Martin Health System | For your health | Winter 2018

martinhealth.org 5 WELCOME! The newest members of the Martin Health Physician Group gastroenterology team: Arif Ishmael, MD, and Erika Madrigal, MD, in our Stuart office, and Juan Bird, MD, in our Port St. Lucie locations. GET HELP In general, you should contact your doctor if your digestive symptoms include: • Abdominal pain that is steady, severe or recurring; interferes with your routine; or wakes you up. • Appetite loss or unexplained weight loss. • A fever. • Trouble swallowing. • A change in bowel habits. ULCERS These sores in the stomach or small intestine are usually no larger than a pencil eraser. The most common symptom is a burning or gnawing pain in the upper abdomen between meals. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting and weight loss. Ulcers used to be blamed on stress or spicy food, but actually most are caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori , which can be detected with a blood, breath or stool test. If H. pylori isn’t found, the ulcer is likely caused by the regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen. If you have sharp, persistent stomach pain; bloody or black stools; bloody vomit; or vomit that looks like coffee grounds, call your doctor right away. These may be symptoms of a serious ulcer complication. IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS) IBS—which affects twice as many women as men—is a different sort of digestive problem. It’s not a defect, it doesn’t show up on tests and its cause is unknown. Instead, IBS is marked by a group of symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhea. These unpredictable and sometimes life-disrupting symptoms may come from a problem with how the brain and gut interact. Diet, stress and menstrual cycle hormones may make symptoms worse. There is no cure for IBS, but symptoms can often be man- aged by: • Eliminating gas-producing foods—like beans, cabbage and carbonated drinks—and adding more fiber. Eating smaller meals more often may also help. • Reducing stress. • Taking fiber supplements, laxatives or antidepressants. Talk with your doctor about finding what works best for your symptoms.