Dr. Brody’s primary specialty is gastroenterology, the medical study of the digestive system. Throughout his years in medical school, as a resident under Dr. D’Adamo, and at his own practice, Dr. Brody has always been drawn to helping patients with their digestive issues. Utilizing Dr. Brody’s years of research and experience, the Personalized Natural Medicine staff has put together a short guide on Dr. Brody’s approach to the digestive system.
*We are still updating this page. Any conditions or symptoms with missing links will be updated soon. Please check back to see what we’ve added!*
Conditions and Symptoms Treated
Conditions
Appendicitis
Appendicitis occurs when the appendix is inflamed, causing pain to the lower right portion of the stomach. This inflammation often comes with a low-grade fever and nausea or vomiting, or high-grade fever. Physicians can treat appendicitis by either reducing the inflammation or with an appendectomy. Appendicitis is a medical emergency and requires urgent care. If you believe you have appendicitis, please contact emergency services right away.
Barrett’s Esophagus
Barrett’s Esophagus occurs when, due to a frequently high level of stomach acid, the lining of the esophagus is changed to match that of the stomach. This condition is more likely to occur with age, and patients who have been diagnosed with GERD are also at a higher risk of developing Barrett’s Esophagus. It is important to take preventative measure for Barrett’s Esophagus, as it is currently untreatable at this current time.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease occurs when the body creates antibodies to attack gluten molecules. The presence of gluten triggers an autoimmune response, which can lead to damaging cells in the digestive tract. This autoimmune response is what separates Celiac disease from a food allergy, sensitivity, or intolerance. Common symptoms include gas, bloating, blood in the stool, diarrhea, and fatigue.
Clostridium Difficile Infections (CDI)
Clostridium difficile, also known as C. diff, is an infection that can occur after a treatment course of antibiotics. This bacterial infection is very serious and can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, gas, and more. If you have or suspect you have this condition please contact your doctor as soon as possible. For additional reading, please take a look at the Center for Disease Control’s website.
Food Allergies, Sensitivities, Intolerances, and More
Food allergies and sensitivities are a common reaction to various foods and can cause a plethora of symptoms. A food allergy is an intense, quick reaction that provides inflammation and activates the immune system. Food sensitivities are more subtle, creating a long term but less severe reaction with a different part of the immune system. Food intolerance is when the body lacks the proper tools to digest specific food, causing symptoms. And a lectin reaction is when the body reacts to certain proteins that can be found on the outside of certain foods.
Functional Dyspepsia
Functional dyspepsia is a diagnosis of exclusion, defined as chronic upper abdominal pain without a cause of origin. Physicians must order blood work to rule out any currently known causes of organic disease before the diagnosis can be given. However, treatment plans include flushing out any H. pylori in the system and reducing stomach acid. Common symptoms include Bloating, belching, nausea, pain in the upper abdomen, and heartburn.
Gallbladder & Liver Diseases
The liver is the primary organ the body uses to remove toxins and protect the digestive system. The gallbladder sits below and stores bile that secrets into the intestines and breaks down fats. The liver can be impacted when it prevents toxins from entering the intestines. The gallbladder can create inflammation and pain if the bile isn’t secreted properly.
Gastritis
Gastritis occurs when there is inflammation in the stomach lining. While gastritis can be caused by injury, an H.pylori infection, regular use of pain pills, or alcohol abuse, it is possible to show no symptoms.
GERD/Heartburn
Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease, known as GERD, produces the classic heartburn symptoms, This occurs when stomach acid travels up the esophagus and causes irritation. If our bodies create too much stomach acid, they can cause GERD. This can occur regardless of our normal stomach acid levels.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen or inflamed veins in the rectum. While internal hemorrhoids are typically painless and only cause bleeding, external hemorrhoids are usually painful and bloody. Hemorrhoids are fairly common, and can occur due to obesity, extra strain while having a bowel movement, and pregnancy.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a general term that refers to any injury or necrosis to the cells of the liver, known as “hepatocytes”. Scientists consider an inflammatory response acute if it lasts less than six months. Inversely, scientists consider a response chronic if it lasts over six months.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
The two main Inflammatory Bowel Diseases are Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. The primary difference between the two is the location of the inflammation in the gastrointestinal system, but allopathic treatment plans are similar. Ulcerative Colitis is found towards the end of the digestive tract, in the lower intestine, colon, and rectum. Doctors can diagnose Crohn’s Disease anywhere in the digestive tract. Symptoms include gas, bloating, mucus, and blood in stools, weight loss, etc.
Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth (IMO)
Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth, or IMO, is an overgrowth of microorganisms that occurs inside the intestinal tract. This microorganism is classified as archaea. These archaea can create a plethora of digestive issues, similar to SIBO with the main difference being constipation is more common. Symptoms include gas, bloating, digestive upset/pain, burping, and more.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is a diagnosis doctors provide when a definitive cause of their digestive symptoms can not be determined. As such, IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion. Doctors must rule out CeD, IBD, and cancer before giving this diagnosis. Symptoms can include constipation, gas, diarrhea, bloating, pain,/discomfort, anxiety, and more. There are laboratory tests that can help determine the underlying cause of your IBS. For more information from the National Institutes of Health, please click here.
Malabsorption/Leaky Gut
Malabsorption, also known as Leaky Gut, occurs when there is damage to the intestinal lining in the digestive tract. This allows particles to pass from the digestive tract into the bloodstream, which activates the immune system. As our body fights back to destroy the particles, it can cause symptoms such as gas, bloating, autoimmune diseases and more. Lab testing is crucial to ensure that this is not the primary reason for any digestive issues. Common lab tests for malabsorption include Indican, zonulin, and a microbiome test.
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Peptic Ulcer Disease occurs when ulcers begin to develop along the lining of the stomach. Typically accompanied with stomach pain, these ulcers can occur either when the digestive tract lining is damaged by stomach acid, or through an H. pylori infection.
SIBO
SIBO, or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, is an excessive amount of bacteria that are growing inside the small intestines. One of the causes of SIBO occurs when bacteria migrate from the large intestine to the small intestine and cause digestive issues. Symptoms include gas, bloating, stomach pain, and in some cases diarrhea. Dr. Brody utilizes a Hydrogen Breath test to check for these bacteria, both at the practice and at-home using this test from Genova Diagnostics.
Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth (SIFO)
SIFO, or Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth, is an excessive amount of fungi that grow inside the digestive tract. These fungi can cause a variety of symptoms, including belching, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, and gas. This is a relatively new diagnosis, and as such scientists are still testing reliable detection and treatment methods.
Symptoms
Belching
Belching occurs when an individual has high levels of gas in the upper digestive tract that is being released via the mouth. The common medical term used for belching is eructation.
Bloating
Bloating occurs when there is a large quantity of gas in the lower digestive tract (small and large intestines), causing pressure on the outside walls of the intestines. This pressure appears to us as pain.
Constipation
Constipation or the inability to have a bowel movement in less than 24-92 hours can occur for a number of reasons. One of the main reasons is that the body has impaired peristalsis due to a disconnect in motility or anatomy.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea, or loose or watery stools, can occur for several reasons including the foods we eat, high levels of stress, SIBO, IBD, cancer, and more. This symptom needs to be present for months to make a diagnosis if no underlying cause can be found.
Distention
Distention occurs when there is a physical change to the outward appearance of the abdominal area due to an increase in gas or other digestive symptoms.
Gas
Also known as flatulence, gas often occurs as a byproduct of bacteria fermentation of carbohydrates in the digestive tract breaking down food substances.
Nausea
Nausea is a feeling of stomach distress, which can often lead to vomiting. This can be triggered for a number of reasons, including motion sickness, diet, or pain. Nausea can also be induced by medical conditions such as GERD, an infection or virus, heartburn, acid reflux, or as a reaction to a medication.
Pyrosis (Heartburn)
Pyrosis, also known as heartburn, is defined as burning pain or discomfort in the upper chest. Heartburn can occur for non-medical reasons, such as eating spicy foods, consuming alcohol, or overeating. However, as heartburn is induced by stomach acid rising up, frequent bouts of heartburn suggest a medical issue.
Stomach Pain
Also known as dyspepsia, what we call stomach pain is typically located in the upper digestive tract. Stomach pain can be classified into three types: ulcer-like, dysmotility-like, or reflex-like. Doctors can diagnose a reflux-like reaction if there are heartburn and regurgitation associated with the pain.
Vomiting
Vomiting occurs when the body forcefully ejects the contents of the stomach out of the body through the mouth. An involuntary action, this can be a one-time event or occur multiple times. While vomiting once can happen due to non-medical reasons such as motion sickness or overeating, vomiting multiple times indicates an underlying medical issue. We encourage you to seek out medical care promptly if there is blood expelled as well.
Digestive Bacteria
Both beneficial and harmful microorganisms play a crucial role in gastroenterology. We all have a microbiome, or collection of bacteria, in our digestive tract that determines our ability to break down and process foods. Understanding the balance between good and bad bacteria is critical for creating proper digestion. For a list of some of the most impactful bacteria to our digestive systems, please click here.