Hydrogen Breath Test Center - Decatur, IL
Decatur Gastroenterologist Doctors for Hydrogen Breath TestType of Physician: Gastroenterologist What is a Gastroenterologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated. Specialty: Gastroenterology Common Name: GI Doctor Gastroenterologist Doctors in Decatur * Internal Medicine Subspecialty Associates  Internal Medicine Subspecialty Associates  Internal Medicine Subspecialty Associates  Digestive Disease Consultants  Digestive Disease Consultants  Digestive Disease Consultants  Digestive Disease Consultants  Mid-Central Illinois Gastroenterology Ltd  Mid-Central Illinois Gastroenterology Ltd  Mid-Central Illinois Gastroenterology Ltd  Springfield Clinic Gastroenterology  Springfield Clinic Gastroenterology  Springfield Clinic Gastroenterology  Springfield Clinic Gastroenterology  Springfield Clinic Gastroenterology  Springfield Clinic Gastroenterology  Springfield Clinic Gastroenterology  SIU Physicians & Surgeons Inc  SIU Physicians & Surgeons Inc  James Vanpopering DO  James Vanpopering DO  Christie Clinic Gastroenterology  Christie Clinic Gastroenterology  Nalin M Patel MD  Carle Clinic Gastroenterology  Carle Clinic Gastroenterology  Carle Clinic Gastroenterology  Carle Clinic Gastroenterology  Carle Clinic Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  OSF Medical Group Gastroenterology  OSF Medical Group Gastroenterology  Shanmugam Lakshmanan MD SC  Greenville Gastroenterology  Keith R Thomae MD  Stephen T Ang MD  Danville Poly Clinic Decatur, IllinoisUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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Hydrogen Breath TestRead the Hydrogen Breath Test article » What is the hydrogen breath test?The hydrogen breath test is a test that uses the measurement of hydrogen in the breath to diagnose several conditions that cause gastrointestinal symptoms. In humans, only bacteria - specifically, anaerobic bacteria in the colon - are capable of producing hydrogen. The bacteria produce hydrogen when they are exposed to unabsorbed food, particularly sugars and carbohydrates, not proteins or fats. Although limited hydrogen is produced from the small amounts of unabsorbed food that normally reach the colon, large amounts of hydrogen may be produced when there is a problem with the digestion or absorption of food in the small intestine, that allows more unabsorbed food to reach the colon. Large amounts of hydrogen also may be produced when the colon bacteria move back into the small intestine, a condition called bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel. In this latter instance, the bacteria are exposed to unabsorbed food that has not had a chance to completely traverse the small intestine to be fully digested and absorbed. Some of the hydrogen produced by the bacteria, whether in the small intestine or the colon, is absorbed into the blood flowing through the wall of the small intestine and colon. The hydrogen-containing blood travels to the lungs where the hydrogen is released and exhaled in the breath where it can be measured. When is hydrogen breath testing used?Hydrogen breath testing is used in the diagnosis of three conditions.
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