Irritable Bowel Syndrome Center - Allentown, PA
Allentown Gastroenterologist Doctors for Irritable Bowel SyndromeType 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 Allentown * Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Eastern Pennsylvania Gastroenterologists & Liver Specialists  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Eastern Pennsylvania Gastroenterologists & Liver Specialists  Eastern Pennsylvania Gastroenterologists & Liver Specialists  Eastern Pennsylvania Gastroenterologists & Liver Specialists  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Tomasz J Niewiarowski MD  Edward C Chen MD  Solga Gastroenterology  Solga Gastroenterology  Twin Rivers Gastroenterology Center  Twin Rivers Gastroenterology Center  Manoj K Mittal MD  Lindsley O Van Der Veer MD  Upper Bucks Medical Associates  Upper Bucks Medical Associates  Upper Bucks Medical Associates  Upper Bucks Medical Associates  Buxmont Gastroenterology  Buxmont Gastroenterology  Buxmont Gastroenterology  Buxmont Gastroenterology  Buxmont Gastroenterology  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  Pottstown Medical Specialists  Pottstown Medical Specialists  Pottstown Medical Specialists  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  Gastrointestinal Associates  Hillmont Gastroenterology PC  Hillmont Gastroenterology PC  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  Central Bucks Specialists Ltd  Central Bucks Specialists Ltd  Central Bucks Specialists Ltd  Central Bucks Specialists Ltd  Central Bucks Specialists Ltd  Central Bucks Specialists Ltd  Montgomery County GI Specialists  Montgomery County GI Specialists  Montgomery County GI Specialists  Montgomery County GI Specialists  Charles F M Cohan DO PC  Charles F M Cohan DO PC  Medical Associates Of Monroe County  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Hillmont Gastroenterology PC  Hillmont Gastroenterology PC  Hillmont Gastroenterology PC  Hillmont Gastroenterology PC  Hillmont Gastroenterology PC  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  Northeast Gastroenterology Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  Northeast Gastroenterology Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  Brandywine GI Associates Ltd  Brandywine GI Associates Ltd  Brandywine GI Associates Ltd  Brandywine GI Associates Ltd  Bryn Mawr Medical Specialists  Bryn Mawr Medical Specialists  Bryn Mawr Medical Specialists  Bryn Mawr Medical Specialists Allentown, PennsylvaniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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Irritable Bowel SyndromeRead the Irritable Bowel Syndrome article » What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common ailments of the bowel (intestines) and affects an estimated 15% of persons in the US. The term, irritable bowel, is not a particularly accurate one since it implies that the bowel is responding irritably to normal stimuli, and this may or may not be the case. The several names for IBS, including spastic colon, spastic colitis, and mucous colitis, attest to the difficulty of getting a descriptive handle on the ailment. Moreover, each of the other names is itself as problematic as the term IBS. IBS is best described as a functional disease. The concept of functional disease is particularly useful when discussing diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The concept applies to the muscular organs of the gastrointestinal tract; the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, gallbladder, and colon. What is meant by the term, functional, is that either the muscles of the organs or the nerves that control the organs are not working normally, and, as a result, the organs do not function normally. The nerves that control the organs include not only the nerves that lie within the muscles of the organs but also the nerves of the spinal cord and brain to which they connect. Some gastrointestinal diseases can be seen and diagnosed with the naked eye, such as ulcers of the stomach when visualized with certain methods. Thus, ulcers can be seen at surgery, on X-rays, and at endoscopy. Other diseases cannot be seen with the naked eye but can be seen and diagnosed with the microscope. For example, celiac disease and collagenous colitis are diagnosed by microscopic examination of biopsies of the small intestine and colon, respectively. In contrast, gastrointestinal functional diseases cannot be seen with the naked eye or with the microscope. In some instances, the abnormal function can be demonstrated by tests, for example... Recommended Reading Related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)What is colonoscopy?Colonoscopy is a procedure that enables an examiner (usually a gastroenterologist) to evaluate the inside of the colon (large intestine or large bowel). The colonoscope is a four foot long, flexible tube about the thickness of a finger with a camera and a source of light at its tip. The tip of the colonoscope is inserted into the anus and then is advanced slowly, under visual control, into the rectum and through the colon usually as far as the cecum, which is the first part of the colon.
Why is colonoscopy done?Colonoscopy may be done for a variety of reasons. Most often it is done to investigate the cause of blood in the stool, abdominal pain, diarrhea, a change in bowel habit, or an abnormality found on colonic X-rays or a computerized axial tomography (CT) scan. Individuals with a previous history of polyps or colon cancer and certain individuals with a family history of some types of non-colonic canc... Other Related Irritable Bowel Syndrome ArticlesEmergency Contact for Allentown
Nearby Allentown Hospitals *Lehigh Valley Hospital 17th & Chew Streets Sacred Heart Hospital Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Allentown St Luke's Hospital Allentown Campus Allentown State Hospital Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem Campus Westfield Hospital Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg Center Good Shepherd Home Bethlehem KidsPeace Children's Hospital St Luke's Quakertown Hospital Easton Hospital Triumph Hospital Easton Blue Mountain Health System Palmerton Campus Warren Hospital Grand View Hospital Blue Mountain Health System Gnaden Huetten Campus Pottstown Memorial Medical Center Central Montgomery Medical Center Foundations Behavioral Health Doylestown Hospital St Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital Senator Garret W Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital St Joseph Medical Center Eagleville Hospital Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital at Pocono Medical Center Pocono Medical Center The Reading Hospital & Medical Center Valley Forge Medical Center & Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Reading Rehabilitation Hospital Hunterdon Medical Center Montgomery County Emergency Service Mercy Suburban Hospital Phoenixville Hospital Norristown State Hospital Horsham Clinic Montgomery Hospital Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Constipation
- Constipation is defined medically as fewer than three stools per week and severe constipation as less than one stool per week. Constipation usually is caused by the slow movement of stool through the colon. There are many causes of constipation including medications, poor bowel habits, low fiber diets, abuse of laxatives, hormonal disorders, and diseases primarily of other parts of the body that also affect the colon.
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Fibromyalgia
- Fibromyalgia, formerly known as fibrositis, causes chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation. Fibromyalgia patients have an unusually low pain threshold. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include fatigue, abnormal sleep, mental/emotional disturbances, abdominal pain, migraine and tension headaches, and irritable bladder. Treatment of fibromyalgia involves patient education, medication, exercise, and stress reduction.
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Intestinal Gas
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Diarrhea
- Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
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Abdominal Pain
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Lactose Intolerance
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Indigestion (Dyspepsia, Upset Stomach)
- Dyspepsia (indigestion) is a functional disease in which the gastrointestinal organs, primarily the stomach and first part of the small intestine, function abnormally. It is a chronic disease in which the symptoms fluctuate infrequency and intensity. Symptoms of dyspepsia include upper abdominal pain, belching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, early satiety, and abdominal distention (swelling). These symptoms are most often provoked by eating.
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The Digestive System
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Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) refers to a condition in which abnormally large numbers of bacteria (at least 100,000 bacteria per ml of fluid) are present in the small intestine and the types of bacteria in the small intestine resemble more the bacteria of the colon than the small intestine. There are many conditions associated with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, to include: diabetes, scleroderma, Crohn's disease, and others. There is a striking similarity between the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and SIBO. It has been theorized that SIBO may be responsible for the symptoms of at least some patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms of SIBO include: excess gas, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Triggers and Prevention
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disease that can affect the quality of those who suffer from this condition. Individuals with IBS can make lifestyle changes that may modify or control the number and severity of episodes. Certain foods, medications, and hormone levels may trigger IBS episodes. Learn how to prevent the number and severity of IBS episodes of diarrhea and constipation.
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