Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects more than 300,000 people in the UK, but this is believed to be an underestimate as it is thought that many people who have the condition are undiagnosed. IBD is the umbrella term given to Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, chronic conditions that produce symptoms including diarrhoea, cramping pains, fatigue, anaemia,…
A hernia develops when an internal organ pushes through a weakened area in the muscle or tissue that is meant to hold it in place. As June is Hernia Awareness Month, we have listed 10 ways to spot if you have a hernia, so you can seek medical advice. A bit about hernias Hernias occur most…
A new screening test for bowel cancer could prevent the need for invasive tests and save lives in the future. A study published in September 2017 in the journal Cancer Medicine showed that analysing previous blood tests in a patient’s medical records could help to accurately determine their risk of developing colorectal cancer. Essentially, by examining…
Around 10 million people across the world live with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Fifty countries across five continents now take part in World IBD Day (May 19) to raise awareness of this life-changing disease. There is no cure for IBD and we are not even certain of the cause. Unless you have the condition it can…
To mark Coeliac Awareness Week from 14th to 20th May, we are looking at some of the common myths and misconceptions about the disease and hoping to set the records straight about what it is (and isn’t), who is affected and what to do if you have the disease. “It is the same as being…
One in five of us will suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) at some point during our lives. No-one is quite sure what causes it but stress and diet are believed to play a key role. IBS is a distressing long-term condition that can cause: stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation. It can have not…
If you’re suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, certain foods are likely to trigger your symptoms. Some foods are well known as possible triggers for IBS but others will be unique to you. Your symptoms may also get triggered when you are particularly stressed or when you experience certain emotions. They may improve after exercise or…
Many of us tend to take our health and wellbeing for granted until we become unwell. So, when we receive an invitation to participate in bowel cancer screening the temptation is to ignore it. It’s vital that you don’t though. It is also worth considering testing before the routine screening age, particularly if you are…
Screening for any kind of cancer means testing for early signs of the disease before any symptoms develop. For screening to work well it must be reliable, straightforward, and not harmful to participants. The aim of bowel cancer screening is to detect the disease in the early stages when it is more treatable or to prevent…
Barrett’s Oesophagus is a serious complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD). It leads to changes in the lining of the oesophagus – the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach – which comes to resemble the lining of the intestines. Although the symptoms of Barrett’s Oesophagus are similar to GORD, the condition…