Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory bowel disease is a name given to a group of chronic digestive diseases of the small and large intestines, including colitis, proctitis, enteritis and ileitis. Typically, doctors divide IBD into two groups: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Ulcerative colitis causes ulcers and inflammation of the lining of the colon (large intestine). It almost always involves the rectum and usually causes a bloody diarrhea.

Crohn’s disease is an inflammation that extends into the deeper layers of the intestinal wall. In about 30 percent of cases the disease is limited to one or more segments of the small intestine, usually the ileum (ileitis); about 50 percent of the time it involves both the ileum and the colon (ileocolitis); and 20 percent of the time it is confined to the colon (Crohn’s colitis). Inflammation may also affect the mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, appendix or anus.

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are chronic conditions that may recur over a lifetime. Many people have long periods – sometimes years – when they are symptom-free. Unfortunately, doctors cannot predict with certainty when the disease will go into remission or when the symptoms will return.

There is good news for southerners, however.

In the study, a group of Boston researchers followed nearly 120,000 female nurses over a 20-year period. At the study’s inception none of the participants had inflammatory bowel disease. Over the course of the study, 284 participants developed Crohn’s disease and 332 developed ulcerative colitis.

Women who lived in southern latitudes at age 30 were about 50 percent less likely to have Crohn’s disease and about one-third less likely to have ulcerative colitis than those who lived in the north. Those born in the South or living in the South at age 15 also fared better, but the findings for that group were not as significant. Sunanda Kane, MD, a gastroenterologist with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said there is no reason to believe the findings would not also apply to men.

Researchers are working to determine cause and effect, and studies are underway to look at whether or not vitamin D supplements will help relieve symptoms of Crohn’s disease. In the meantime, southern women can bask in the knowledge that they have a reduced risk of inflammatory bowel disease.

Bisphosphonate, an ingredient in medications such as Boniva, Actonel and Fosamax, has been linked to stomach pain, heartburn and ulcers. A recent Oxford University Study has revealed that taking these drugs could possibly double your chances of esophageal cancer, indicating that the risk of esophageal cancer increases slightly after just one dose of a bisphosphonate-containing medicine.

To date, the connection between bisphosphonates and esophageal cancer has not been confirmed by the Food and Drug Administration, nor has the FDA ordered label warnings for these medications. However, there is an increased incidence of gastrointestinal discomfort with these drugs.

Common side effects like stomach pain, heartburn and ulcers, though non-life-threatening, can negatively impact your day-to-day life. However, if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions, these side effects can sometimes be lessened or avoided. The manufacturer advises:

• Drink a full glass of water before taking medication
• Take medication on an empty stomach
• Sit upright and don’t drink or eat for at least 30 minutes after taking medication

If you are taking drugs that contain bisphosphonates and your symptoms cannot be controlled through these measures, talk with your doctor about alternative treatment options.

As medical practitioners, we were able to share new methods and technologies that make our practices run more smoothly and improve patient experiences. We discussed everything from practice integration and data exchange to the use of blogging and websites to keep patients informed.

We were also pleased to have former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Sr., MD, as our keynote speaker. He brought us his perspective on health care reform as well as information from the federal government’s point of view. There are many new initiatives which are affecting the practice of medicine, from electronic medical records and new rate structures to breakthrough technologies and medicines.

But the most important take-away for patients from this great forum was the universal emphasis on patient outcomes and quality of care. Through new and better methods of communication, streamlining procedures and information, and more patient involvement in follow-up care, new processes are aimed at better patient care.

It was exciting to have leaders in gastrointestinal medicine here in Knoxville for this event. I appreciate all the information we shared and the opportunity to discuss the newest and best ways to operate an effective practice.

Our health care industry is continually changing. As long as we keep our focus on our patients, we will be headed in the right direction.

The study observed the outcomes of nearly 16,000 colonoscopies performed by 315 gastroenterologists from across the country over a four-week period. Results have shown a definite correlation between colonoscopy withdrawal times, or the length of the procedure, and the detection rates for colon polyps.

Previously, the standard of care model suggested a withdrawal time of at least six minutes during a screening colonoscopy. The study provided clear evidence to support the importance of this minimum time frame to the discovery of colon polyps, the primary cause of colon cancers.

Our physicians are continuously participating in ongoing research and analysis, and our patients benefit from this practice. In seeking new and better medical treatments, our doctors keep abreast of the latest ways to diagnose and treat your gastrointestinal conditions. This results in more thorough examinations, earlier diagnosis and the most effective treatments available.

Particularly when it comes to colon cancer, the best way to prevent or cure the disease is through early detection through screening colonoscopies. This latest study confirms that a withdrawal time of six minutes or longer significantly increases the chances of discovering colon polyps. It is a standard we employ at GIA, and one that will help our patients prevent colon cancer.

Preventing colon cancer is the primary goal of a regularly scheduled screening colonoscopy and the aim of our entire staff of board-certified physicians. We consider it a privilege to be involved in ongoing, specialized training and cutting-edge research in the field of gastroenterology, primarily because it benefits our patients.

We have also posted some news highlights on YouTube.

I am finding new media is opening up incredible ways to provide information that can help keep people well – and for others to share that information with people who need it.

When a symptom appears or when medical questions arise, many people now are checking the Internet first to see if the situation warrants a physician visit. The Internet can be a useful tool in helping to point you in the right direction and a little more comfortable than asking health-related questions over the phone.

However, keep in mind that anyone can put information on the Internet. The key is to make sure the information you are getting is from a reliable source.

Before you believe what you read online, check out the source. For information on gastrointestinal health – including colonoscopies, irritable bowels, gallbladder pain, reflux and so on – you can trust what the experts at Gastrointestinal Associates have to say.

Our Facebook page is filled with information about our doctors and from our doctors, so you can read about an issue and decide if it is time to make an appointment to see us in person. We also have a lot of great information to help you prevent gastrointestinal health issues.

As the main source of nutrition for your body, your gastrointestinal tract plays a vital role in your overall health and wellness. The physicians at GIA are experts in gastrointestinal health, with the knowledge and helpful information you need to keep feeling your best. For example, did you know a fiber deficiency is a leading cause of constipation which can lead to diverticulosis? Adding a little flavorless bran to your favorite foods can help you add fiber to your diet and prevent gastrointestinal problems.

For the latest, most reliable information on gastrointestinal health, turn to Gastrointestinal Associates. Check out our Facebook page or see our recent videos on YouTube with patient testimonials and news worthy information. It’s the best place to find health information from experts who know and care.

According to the very thorough article, a profusion of Web sites, clinics and wellness spas have sprung up, claiming that colon cleansing can cure a number of ills from headaches and chronic fatigue to arthritis and cellulite.

Called hydrotherapy or “colonics,” proponents say that flushing the colon with warm water removes waste that leaks toxins into the body. A diet of processed foods, pharmaceuticals, stress and lack of exercise has clogged up our lower intestinal tracts, advocates of colonics say.

Cleansing can dramatically improve a person’s health and well-being, they add, as well as contribute to weight loss.

Gastroenterologists generally say “balderdash.”

A good friend and gastroenterologist colleague of mine, Dr. John I. Allen of Minnesota, is quoted in the Wall Street Journal article.

“I have seen a lot of colons and the notion that people have pounds of feces and evil toxins built up in there is pure fantasy,” he told the Journal.

The overwhelming majority of gastroenterologists I associate with, including my colleagues here at Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA) and those in my network of professional associations, agree with Dr. Allen.

The Wall Street Journal added: “Healthy colons are self-cleaning, they (gastroenterologists) say, and evacuating the colon via other means can do serious harm, even causing the sluggishness the cleansing purports to fix.”

Dr. Allen estimates that he has done about 20,000 colonoscopy exams. Here at GIA we have done more than 200,000. So we have a platform to speak from on healthy colons.

My main message to people considering colonics is to investigate and be wary. Right now, only Florida licenses colon hydrotherapists.

I agree with hydrotherapists and others that a healthy diet of whole grains and fruit contributes to colon health. That diet – with more fiber, less fat and higher fluid intake – can also relieve constipation.

Do colonics contribute to decreasing the risk of colon cancer? There is not enough evidence to say that.

There are certain other risks to colonics that people need to be aware of, including the possibility of infection and rectal perforation.

Hydrotherapists told the Wall Street Journal that they are “personal trainers” for the colon. My advice is to consult your physician if you think you have a problem with your colon. He or she has years of medical training and experience to diagnose and treat your condition.

Recently, GIA and I participated in a study of one particular treatment of Barrett’s esophagus, a condition that can lead to cancer of that organ. The study was published in May of this year in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (PDF, 2.1 mb), and GIA was one of 19 centers across the United States participating in the research. The study showed that radiofrequency ablation (thermal destruction) of abnormal cells eradicated those cells without damaging the esophagus.

Overall, GIA’s participation in research such as this benefits our patients. First, our physicians and staff are involved in and knowledgeable of the latest and best ways to treat your GI condition, allowing us to make even more accurate diagnoses.

Many medical advances help contain the cost of illness, both to the individual and health care provider. Moreover, as research knowledge helps keep people well and employed, their families enjoy a higher standard of living.

Medical advances help patients live longer and with less pain and suffering. Remember when the best option to treat ulcers was surgery? Now, we have new drugs to help control the problem. Remember when a colon polyp had to be removed by surgery? Now we do that through a scope.

Research has uncovered factors in our lifestyles that can help us change risky behavior in order to stay healthy. For example, we have found that a high fiber diet is important to maintaining digestive health.

Cancer screenings such as the colonoscopies we perform regularly at GIA allow us to use early detection to more effectively prevent and treat colon cancer.

Finally, medical research allows patients to become ex-patients and continue to contribute to society to the best of their abilities.

You can find new gastrointestinal treatments and procedures listed elsewhere on this site.

Our gastroenterologists are medical specialists who are broadly trained in internal medicine and who thereafter take special training in diagnosing and treating diseases of the digestive system. All GIA physicians are Board certified. We update our knowledge each year in specialized training and at professional meetings, as well as by independent reading.

My fellow physicians and our staff members consider it a privilege to help advance knowledge about digestive medicine and ways to keep people well. I am proud to be associated with our team and be part of the important research in our field.