Complications relating to gallstones include: inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), bile duct (cholangitis), and pancreas (biliary pancreatitis); and obstruction of the intestine (gallstone ileus).
Gastrointestinal Health
Gallstones are stone-like deposits that form in the gallbladder. There are 2 main types of gallstones: cholesterol stones and pigment stones.
Gastrointestinal Health
Gallstones that are causing symptoms can be treated by removing the gallbladder using a procedure called cholecystectomy.
Gastrointestinal Health
Preventing constipation is the best way to avoid existing haemorrhoids becoming irritated and new ones forming. Avoid excessive straining and sitting on the toilet for any longer than a few minutes.
Gastrointestinal Health
Hiatus hernia is often diagnosed when doctors investigate reflux with an endoscopy or barium X-ray. The hiatus hernia can show up as a bulge positioned between the oesophagus and your stomach.
Gastrointestinal Health
Heartburn is a common form of indigestion caused by gastro-oesophageal reflux - reflux of stomach contents into the oesophagus (gullet).
Gastrointestinal Health
Symptoms
Sand has more than ten times the levels of bacteria than the nearby water, adding yet another hazard to a day at the beach.
Gastrointestinal Health
Latest Health News
Colon (bowel) polyps are small growths of tissue from the wall of the large bowel or colon. Polyps usually don't cause symptoms, but are normally removed so they don't cause cancer.
Gastrointestinal Health
Find out about oesophageal cancer, including risk factors, causes and symptoms of this disease.
Gastrointestinal Health
There are different types of treatment for bowel cancer depending on what stage the cancer is, that is the type and size of the cancer and whether it has begun to spread.
Bowel cancer awareness
Gastrointestinal Health
Find out about steps you can take to help avoid bowel cancer, or at least catch it early on when cure is still possible.
Gastrointestinal Health
Diagnosis of bowel cancer usually starts with an examination and tests.
Bowel cancer awareness
Gastrointestinal Health
Food poisoning: causes, symptoms and tips on how to prevent it.
Gastrointestinal Health
Barrett's oesophagus affects some people with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Having Barrett's oesophagus increases your risk of developing oesophageal cancer.
Gastrointestinal Health
Diarrhoea is when your bowel movements become loose or watery. Find out the common causes, how to help, serious symptoms, signs of dehydration, and when to see the doctor.
Gastrointestinal Health
Symptoms
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder in which the normal rhythmic movement of your gut (bowel) is disturbed - this can lead to abdominal pain, bloating and excessive gas.
Gastrointestinal Health
Gilbert syndrome is a mild condition in which there is an excess of bilirubin in the blood. You may at times develop mild jaundice, with slight yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.
Gastrointestinal Health
What (and what not) to drink and eat when you have diarrhoea. Also medicines that can help relieve symptoms and when to see the doctor.
Gastrointestinal Health
Cirrhosis of the liver is a severe and irreversible liver disease, where healthy tissue is progressively replaced by scar tissue (fibrosis).
Gastrointestinal Health
People infected with hepatitis C virus can develop chronic (ongoing) infection. Treatment with antivirals can cure hepatitis C and prevent the complications of chronic infection.
Gastrointestinal Health
Liver cancer can start within the liver (called primary liver cancer) or come from other parts of the body and spread to the liver (called secondary liver cancer, or liver metastases).
Gastrointestinal Health
The digestive system is a series of hollow organs such as the stomach and small intestine. Digestion starts in the mouth with the production of enzymes.
Gastrointestinal Health
Medical treatment aims to control Crohn's disease symptoms and bring on a remission of the disease.
Gastrointestinal Health
Ulcerative colitis is one of 2 major types of inflammatory bowel disease — a condition which causes the bowel (colon) to become inflamed. It affects people of all ages, but usually starts between 15 and 30 years.
Gastrointestinal Health