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Showing posts with the label Digestive Health

Lean Fatty Liver: Why Slim People Get It and What Helps

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Lean fatty liver surprises many people. You are not overweight, you may even be told you look thin, and yet an ultrasound report mentions a fatty liver. This is common in India and the rest of South Asia, and it has a clear explanation. This guide covers why it happens, how it is checked, and the practical steps that help when the scale does not seem to be the problem. Quick answer: Lean fatty liver means fat has built up in the liver in someone with a normal body mass index. In South Asians it is often driven by fat stored around the waist and inside the abdomen, insulin resistance, and a diet heavy in refined carbohydrates and sugar. It is assessed the same way as other fatty liver, and a modest weight loss of around 3 to 5%, better food quality and regular exercise usually help. Key takeaways ✅ A normal BMI does not rule out fatty liver, especially in South Asians. ✅ Waist size often tells more than weight. ✅ The liver scarring check (FIB-4, then a stiffness scan if n...
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Acid Reflux and GERD: Symptoms, Chest Pain, Foods to Avoid and Treatment

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Acid reflux happens when stomach contents flow back up into the food pipe (oesophagus), causing a burning feeling behind the breastbone. When it happens often, at least twice a week, or causes damage, it is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) . Reflux can cause chest pain that feels frighteningly like a heart problem, so this guide explains how to tell the difference, which foods and habits make it worse, and how it is treated. Quick answer: The main symptoms of GERD are heartburn (burning chest pain after meals or when lying down) and regurgitation of sour fluid into the mouth. Smaller meals, not eating for 2 to 3 hours before bed, raising the head of the bed, losing excess weight, and cutting down on fried and spicy food, tea, coffee, alcohol and smoking help most people. Medicines such as antacids and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) relieve symptoms. Never assume chest pain is acidity without ruling out the heart , especially if you are over 40, diabetic, a smoker, or t...
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Stool Test and Fecal Occult Blood Test: Procedure, Collection and Results

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A stool test checks a small sample of faeces for infection, parasites, hidden blood, digestion problems and inflammation. It is simple, painless and often the fastest way to find the cause of diarrhoea, stomach pain or unexplained anemia. This guide explains the two most common stool tests, the routine stool examination and the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) , how to collect a sample correctly, and what the results mean. Quick answer: A routine stool examination looks at colour, consistency, mucus, blood, pus cells, and eggs or cysts of worms and parasites under the microscope. A fecal occult blood test looks for blood too small to see. The modern immunochemical version (FIT) needs no diet changes and is preferred for bowel cancer screening. Collect the sample in a clean, dry, screw-top container without urine or water, and get it to the lab within about 1 to 2 hours. A positive occult blood test does not mean cancer, but it does need follow-up, usually with a colonoscopy. Key t...
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Appendicitis: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment in Adults and Children

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Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine in the lower right side of the abdomen. It is one of the most common reasons for emergency abdominal surgery, most often between the ages of 10 and 30, but it can happen at any age. If it is not treated, the appendix can burst and spread infection through the abdomen, so early recognition matters. Quick answer: The classic pattern is pain that starts around the belly button, then moves over several hours to the lower right abdomen and becomes sharper, worse with walking, coughing or bumps in the road. Loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting and a mild fever are common. Diagnosis uses examination, blood tests and an ultrasound or CT scan. Treatment is usually removal of the appendix (appendectomy), often by keyhole surgery; some mild cases can be treated with antibiotics alone under hospital supervision. Key takeaways ✅ Abdominal pain that keeps getting worse over 6 to 24 hou...
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