You, a relative or friend may be suffering from one or more of the troublesome digestive symptoms we effectively diagnose and treat daily at our Plano Gastroenterology Clinic. Dr. Kenneth Brown understands the stress that being unwell can bring, and works diligently with his medical team and patients to effectively diagnose and prescribe the appropriate treatment plan to improve their health.
Dr. Brown encourages you to use the information he’s created on the individual symptom pages to better educate yourself and gain an understanding of digestive symptom causes, recommended treatments and when to see a physician. It’s understood that some GI related symptoms can be embarrassing, but our practice deals with them daily and we will do our best to make you feel comfortable. For more information on any of these or other symptoms contact his clinic at 972-867-0019 or request an appointment online.
Common Gastrointestinal (GI) Symptoms
Learn about the causes of common GI symptoms and when you should see a doctor.
Digestive Symptoms and an Unhealthy Gut
There are several facets to digestive health or intestinal health that all contribute to our overall health and well-being. When our digestive system is not functioning as it should, we are susceptible to uncomfortable symptoms, getting sick or even developing a disease. Most people don’t realize that many diseases originate in the gut – such as eczema and psoriasis.
The National Health Institute notes that 70 million Americans are affected by digestive diseases. With such a large percentage of the population incurring digestive problems, I wanted to provide an overview of the key components and functions of your digestive system:
- Bacteria – We have over 500 species of bacteria in our gut that helps us digest food, excrete toxins, regulate hormones and produce compounds that help us stay healthy. Keeping these bacteria in balance is key to a healthy gut.
- GI Tract Lining – If these protective layers are damaged it will cause inflammation, which can lead to various digestive conditions or diseases like colon cancer if not treated.
- Enteric Nervous System (ENS) – Often referred to as our second brain, the ENS contains over 100 million neurons that can control our daily digestion process of breaking down food, absorbing nutrients and excreting waste.
- Waste – Evacuating waste and toxins is important to our health.
- Process Food – Our digestive system breaks down the food we eat and distributes the nutrients into our bloodstream, which nourishes our bodies.
When one or several of these factors are not in balance and working properly we can experience digestive symptoms like bloating and rectal bleeding. I feel it is important for patients to be familiar with the complexity of the digestive system and how important it is to their overall health.
Dr. Brown hopes that the content on the individual digestive symptom pages will help provide additional insight into digestive health issues and perhaps dispel some of the confusion, frustration and/or embarrassment these symptoms can cause. Please explore the symptoms by clicking on the links towards the top of the page or call Dr. Brown’s practice if you need to schedule an appointment at 972-867-0019.
Disclaimer: The information presented on this website is not intended to take the place of your personal physician’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Discuss this information with your healthcare provider to determine what is right for you. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical condition