Maryland's Health Matters - Midtown - Summer 2013 - (Page 15)

ABOUT THE DOC Jeffrey Schwartz, MD, graduated from Amherst College and received his medical degree from New York University. Gut Feelings What is your ailing abdomen trying to tell you? D igestive issues are uncomfortable to experience and to discuss. “It’s common for most people to experience digestive problems from time to time,” says Jeffrey Schwartz, MD, division head of Gastroenterology at University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus. “But about 10 to 20 percent of the population has serious symptoms.” Here is a list of common digestive issues: CONSTIPATION What it could mean: Constipation has many causes, including not eating enough ﬁber, lack of exercise, certain medications, pregnancy, dehydration, and certain diseases and conditions, such as stroke. What you should do: “To have regular bowel movements, it’s important to exercise regularly, drink enough water and eat a diet with enough ﬁber,” Dr. Schwartz says. Gradually incorporate more ﬁber into your diet by eating whole grains, fruits and veggies, and amp up the Dr. Schwartz completed his internship, residency and fellowship at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. He then went on to operate his own private practice for 15 years. In 2009, Dr. Schwartz became director of the gastroenterology unit at Maryland General Hospital, now University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus. He spe- exercise. Ask your doctor if constipation could be a side effect of medications you are taking. If you discover blood in your stool, see a physician immediately. GAS AND BLOATING What it could mean: Gas often results from eating certain foods, but smoking, stress, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease (a gluten intolerance), lactose intolerance and infection are also contributors. What you should do: Talk with your physician to rule out lactose intolerance, food sensitivities or celiac disease. Reduce or eliminate foods that cause excess gas, such as beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, soda, cauliﬂower and gum. DIARRHEA What it could mean: Diarrhea is frequently associated with stomach viruses or bacterial infections. Food intolerances, certain medications, intestinal diseases and parasites can also cause diarrhea. Certain  Find the perfect doctor for your needs at umm.edu/midtown/ﬁndadoctor. cializes in treating Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Dr. Schwartz is board-certiﬁed* in gastroenterology and internal medicine. *To become board-certiﬁed, a physician must spend several years—in some cases more than six years—after medical school getting supervised, in-practice training. GET TREATMENT OPTIONS Schedule an appointment with Dr. Schwartz at 443-552-2537. foods and drinks, such as alcohol, caffeine and dairy products, and even stress, produce diarrhea in some people. What you should do: 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. umm.edu/midtown | Summer 2013 15 http://www.umm.edu/midtown http://www.umm.edu/midtown/findadoctor

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland's Health Matters - Midtown - Summer 2013

Maryland's Health Matters - Midtown - Summer 2013
Contents
A Healthy Start
Back in Balance
'We Give Parents Hope'
At a Glance

Maryland's Health Matters - Midtown - Summer 2013