Digestive health centre

News and features related to digestive disorders

1. Probiotics may prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhoea
   

   Taking antibiotics can disturb the digestive system and result in symptoms such as diarrhoea, which occurs in around one patient in every three who takes an antibiotic. This is called antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, and is a common reason why people don't complete their course of antibiotics. Recen

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2. Keyhole surgery cuts risk of bowel complications
   

   All types of surgery have some risks. Surgery to the abdomen, which includes gynaecological surgery such as a hysterectomy or surgery to remove gallstones, can cause scar tissue which obstructs the bowel - a painful and dangerous condition that is usually treated with emergency surgery. Doctors are

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3. IBS: Hypnosis an effective treatment
   

   19th April 2012 - Hypnosis can be a highly effective treatment for the bowel disorder IBS according to new research. The treatment of IBS using hypnotherapy has been studied before but only at highly specialised "hypnotherapy centres", two new Swedish studies evaluated a form of treatment that could

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4. Is removing the appendix always needed in appendicitis?
   

   If you have appendicitis, it means that your appendix is inflamed and doctors will normally suggest surgery to remove your appendix. This operation is called an appendicectomy and most people recover well. If you aren't healthy enough to have surgery, your doctor might recommend that you have antibi

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5. Heartburn organisations
   

   CORE funds research into gut, liver, intestinal and bowel illnesses. It is called Core “because the digestive system is at the core of our body and a good digestive system is the core of good health”.  It provides information on many conditions, including heartburn and gastro-oesophageal reflux.

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6. Keyhole operations best for hernia repair
   

   If you have a hernia in your groin (called an inguinal hernia), doctors will often recommend an operation to repair it. An inguinal hernia is a bulge you can see or feel in your groin, caused by a weak spot in the muscles in your abdomen. To repair the hernia, a surgeon will usually push the lump ba

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7. Improvements needed in Crohn's and colitis care
   

   21st February 2012 - The number of patients dying after being admitted to hospital with ulcerative colitis has fallen by a half over a six year period, according to an audit. The report says there have been a number of improvements in care for people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, alth

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8. Long-term use of indigestion drugs may increase hip fracture risk
   

   Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are drugs that are often taken by people who have gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), sometimes called heartburn. This is when you have an uncomfortable burning feeling caused by acid from your stomach flowing up into your oesophagus, the tube that carries food fr

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9. New food labels for people on a gluten-free diet
   

   13th January 2012 - It's estimated that one in 100 people in the UK has the autoimmune digestive condition, coeliac disease, and has to avoid gluten in food. This month new laws on labelling gluten in food have been introduced. They mean the phrase ‘suitable for coeliacs' can’t be used on its own Co

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10. Tighter rules for managing norovirus
    

    30th November 2011 - Patients with novovirus should be treated in single rooms or bays to prevent whole hospitals from being closed, new guidelines say. Outbreaks of the winter vomiting bug have frequently led to ward closures and the virus is estimated to cost the NHS more than £100 million each ye

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