Winter 2010 - St. Joseph's Health Care London

24
Vim & Vigour • WINTER 2010
Diarrhea
What it is: Loose stools that are often accompanied
by gas and bloating.
What it could mean : Diarrhea is frequently
associated with stomach viruses or bacterial
infections. Food intolerances, certain medications,
intestinal diseases and parasites also can
cause diarrhea. Certain foods and drinks such
as alcohol, caffeine and dairy products and even
stress produce diarrhea in some people.
What you should do: It’s normal to experience
diarrhea occasionally, but if you have loose
bowel movements for longer than two days, or if
you have pain, fever or blood in your stool, don’t
wait to call your doctor, Biali says.
heartburn
What it is: A burning sensation caused by the
reflux of gastric acid into the esophagus.
What it could mean: Certain foods can
trigger heartburn, including spicy dishes, tomatoes
and dairy products, as can smoking, being
overweight, lying down too soon after eating and
eating large meals.
What you should do: If you’re reaching
for over-the-counter antacids more than twice a
week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes
that could help prevent heartburn. If you experience
chest pain or other symptoms of heart
attack, call 911 immediately.
Online
Endoscopic
Excellence
The endoscopy clinic at St. Joseph’s
Hospital provides a range of specialized
diagnostic procedures for
gastrointestinal disorders. In June,
the unit moved to 10,000 square
feet of new, specially designed
space on level 0, across from the
Urgent Care Centre. This location
is spacious and bright with many
improvements in patient care,
comfort and privacy. The clinic
is staffed by an interdisciplinary
team of seven gastroenterologists,
five surgeons, nursing staff,
a clinical reception assistant, an
endoscopic cleaning technologist
and administrative staff, who
see 6,500 patient visits a year.
Procedures include:
• Colonoscopy
• Gastroscopy
• Endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography
• Monometry—esophageal and
rectal
• Endoscopic ultrasound
Before Your Procedure
To learn what to expect before your visit to the endoscopy clinic
at St. Joseph’s Hospital, go to www.sjhc.london.on.ca/
sjh/programs/gastroenterology/index.htm. Helpful
information is available on a variety of endoscopic procedures
to ensure patients are well prepared for their appointment.
photography by photolibrary