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For your health there are good and bad bacteria. 65 to 75 million Americans are suffering from various intestinal diseases, which means we should pay attention to the little bacteria working around the clock inside of our intestines. Acidophilus lives in cultured milk products, such as yoghurt and kefir, that fosters a balance of bacteria in the intestine. It’s one of the “friendly” ones, out of about 450 types of bacterial that live in our intestine and, for women, also in the vagina. It’s needed for the body because it helps to manufacture B vitamins and the production of antibacterial agents and lactase. Without good probiotic bacteria living in your intestine, digestive processes go upside down. Our bodies naturally maintain the proper balance, if they are in a healthy state. Some of the things that disturb the normal functioning of our intestine are additives in our foods and diets with a high content of fat, birth control pills, alcohol and even stress. Acidophilus bacteria can help when things are out of a natural balance. Eating yogurt will not necessarily help to change the condition. Some of the yogurts don’t actually contain enough acidophilus, because they have been strongly processed. It is difficult to process foods in a way, that they are safe from harmful bacteria and yet keep the “good” bacteria alive. There are several benefits of supplementing your food with acidophilus. An important one is the suppression of candida, a type of yeast that can be very harmful to our intestine, our urinary tract and even the reproductive system. If you like to travel to other countries, you’ll be interested to know, that supplementing your food with acidophilus can help thwart proliferation of some infectious organisms travelers often encounter in countries that do not have high hygienic standards. Acidophilus can also help to control both constipation and diarrhea. Also it can help to reduce bad breath, bloating and internal gas. Some people experience that it also can help to counteract lactose intolerance and lower cholesterol because of its improvement of the body’s ability to absorb fats. Acidophilus may also enhance immune system functions and help in the treatment of respiratory infections such as bronchitis and sinusitis. Also it may lower the risk of hay fever, eczema and asthma.

Acid reflux is a painful burning sensation in your chest shortly after eating. It is also called heartburn, probably because it feels like your heart is on fire. Actually it is the esophagus that feels like “burning”, due to stomach acidic coming up. Most people will experience acid reflux at some point of their lives. For some it occurs regularly and falls under the category of Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease. Unfortunately there aren’t any cures for this kind of acid reflux. If you are diagnosed with GERD you will probably have acid reflux for the rest of your life. Once the sphincter muscle, which separates the esophagus from the stomach, starts to get too loose, it is very difficult to correct. There have been a number of new findings in reducing the symptoms and there are now many different medications that can help people experiencing acid reflux. So called acid reducers, such as Famotidine and Ranitidine, are available since a while now. For mild forms of acid reflux, these medications may be all you need. If you only have occasional acid reflux, taking an acid reducer prior to a big, greasy or spicy dish will most probably prevent it. If you experience heartburn on a daily basis, even without having eaten a big meal, you maybe want to talk to your doctor about proton pump inhibitors (PPI). Proton pump inhibitors are more serious and effective acid reflux medications. They will need a day or two to begin working effectively, but they are safe and have only very few side effects. One of the PPIs, Prilosec, can now even been bought over the counter. You can even safely take PPIs together with acid reducers. I take Prilosec on a daily bases and also occasionally an acid reducer. For me, this combination is like a cure for GERD. Avoiding fat and big meals, waiting some time after eating before going to bed or even elevating the bed about 8 – 10 inches, this all will help you to reduce the symptoms, and for milder cases even may be the cure for acid reflux. For the rest of us, medication is the only help at the moment. There are some surgical options available, that may be the cures for acid reflux, but it is still too early to tell, if they will work on the long run.

Ulcerative colitis is a condition in which a portion of the colon becomes inflamed. The colon is the area of the lower intestine that connects to the rectum, and serves as a storage area for digestive waste material prior to exiting the body via the anus. Ulcerative colitis usually effects the left portion of the colon, in a form called ëdistal colitisí, however it can affect the whole colon in a form called ëpancolitisí. A similar condition affecting the rectum is called ulcerative ëproctitisí. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and sometimes bloody bowel movements. It is sometimes mistaken for another inflammatory condition that may affect the colon, known as Crohnís disease. Crohnís disease and ulcerative colitis differ in several key ways. Firstly, ulcerative colitis only affects the colon, whereas Crohnís disease may involve any area of the gastrointestinal tract, including the small intestine. Ulcerative colitis only affects the outermost layers of epithelial cells along the colon, and Crohnís disease usually permeates into the deepest layers. Ulcerative colitis is always continuous, usually beginning with the rectum and involving a portion of the left colon without any unaffected areas in between. Crohnís disease often occurs in patches of the gastrointestinal tract, rather than in a continuous manner. Although separate conditions, ulcerative colitis and Crohnís disease are often lumped together under the umbrella term Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD. IBD is different from another lower intestinal condition known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a condition involving spasms in the muscles associated with the bowels, and is not an inflammation of tissue. IBS is therefore a much less serious condition. Ulcerative colitis is most prevalent in the young, and is especially common to people of a Jewish ethnic background. It is found in women and men equally, and itís estimated to affect at least half a million people in the United States. Crohnís disease is estimated to affect about as many. What causes ulcerative colitis is not understood. Some of the most recent theories suggest that a hard to detect infectious agent may be responsible, for the inflammation itself is a kind of immune response. Diagnosis is usually done by way of a colonoscopy, and a resulting biopsy of the suspected tissue. Treatment for the condition usually consists of anti-inflammatory medications, and in more severe cases corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs may be required to induce a state of remission. There is a small chance the affected tissues may become malignant, which may require a removal of part of the colon. Ulcerative colitis can be extremely unpleasant to live with, but is rarely fatal on its own. Once remission is achieved, it can usually be sustained by use of relatively mild medication, and a healthy diet.

Acid Reflux Acid reflux is most commonly known as heartburn. It can occur occasionally or be persistent, during the day or night, causing great physical discomfort for the person suffering from it. Mild cases can be treated with over the counter remedies, such as antacid preparations, and a change in diet. Severe cases such as GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) or hiatal hernias (where part of the stomach pushes through the esophagus or chest wall), usually require treatment with prescription medications or even surgery. It is recommended that the sufferer seek medical attention with persistent episodes, because there may be a more severe underlying problem causing the symptoms. In some cases, it may be because a certain bacteria is present in the gut, known at helicobacter pylori, or H-pylori. This type of bacteria has been proven to cause stomach ulcers and can be easily treated with a combination of antibiotic and antacid therapy, requiring no further treatment once it has been eradicated. Certain food and drink items, as well as stress and emotional issues, are notorious for causing acid reflux, even in people who never experience this type of discomfort. Alcohol, citrus fruits, tomato based and spicy foods are the most common culprits. Just abstaining from these items may be enough, but often times we just cannot give up the foods we love cold turkey. Some symptoms may be alleviated by simply taking Tums or another immediate relief preparation, but persistent acid reflux may require more to completely eradicate it. As discussed previously, it is recommended that a physician be consulted with persistent symptoms to rule out other causes. There are medications that are now available both over the counter and by prescription that can be taken on a daily basis, known as H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors, to heal any damage that has already occurred and prevent further heartburn flare-ups. According to various sources on the internet, these medications do not work immediately and may take anywhere from seven to twenty-one days to prove effective. It is also recommended that these medications not be taken for longer than an eight-week period, because it is thought that these medications cause an overproduction of the hormone known as gastin, which is thought to be linked to a higher incidence of cancer. There is something you can do about your persistent acid reflux. Get it checked out and get it treated. Why would you want to continue living like this when there are easy treatment options available? To your good health!

Having an open sore in your mouth can be frustrating. Mouth ulcers can make things as simple as eating and brushing your teeth very painful. When you first realize that you have a sore in your mouth you might attribute it to accidentally biting the inside tissue of your mouth or scraping it with a sharp piece of food. This can happen if you happen to eat the crisp crust of a piece of bread or pizza. Mouth ulcers can be caused by other things as well. There are several medical conditions that cause them and in some cases they can be the sign of something serious. If you have mouth ulcers that are taking a long time to heal you should consider visiting your dentist or your doctor. The dentist is very skilled in treating medical conditions in the mouth and can prescribe a course of treatment that not only heals the sore but addresses the underlying problem as well. If you find yourself repeatedly suffering from mouth ulcers and you are a smoker you might strongly consider giving up the habit. Smokers are more prone to mouth ulcers and each time one occurs there is an increased chance of infection. Sores within the mouth can be difficult to treat because of the moist environment which is often ripe with bacteria. There are several home remedies that are effective when it comes to treating minor mouth ulcers. If the husk of a kernel of popcorn becomes lodged beneath the surface of your gums this can lead to a canker sore. The same type of mouth ulcers can occur if you accidentally burn yourself with a sip of hot coffee or tea. In the case of mouth ulcers that are minor you should keep the area clean by rinsing with a solution of salt. This can be easily made by adding salt to warm water and then holding it in your mouth next to the infected area for a few moments. Using salt water to treat minor mouth ulcers is a good way to kill the bacteria and allow the infected area to heal. There are over the counter remedies for mouth ulcers that you can also use. One of the added benefits of this type of treatment for mouth ulcers is that quite often these products contain a substance that helps relieve the pain. Mouth ulcers can be very painful and when this type of solution is applied, the area becomes numb and the pain isnít felt. Although this type of medication does wear off after a few hours, it can normally be applied several times a day. Itís important to read and follow the directions included. Mouth ulcers are a nuisance that unfortunately most people have to deal with at some point in their lives. Taking care of the area and consulting a doctor if the condition persists is the best treatment.

serious condition, and there isnít really any cure for it. There are some new treatments available, but nothing that will cure it outright. Some people seem to get occassionaly flare ups from their Chorn’s disease, but more or less live normal lives. Others suffer from chronic flare ups their entire lives, which can sometimes lead to more serious complications. So itís not really the best thing to have, but it isnít always severe. One of my good friends in college had Crohn’s disease but you wouldn’t ever know it. He’d apparently had a couple of flare-ups in high school, but hasn’t had one since and he’s almost 30 now. The medications you take if you are having a flare up are basically immunosuppressant sorts of drugs and of course steroids, neither of which arenít really all that pleasant to take. They both have a lot of side effects, and the immunosupressants boost your chances of getting some kind of opportunistic infection. Crohn’s disease isn’t at all contagious, and it isn’t really well understood what causes it. The immune system is a very complicated thing, and we have only a very limited understanding of it. Genetics, stress, and viruses are all commonly thought to cause autoimmune disorders like Crohn’s disease, but there isn’t any really strong connections to anything. Crohn’s disease does seem to run in families (my friend’s dad also had it) so there probably is a genetic component to it. If you think you may have Crohn’s disease, you probably don’t. First of all itís a pretty rare condition, and there are literally hundreds of other diseases out there with the same types of symptoms. The kind of pain and diahrea you get with Crohn’s is a lot more severe that the normal kind, so donít freak out if you are experiencing some mild discomfort. If you want to know more about it, ask your doctor!