To learn more about GI disorders, click here.

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders affect millions of Americans. In fact, one in four people experience symptoms that limit their daily activity. “These are some of the most common diseases we see today,” says Kamran Ayub, MD, a gastroenterologist with Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital. Some GI disorders include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Gastritis
• Stomach ulcers
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Colon cancer

Although these conditions are common, many people still don’t discuss them – even with their doctors. “Having GI symptoms, like heartburn and abdominal cramps, isn’t normal and shouldn’t be something you just tolerate,” Dr. Ayub says. “We have effective treatments that can manage your condition, but we can’t help until you speak up.”

The first step toward relief
After an initial assessment, a doctor will usually prescribe medication in addition to lifestyle changes. To help treat GI conditions, H-2 receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors are often used.

H-2 receptor blockers, such as Pepcid AC^®, reduce acid production. Although they don’t work as quickly as antacids, they provide longer relief. Too much acid production can damage the esophagus. Proton pump inhibitors, such as Prilosec OTC^®, block acid production so the esophagus can heal. “These have been some of the best selling drugs around the world in the last decade,” Dr. Ayub says.

Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital offers some of the most innovative procedures available to treat GI conditions, including:

Transendoscopic Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs when stomach contents rise into the esophagus because of a weakened sphincter. When medication isn’t successful, surgery is often the next step. In the past, surgeons would create large incisions in the chest and abdomen to tighten the sphincter. Now, though the TIF procedure, surgeons are able to insert an endoscope through the mouth to make repairs. With this advanced procedure, patients recover quicker, there are no incisions or scars and there is less risk for bleeding and infection.

Endoscopic ultrasound
Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital is one of the few institutions in Illinois to offer TIF and a procedure called endoscopic ultrasound. Endoscopic ultrasound uses endoscopy and ultrasonography to diagnose and stage several GI cancers, including those of the esophagus, stomach, lung, pancreas and rectum. “This procedure provides high-resolution images of the GI tract under real time, which allows us to obtain samples from possible tumors more effectively,” Dr. Ayub says.

Part of Adventist Midwest Health’s philosophy is treating the whole person. Dr. Ayub says this is important in every aspect of health care, but especially crucial when treating patients with GI disorders. “Because lifestyle choices, like smoking, can contribute to symptoms, we often need to look at underlying causes and keep health top of mind,” he says. “This results in the best outcome possible.”

For more information, or to find a physician, call us at 866-533-7968.