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Article Category: Highlights

Well Starts with Digestive Health

Published on March 01, 2022

Last updated 08:23 AM November 03, 2023

Well starts with digestive health

After taking a bite of food, you may not think about its journey through your body. From beginning to end, your digestive system is working hard to keep you healthy.

“Your digestive system plays an essential role in your well-being, helping your body to absorb nutrients, provide energy and fuel for your favorite activities,” explained Wellstar Gastroenterologist Dr. Arif Aziz.

That’s why it’s so important to do your part to protect your gut health.

Wellstar helps your digestive system stay on track, so you can feel your best and keep doing the things you enjoy most.

Care from top to bottom

Your digestive system is made of an entire team of organs: the esophagus, stomach, intestines (small and large), pancreas, liver, gallbladder, rectum and anus.

“With so many parts working together, your digestive system requires expert care to stay well,” said Wellstar Gastroenterologist Dr. Inder Tandon. “Regular check-ups with your Wellstar provider can help identify potential digestive issues early.”

At a routine exam, your provider can screen serious diseases like colorectal cancer and help identify chronic and common digestive conditions.

“If specialized care is needed, your primary care physician can refer you to our expert team of gastroenterologists right away,” Dr. Tandon shared.

Find a Wellstar provider near you and schedule a check-up today.

Catch colorectal cancer early

Most colorectal cancer starts as a growth, or polyp, in the colon or rectum. Because polyps develop slowly over time, you may experience few warning signs and not know you have a medical issue for months, or even years.

That’s why it’s so important to get a colonoscopy—it could save your life. When caught early, colorectal cancer has a 91% survival rate.

People with average risk should have a colonoscopy starting at age 45. Those at high risk or with a family history of colon cancer may start screenings even sooner.

Learn more about colorectal cancer screening.

With so many parts working together, your digestive system requires expert care to stay well. Regular check-ups with your Wellstar provider can help identify potential digestive issues early.

- Dr. Inder Tandon

Wellstar Gastroenterologist

Staying on track

When irregular bowel issues—like constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain or cramps—become a constant concern, your provider can help diagnose and treat the problem.

Your persistent symptoms may be more than an upset stomach. You could have a chronic digestive condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s disease.

Even common concerns, such as constipation, heartburn and diarrhea, should be addressed with your provider if they happen often.

At Wellstar, we understand digestive issues can disrupt your everyday life—and talking about them can be tough.

Wellstar Gastroenterologist Dr. Cameron Body addressed this issue, encouraging patients to be honest about their health.

“Many people may feel uncomfortable discussing digestive issues, but it’s important to speak up and have an open dialogue with your provider,” Dr. Body said. “Wellstar has a team of specialists to help treat your symptoms and keep you feeling well.”

See how our gastroenterologists care for you.

Tips for good gut health

Be proactive about protecting your digestive system, and follow these easy steps to stay well between regular visits with your Wellstar provider.

  • Stay hydrated. Drinking water helps break down food, making it easier for your body to absorb nutrients. Water also keeps things moving in your system and helps prevent constipation.

  • Take it slow. Don’t gulp or swallow foods too quickly. When chewing, your mouth produces enzymes that are key for the digestive process. Chewing slowly may also help you feel full faster and more satisfied after a meal.

  • Focus on fiber. Eating a high-fiber diet keeps your bowel movements regular and can help to decrease the chance of constipation. Boost your fiber intake by eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables and beans.

  • Be in-tune with your emotions. Have you ever been so anxious that you felt sick to your stomach? That’s because your brain and gut are closely connected. Lowering your stress level may help with your mental and digestive health, too.

  • Eat food with probiotics. Probiotics are good bacteria that help your gut stay healthy. Common foods with probiotics include yogurt, sourdough bread, sauerkraut and pickles.

  • Get moving. Exercise helps food move through your digestive system. Low-intensity activity after a meal, such as walking, can also help aid in digestion.

  • Cut smoking & alcohol. Smoking cigarettes and excessive drinking can cause heartburn, acid reflux and even stomach ulcers. Drop these unhealthy habits to reduce your risk of these digestive issues.

By following these tips, you can take control of your digestive health. Looking for more ways to stay well? Learn about preventative screenings to protect your well-being.

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Inder Sumrat Tandon Cameron Bilbro Body Digestive Care
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Highlights

Your Men’s Health Playbook

Your late teens, 20s & 30s
Striving for top health performance
You may feel on top of your game—even unbeatable—In your 20s and 30s. You may be tempted to think, “Why even bother with a physical?” Yet this is training season for building up lifelong healthy habits.

Establish your care coach: In your late teens to early 20s, transition from your pediatrician and establish yourself with a primary care physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant by scheduling a physical.

“When young men show up for preventive care, we talk about the future,” said Dr. Dean Seehusen, chair of Family & Community Medicine at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center in Augusta. “Then we talk about what that’s going to take habit-wise. What you can do in your 60s and 70s is based on what you’re doing in your 20s, 30s and 40s.”

Stay on top of your stats: The information from your annual exam can help you stay on track to live out your vision, measured in part by important health stats—like glucose and cholesterol levels, body mass index and blood pressure. Staying on top of your trending numbers can help prevent heart disease, stroke and diabetes down the road.

It’s also a good time to talk about your vaccine status, such as tetanus (needed every 10 years) and HPV. To protect yourself and your partner, it’s important to test for human papillomavirus. Also known as HPV, it’s the most common sexually transmitted infection and can cause several types of cancer for men and women, even though you likely won’t have symptoms. You may have already received this vaccine in your teens, but if you haven’t yet, it’s recommended through the age of 26.

Men may also consider self-screening for testicular cancer through self-exams during these earlier healthcare years, according to John Aaron III, a physician assistant who cares for patients at Wellstar Family Medicine in Alpharetta.

Look for weaknesses: Make your health team aware of your family medical history, from heart disease and stroke to cancer. This will help them create a personalized health plan for you. You may need screenings or tests for certain health conditions at an earlier age than the average population.

Find a Men’s Health care team near you, including the Wellstar KSU Health Center for Kennesaw State University for students.

 

Keep reading
Former Chicago Cubs outfielder CJ Stewart shares how he faced his colonoscopy fears.

PeopleCare

CJCare

Former former major league baseball player CJ Stewart didn’t want to have a colonoscopy. He dreaded the liquid diet. The needles. The IV sedation. The possibility of cancer.

So how did CJ face his fears—and what happened next?

On track for a heart attack

It started in 2020 when CJ scouted a new primary care provider. He chose Dr. Randy Hines II, Wellstar Primary Care. He said Dr. Hines was the most straightforward doctor he had ever visited.

“I was overweight,” CJ remembered. “My health changed positively because Dr. Hines said things to me in a very positive way. He was direct with me and that helped save my life.”

Dr. Hines learned CJ’s father was a diabetic and had quadruple bypass heart surgery to treat a heart attack. CJ remembered him saying, “‘You’re on track to have the same thing but you can control it.’” 

CJ admitted that he had a daily dose of French fries and two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before bed. Dr. Hines challenged him to rethink his relationship with food if he wanted to see his daughters walk down the aisle one day. It was tough talk and it meant something.

“I really love my daughters!” CJ said. “It made me change.”

As a result, he modified his diet, took up running and lost 45 pounds.

Former Chicago Cubs outfielder CJ Stewart shares how he faced his colonoscopy fears.


Preventing colorectal cancer

Then CJ’s mom revealed a family history of colon cancer.

“My wife and daughters were like, ‘We really need you to go get checked to make sure you’re good,’” he said.

Because of his fears related to the colonoscopy, CJ wanted to have Cologuard, an at-home screening test for colon cancer. But Dr. Hines recommended the 47-year-old have a preventive colonoscopy screening instead, explaining that if pre-cancerous polyps are detected during the procedure, they can be removed before becoming cancerous. 

“I didn’t want to hear it,” CJ laughed. “But hearing that from a fellow African American man, I trusted that it was the right thing to do.”

Keep reading
Person laying down and holding stomach

Highlights

Feeling ‘Backed Up’? Your Care Team Can Help You Fix Constipation

Constipation can be defined as a change in frequency of stool, consistency of stool or both. Normal frequency of bowel movements is thought to be anywhere between three times a day to three times a week. Additionally, having very hard or pellet-like stools is an indication of constipation. 

Constipation can be caused by a variety of things, including dietary changes (like decreased water or fiber intake), thyroid issues, slow gut motility, electrolyte imbalances, medication changes and sometimes even more serious medical disorders such as cancer. 

“It is important to talk to your provider if you’re experiencing an issue with constipation,” said Wellstar Gastroenterologist Dr. Shani Clay. “There are specific laboratory studies and even imaging that can be done to further evaluate abnormal stools. If you're noticing blood in your stool or unexplained weight loss, a colonoscopy may even be warranted to rule out a more serious condition.”

Wellstar gastroenterologists can help you determine the cause of your constipation.

If you are feeling a little “backed up,” there are also a few things you can do to help you have more regular bowel movements. Ensuring you are drinking at least 64 ounces of water daily helps to soften your stool so that it can pass more easily out of the colon. Further, it is important you follow a diet high in fiber. This includes eating things like raspberries, pears, apples with skin, green peas, broccoli, whole wheat spaghetti, oatmeal and black beans. If dietary changes do not work, there are a variety of both over-the-counter and prescribed medications that your provider may recommend to help get you going.

Constipation occurs quite frequently in the general population and may warrant further work-up. Increasing water intake and modifying your diet to include more fiber may help, but it is important that your symptoms are conveyed to your provider in case additional testing needs to be done. Staying regular helps you to feel better, both physically and mentally. Gut health is important, so make sure you are keeping it clean!

Learn more about how you can start healthy habits to benefit your digestive wellness.

Keep reading
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