November is Stomach Cancer Awareness Month

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By Nurse Diane

This month has been spent with a lot of focus on food with information about what to eat, and what problems can develop such as GERD and diabetes problems especially with the recent passage of Thanksgiving, the biggest eating day of the year, well for me anyway.

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One of the issues about the digestive system hasn't been talked about yet, and that is stomach cancer.  November is Stomach Cancer Awareness Month.  Stomach cancer is the fourth deadliest cancer in the country.  It is the second leading cause of cancer death in the world!  The main reason that this has such a high death rate is because it is ever even detected, it has already been present in your body for some time.

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Studies have shown that this type of cancer is largely hereditary, but there are some other factors that can put you at risk too...such as:

• Smoking;
• Obesity;
• Diets low in fruits and vegetables; and
• Diets high in smoked, salted and pickled foods.

Some ways to help prevent getting this cancer include:

• Early detection is the key to surviving stomach cancer.
• Lifestyle changes, such as smoking cessation and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, can potentially reduce the risk of stomach cancer
• Treatment of H. pylori infection (a common bacterial infection of the stomach) can decrease the risk of stomach cancer development.
• Knowing your family history and discussing it with your healthcare provider can help determine if you are at risk for inherited cancer syndromes

Signs and Symptoms of Stomach Cancer include:

• Loss of appetite;
• Unexplained weight loss;
• Bloating;
• Sense of fullness after eating small amounts of food (also called early satiety);
• Abdominal pain or vague discomfort in the abdomen, usually above the navel;
• Heartburn, indigestion or ulcer-type symptoms;
• Nausea; and
• Vomiting, with or without blood.

Ways to increase your awareness of Stomach Cancer include:

1. Know the factors that put you at risk for stomach cancer.
2. Know the signs and symptoms of stomach cancer.
3. Know your family history.

To learn more about Stomach Cancer, and things you can do, visit this site, and make sure to see your doctor if you have a family history, or any of the above signs or symptoms. Early detection and active prevention is essential for a healthier life.  http://www.nostomachforcancer.org/about-us

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Awareness Week

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By Nurse Diane

Yesterday when I was at my dad's house - he started talking about Thanksgiving dinner, and what all I wanted to see on the table.  As I started listing all the dishes that I like - my mind started to wander about this article.   It occurred to me that while I can eat nearly everything without any problems, except weigh gain, there are other members of my family who are not as fortunate.

This week is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Awareness Week (GERD).The most prominent symptom is heartburn.  After eating such a big meal, such as a Thanksgiving feast, you may have this symptom.  Occasional bouts of heartburn are not necessarily caused by GERD.  When I would work in the hospital emergency room - every Sunday we would have several patients come in with fears of heart attacks.  The reason being after a big Sunday dinner, they would have indigestion.

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Some other symptoms of GERD include:

• Chest Pain;
• Sore Throat;
• Hoarseness;
• Feeling of food being stuck in the Chest area;
• Frequent throat clearing;
• Coughing; and
• Regurgitation of food and liquids.

Treatment options include lifestyle modifications, medications, surgery, or a combination of methods. Over-the-counter preparations provide only temporary symptom relief. They do not prevent recurrence of symptoms or allow an injured esophagus to heal. They should not be taken regularly as a substitute for prescription medicines – they may be hiding a more serious condition. If needed regularly, for more than two weeks, consult a physician for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

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This week is Gastro esophageal Reflux Disease Awareness Week For more information about GERD, visit this sitehttp://www.aboutgerd.org/site/about-gerd/gerd-awareness-week, or call the GERD hotline at toll-free (U.S.) at 1-888-964-2001 to receive information and support regarding GERD.

National Fresh Breath Day

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By Nurse Diane

My son's breath could actually peel paint.  It smells like he has always just eaten garlic pizza.  For Easter and Christmas I always put some gum or mints in his basket and stocking.

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This is not as uncommon as you may think.  There are several reasons for bad breath, or halitosis.  Sometime it is because of something you have just eaten, such as garlic or onions, or it can also be the cause of bad oral hygiene.  Things such as failure to brush or floss, an infected tooth, broken dentures can all harbor bacteria which can cause a malodorous smell.

Sometimes the cause of bad breath can be even more difficult to diagnose.  Some other causes can be Sinus infections, tonsil problems, GERD or acid reflux.

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Smoking can also increase changes of bad breath along with certain medications or use of alcohol.  A friend of mine who used to drink frequently would visit his dentist after tossing back a few.  He said he would feel terrible that his dentist would be subjected to his foul smelling breath, but today he no longer drinks, and he cleans and flosses his teeth regularly.

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The first way to help combat this problem is to first brush, floss and use mouthwash daily.  If this doesn't end the problem, then you may want to visit your dentist to see if there are any dental problems that should be taken care of. If that checks out then you may need to visit your regular physician to see if there are any health problems that need attention.

Some quick fixes are to:

• Chew sugarless gum.  This will keep your mouth moist;
• Chew parsley leaves;
• Use mints;
• Use a breath spray;
• Use mouthwash after meals;
• Brush after meals if possible; and or
• Keep your tongue clean.

Your mouth is a warm wet dark place, the perfect environment for bacteria to grow.  

Maintaining good oral hygeine will help to keep your breath fresh and allow you to get close to your loved one instead of having them keep their distance from you.

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Today is National Fresh Breath Day, so freshen up your breath and let others around you breathe free.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Awareness Week

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By Diane Forrest, RN

"It was a Monday, and I felt uncomfortable in class. Tuesday rolled around and I was too sick to attend school. A visit to the doctors only resulted in "a virus" so I was told to stay home until I felt better. Too bad I didn’t feel better! As my absences started piling up, I tried to go back to school. But I wasn’t able. Two weeks and 3 doctors’ appointments later I was diagnosed with GERD. I am 16, and I was told to make lifestyle changes such as cutting out dairy, greasy foods, spicy foods, chocolate, soda, and any citrus foods. Do you know how hard this is? I don’t think people are aware how crazy this is, unless you have to deal with it. I will forever have to deal with this, and I don’t even know how I will. I can't imagine my life without chocolate. This was a story submitted on www.aboutgerd.com. 

What is GERD?  Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition in which the stomach contents (food or liquid) leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach). This action can irritate the esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms.

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Some factors that can cause GERD are:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Pregnancy
• Hiatal Hernia
• Alcohol
• Scleroderma

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Some of the signs include:

• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Feeling of food stuck behind the breastbone

Treatment includes:

• Lifestyle changes, such as changing the foods you eat, or sleeping habits
• Antacids or prescription medications
• Take Tylenol only for pain relief.

Expectations:

Most people respond to lifestyle changes and medications. However, many patients need to continue taking drugs to control their symptoms.

For more information about GERD click on this site:  http://www.aboutgerd.org/