We all experience the occasional stomach ache from time to time. Maybe you ate something that didn’t agree with you or caught a stomach bug. While this is often just an unfortunate part of life, frequent and debilitating stomach aches and pain may indicate a more serious illness, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

IBD is an umbrella term for both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both conditions are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract,

According to the National Institute for Health (NIH), approximately 65% of the human population has a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy. Lactose is a natural sugar commonly found in milk and dairy products. Lactase is an enzyme found in the small intestines which breaks lactose down into more simple sugars to be absorbed into the body.  When there is a deficiency in lactase, undigested lactose in the intestines pulls in water and gets fermented by bacteria which results in gas production.

Have you ever had a gallstone? Many people haven’t even heard of them, but they are actually quite common. Although they sometimes occur and pass without a person experiencing any symptoms, they can cause pain, discomfort, and even complications, so it’s good to know what they are and the symptoms you may experience.

First of all, it’s good to have some basic definitions. Gallstones are hardened deposits or “stones” of digestive fluid – also known as bile – that can form in your gallbladder.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the large intestine that is characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, cramping and diarrhea or constipation that has lasted at least 6 months. Women are twice as likely as men to develop IBS and it is more common in people who are in their mid-forties or younger. IBS is chronic disorder, meaning it can last for many years, but it is not a disease. Symptoms may come and go over time,