skin containing blood vessels in the anus. They are a very common problem associated with constipation. One in three Americans will seek a physician in their life time for the treatment of hemorrhoids. About 10 million Americans suffer from them right now! While most people do not feel their hemorrhoids, and they are asymptomatic, many people will present with symptoms at one point of their lives.
In majority of cases, excessive straining, constipation, diarrhea, lifting heavy objects and being overweight can lead to or can exacerbate hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are very common in pregnant patients as well. There are two types of hemorrhoids, internal and external. Internal hemorrhoid typically present with painless bleeding in the toilet bowl or on tissue paper. At times a bulge can be felt by the patients protruding though anus, that is at times is extremely painful. External hemorrhoids typically present with pain, itching and at times severe rectal discomfort.
Hemorrhoids are easily diagnosed by examination of rectal area and are easily treated. Treatment includes medications to control pain and bleeding. In addition as majority of hemorrhoids caused by constipation, high fiber diet and adequate water intake is stressed. Non-surgical treatment modalities are highly effective, long lasting and should be tried first, as the success rate is over 90%. These include laser treatment and tying hemorrhoids with rubber bands. Both procedures take less than 3 minutes to perform and do not require any anesthesia.
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What is Gastritis?
February 17th, 201150% of the world population suffers from Gastritis. As an inflammation, irritation, or erosion of the mucous coat of the stomach wall develops, Gastritis can lead to the disruption of digestion, decrease of working capacity, and a marked feeling of fatigue. It is as common as the cold or flu, and one of the most widely-spread diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
There are numerous causes and factors that can trigger a case of gastritis, but worldwide, the most common is infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria: a microaerophilic bacteria that can deteriorate various areas of the stomach, particularly the antrum. Alcohol consumption, aspirin, cigarette smoke and emotional or physical distress are among the causes of this disease.
What are the main symptoms?
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