Maryland's Health Matters - BWMC - Fall 2013 - (Page 6)

GUT FEELINGS Is your abdominal pain something serious? I t’s the middle of the night and you develop an aching pain in your stomach. Perhaps that hamburger you ate for dinner wasn’t properly cooked and you’re experiencing indigestion. Or could it be a more serious stomach condition? The abdomen is home to many organs that work together to absorb and digest the food you eat. The organs act like a well-oiled machine—except for when something causes the machine to break down. You may have a gut feeling that that failure is more than just bloating or indigestion, and when you do, seeking proper care is crucial. “It can be hard to tell the difference between the discomfort you experience from food poisoning and the pain you experience from something such as a hernia, appendicitis or gallstones,” says University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center general surgeon Amy 6 MARYLAND’S HEALTH MATTERS Stump, MD. “It is important to be aware of your symptoms, and how quickly and where they appear, to know whether you should seek immediate medical attention.” The team of skilled general surgeons at UM BWMC uses minimally invasive techniques to ensure that when surgery is necessary to cure these common abdominal conditions, patients are treated with the highest quality of care, safety and compassion. APPENDICITIS While the function of the appendix is unknown, the small organ can still cause big problems. Appendicitis is a condition in which the appendix becomes inﬂamed, swollen and ﬁlled with pus, and can rupture if not promptly treated. It causes dull pain near the navel that can progress to severe pain in the lower right abdomen, where the ap General surgery is anything but general. To discover more,

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland's Health Matters - BWMC - Fall 2013

Maryland's Health Matters - BWMC - Fall 2013
Contents
A Healthy Start
Gut Feelings
A Winning Trial
At a Glance
Foundation Halls
News and Events

Maryland's Health Matters - BWMC - Fall 2013