By Brent Lemberg, MD
Celiac disease has become an increasingly common diagnosis lately. In the United States nearly two million people have it and we suspect many more remain undiagnosed. Celiac disease is an inflammatory condition of the small intestine caused when the body’s immune system reacts to gluten, which is a protein found in the grains wheat, rye, barley, and oats.
By Brent Lemberg, MD
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammation of the intestines that affects one to two million Americans. The inflammation may affect just the colon (the large intestine) but it can include the entire digestive tract. This disease can be difficult to manage; however, recent advances in treatment are very promising and the prognosis for patients with IBD is much better than it was even five years ago.
By Brent Lemberg, MD
Most Americans are aware that alcoholism and hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, but few people understand the risk of cirrhosis from fatty liver disease. An estimated 15 to 20 percent of all Americans have some degree of fatty liver disease, making it the most prevalent liver disease in this country.
By Brent Lemberg, MD
Did you know that 40,000 to 50,000 people in the United States will die of colon cancer this year? It is the second most common cause of cancer death in this country, with 150,000 new cases diagnosed annually. The good news is that in the past 10 years the incidence of colorectal cancer has begun to decline. The reason is that about a decade ago, gastroenterologists started to perform many more screening colonoscopies as health insurance companies began to cover the cost.