March 2024

Delaying Your Colonoscopy? Why You Shouldn’t.

You might think you have plenty of time to schedule a colonoscopy, but waiting can be costly. The five-year survival rate for colorectal cancer is 64%. If caught early, it’s 91%.

We know colorectal cancer develops slowly. There’s just a 24% chance that a pea-sized polyp will become cancerous in 20 years. It’s enough to make you think there’s no rush to get screened. But that delay can mean the difference between a normal life and one that includes cancer treatment. Such delays may be why colorectal cancer remains the second-deadliest cancer in the United States today. For men under age 50, it’s the #1 cancer killer.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Take a minute to consider if it’s worth it to put off your colonoscopy any longer. The American Cancer Society recommends a first colonoscopy at age 45, and routinely, per your doctor’s orders, after that.

If you’re due for one, schedule your colonoscopy. Learn how easy the procedure can be, and read common myths about colonoscopies.

Why Do I Have Swallowing Problems?

Whenever you chew food, several body functions spring into action so you can get it down comfortably. Your brain, several nerves, a few muscles, and the esophagus all play a part. If something goes wrong in that process, you might feel like your food has gotten stuck in your esophagus (the food tube), or worse, it goes down the wrong pipe.

The disorder is called dysphagia, and an estimated one in six adults have it. Dysphagia is more serious than the “yuck” reflex you may have experienced the first time you ate a Brussels sprout. It may result from chronic acid reflux, Parkinson’s disease, or inflammation.

To diagnose dysphagia, your doctor will want to see how your esophagus reacts when you swallow, which would involve swallowing tests at the office. When ignored, dysphagia can cause lung infections and pneumonia, vomiting and regurgitation, and weight loss, due to the inability to eat.

Treating dysphagia depends on the cause. Learn more about dysphasia or make an appointment with CGI.

4 Ways a Plant-Based Diet Can Improve Your Gut Health

You’ve probably heard the hype – that a plant-based diet is ideal for your health. Turns out, all those fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and beans are what your gut craves. Why? Because the “good” bacteria in a plant-based diet helps your intestinal cells digest nutrient-rich foods. It also helps prevent disease-causing bacteria from sticking to your intestines and causing a bunch of health issues, such as bloating, constipation, and more serious conditions like inflammatory bowel disease.

Here’s four reasons to consider more plants in your diet:

1. Plants help reduce inflammation. When the intestines are persistently inflamed, it’s called inflammatory bowel disease(IBD). Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants and natural fibers that can prevent inflammation, and therefore the risk of IBD.
2. Plants keep things moving. Plant-based foods move slowly through your digestive system, so the nutrients are better absorbed, and you feel fuller. This can keep your weight in check and also reduce the risk of constipation, which can lead to hemorrhoids.
3. Plants help root out the causes of colon cancer.The antioxidants in plant foods can protect your cells from free radicals that can raise your risk of cancer. A 2022 study found that men who followed plant-based diets had lower risks of colorectal cancer.
4. Plants can reduce acid reflux. Fruits and vegetables can literally make it easier to swallow. Recent studies conclude that the prevalence and severity of symptoms associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are lower among vegetarians.

Learn more about the benefits of a plant-based diet.

Did You Resolve to Be Healthier in 2024? Here Are Tips for Good GI Health

If you struggled to stick with your new year’s resolution, but still yearn to get healthier this year, we’ve got a suggestion. Make your goal to have a healthy gut, which can make a huge difference in your overall wellness. A healthy gut can strengthen your immune system, lower your cholesterol which improves heart health, and produces chemicals that affect brain function. Here’s how to make it happen:

1. Eat more plants
2. Get moving
3. Manage your indulgences
4. Drink more water
5. Give your gut some rest (at night)
6. Keep your stress in check

For more details, learn how you can improve your gut health.