Healthy digestion is the foundation for good health. Digestive complaints are very common and can include gas, bloating, reflux, indigestion, constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
More serious digestive disorders include gastritis, stomach ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, cholecystitis (inflammation and infection of the gallbladder), proctitis (inflammation of the anal canal) and hepatitis.
Some common causes of digestive complaints are infection and/or dysbiosis (an imbalance of healthy-to-harmful bacteria), liver and/or gallbladder dysfunction, poor secretion of stomach acid or enzymes, high stress, food allergies or sensitivities, inflammation and toxicity.
Digestive issues can be mutli-factorial in nature. The more chronic the digestive issue, the more likely there is more than contributing factor – often, the issue cannot be solved by eliminating certain foods alone.
If untreated, digestive distress can lead to systemic problems such as hormonal imbalance, poor nutrient absorption, weight gain and/or weight loss resistance, systemic inflammation, depression and anxiety, skin complaints (rashes, acne, psoriasis, rosacea), chronic congestion, weakened immune function, joint pain, headaches and fatigue. If you have a history of IBD (Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Proctitis, Celiac Disease), you have a significantly increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. The risk of cancer is greater the longer the inflammatory episode of the IBD persists.
At Port Moody Health, we begin with a comprehensive assessment of your digestive health history and (if indicated) recommend testing to clarify the clinical picture before initiating a treatment plan. If there are multiple factors involved, treatment is strategically planned and executed in stages to heal the digestive system in the correct order, ensuring complete health is restored to the digestive system.
Some of the tests we offer at Port Moody Health include: