Johns Hopkins Health - Spring 2009 - (Page 5)

Chronic gut problems affect millions, lling doctors’ of ces with patients and pharmacy counters with drugs. Sometimes, the best treatment combines old and new eople with chronic digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, GERD and gastroparesis are often facing off against the persnickety nature of their conditions, particularly where treatments are concerned. “One patient can respond completely differently to a specific treatment than another patient with the same symptoms,” says gastroenterologist Linda Lee, M.D. “Or a treatment becomes ineffective after having worked for some time.” On the Right Tract resource for patients who struggle with chronic GI conditions. More Women Than Men Old Meets New For chronic GI conditions, sustained answers are as complex as the human body itself. Drugs—over the counter and prescription—are often the focus. “We often think good medicine is the hightech drugs, procedures and tests,” Lee says. “But it’s not always just about prescribing a drug or scheduling a procedure.” Lee—a conventionally trained gastroenterologist—heads the Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine and Digestive Center, which draws on the expertise of both traditional and complementary medicine specialists, such as acupuncturists and medical massage therapists. It’s a comprehensive care approach that addresses the needs of the whole person, Lee says, and is a powerful Good nutrition and stress reduction are areas that can have a huge impact on GI problems, for example. Also, women in particular outnumber men when it comes to GI conditions such as IBS and gastroparesis, and the center focuses on those gender susceptibilities. Gastroparesis—a delayed emptying of the stomach that causes symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and bloating—is a classic example both of a condition that affects primarily women and for which physicians may reach first for the pharmacologic solution. “ e problem,” Lee says, “is that the only FDA-approved drug for gastroparesis can have terrible side effects. So, in this case as in so many other GI illnesses, we really need to be thinking beyond a pharmacologic approach about how we’re treating our patients.” Stats and Facts ◗ More than 95 million Americans experience some kind of digestive problem. More than 10 million are hospitalized each year to treat digestive problems. Digestive diseases rank second among all causes of disability due to illness in the U.S. Annual sales of prescription and over-the-counter drugs for GI problems is about $2.5 billion. ◗ ◗ ◗ Learn more about the Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine and Digestive Center at hopkins-gi.org, including podcasts. Call 800-547-5182 for appointments or consultations. hopkinsmedicine.org | 800-547-5182 spring 2009 johns hopkins health | 5 | http://www.hopkins-gi.org http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Johns Hopkins Health - Spring 2009

Johns Hopkins Health - Spring 2009
Contents
Protect Your Prostate
On the Right Tract
Losing Sleep
All Encompassing
Vanity Aside

Johns Hopkins Health - Spring 2009

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