Gastrointestinal issues are on the rise, and here’s how you can protect yourself

By Laura Briedis

It is a sign of the times that digestive orders are on the rise. Grocery shelves filled with genetically modified foods. Children and adults feeling more stressed than ever. Even use of legalized marijuana is a contributing factor.

It all points to the fact that many people are eating more processed foods rather than whole foods and have developed detrimental lifestyle habits.

“In this modern era with the engineered food industry and changes in people’s food habits, we are seeing more people with gastrointestinal issues,” says Mohammed Mazumder, MD, a gastroenterologist at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center, a Campus of UH Regional Hospitals. “Eating a balanced diet and making sure you exercise can ward off some of these issues.”

Health issues ranging from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to colorectal cancer are on the rise, but there are many effective treatment options.

The newest gastroenterologist to join the staff at UH Geauga Medical Center, Dr. Mazumder has more than a decade of experience treating GI issues.

He went to medical school in Bangladesh and when he relocated to the United States in 2001, he received his degree in internal medicine and completed a residency and fellowship at Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York focusing on gastroenterology.

“I want to use my expertise to help those in the Geauga community,” Dr. Mazumder says. “I like to have open discussions with my patients. I advise them on how a healthy diet can improve their health, and even talk about how using marijuana can contribute to a lot of GI issues. I also educate them about all the screening options available, including tests for colorectal cancer, hepatitis, HIV if indicated, and BMI screening since obesity is attributed to many GI issues.”

Due to these advanced screenings, the morbidity from colorectal cancer has been steadily decreasing since 1980. Dr. Mazumder stresses that screenings are the best way to help prevent and diagnose colorectal cancer. He says while a colonoscopy is still the gold standard, there are other noninvasive tests available, including stool tests.

One of the most common conditions relating to why patients seek out a gastroenterologist is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

“There are a lot of misconceptions about IBS because symptoms overlap with other conditions, so it can lead to an incorrect diagnosis,” Dr. Mazumder says. “As a specialist, my job is to make a correct diagnosis and make sure there are no other concurrent alarming issues.”

“There are many things patients can try, from fiber supplements to probiotics to peppermint oil, along with diet modification and lifestyle changes, but I take an individualized approach with each patient to see what is best for them,” he notes. “And there are many pharmaceuticals that we can prescribe to relieve symptoms.”

Another common GI issue is GERD. “We can help those patients who, despite taking over-the-counter PPI (proton-pump inhibitors) for heartburn or prescriptions from their primary care provider, still have heartburn,” Dr. Mazumder says.

University Hospitals has a dedicated Heartburn Center with a multidisciplinary approach, where gastroenterologists, hepatologists and surgeons working with nurses, dietitians and other providers are all committed to digestive health.

“Medicine is the art of diagnosing and treating, as well as the prevention of diseases,” Dr. Mazumder says.

When to Seek Treatment for GI Distress
The board-certified physicians at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center help patients suffering from a range of conditions related to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract—the passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus.

If you have any of the persistent symptoms below, you may benefit from consulting with a gastroenterologist:

• Severe heartburn
• Trouble swallowing
• Persistent abdominal pain
• Bloating, nausea, vomiting
• Chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Rectal bleeding
• Dark stools
• Unexplained weight loss
• Family history of GI diseases

UH Geauga Medical Center is located at 13207 Ravenna Road, in Chardon. For more information, call 440-629-4702 or visit UHhospitals.org/Geauga.