Cada año, millones de estadounidenses buscan ayuda médica para problemas dolorosos de salud digestiva. La acidez estomacal, el síndrome del intestino irritable, las úlceras, la hinchazón, la diarrea y el estreñimiento son solo algunos de los agresores más comunes. Pero, ¿sabía que asuntos simples y cotidianos, como los hábitos alimenticios, la actividad física, el estrés y ciertos medicamentos, pueden causar problemas digestivos? Si experimenta...

Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. It's a pain in the chest and a burning sensation in the esophagus, near the heart. When you eat pizza, for example, it passes from your mouth to your esophagus and on to your stomach. The junction between your stomach and esophagus normally keeps food and stomach acid from coming back up. Certain foods can affect the junction, making it less effective. The mucous lining in your stomach protects the stomach...

Dr. Alice Roberts continues her explanation of our reproductive systems, in this episode looking at the female sexual organs. Using an MRI scanner on her own body, she demonstrates how everything fits together-possibly a first for a television presenter. Using her trademark dissections of animal parts, drawings, and props, Dr. Roberts explains the female reproductive organs. Thousands of chocolate mini eggs help to demonstrate the huge number of eggs...

It can appear in almost anyone at any age, yet many people are too embarrassed to seek treatment for this common medical disorder. Symptoms related to irritable bowel syndrome affect every aspect of the lives of millions of American men and women. This program provides an overview of IBS, touching on common triggers and explaining its often-misunderstood brain-gut connection. Dr. Alexis Nees describes the onset, progression, and diagnosis of IBS as...

A stomach ulcer is caused by an imbalance between acid and pepsin secretion and the defenses of the stomach mucosal lining. Ulcers can be treated through dietary changes and medication.

Appendicitis is swelling (inflammation) of the appendix. The appendix is a small pouch attached to the beginning of your large intestine. Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of emergency abdominal surgery in the United States. It usually occurs when the appendix becomes blocked by feces, a foreign object, or rarely, a tumor.

Cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder, performed in the event of cholelithiasis, or when the gallbladder has formed stones. These stones can block the duct leading from the gallbladder to the common bile duct, which results in cholecystitis, an often painful infection. This program explains when gallbladder removal would be recommended. The video features 3-D animations and straightforward explanations to help patients fully understand...

Frequent indigestion and heartburn may indicate a precancerous digestive illness called GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. This program describes the symptoms, effects, and medical treatment of GERD, while also exploring another digestion-related condition, the peptic ulcer. Explaining the link between ulcers and the H. pylori stomach bacterium, the video clearly describes the best medical strategies for coping with ulcers and GERD; it also...

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a medical mystery, even though it affects approximately ten percent of adults. Using case studies and cutting-edge medical research, this program seeks to understand chronic overreaction of the bowels-a condition that has its roots in the complex interaction between the brain and the intestinal tract. Symptoms; exacerbators, including stress, hormonal fluctuations, and a history of childhood abuse; and psychosocial factors...

One of the most deadly forms of cancer is also one of the most preventable. In this program, doctors from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and elsewhere focus on three case studies of senior citizens with colon cancer to explore the etiology and pathology of colon cancer, risk factors, and screening options. Prevention through colonoscopic examinations is emphasized,...