Digestive & Other ComplaintsNot only are digestive disorders a common problem for nearly 90 million Americans, they also result in a massive number of doctors visits every year. This is because the symptoms can be subtle, the causes difficult to identify, and the treatment complex. At Los Angeles Integrative Gastroenterology & Nutrition, we take a unique approach to diagnosing and treating your digestive and non-digestive disorders. In combination with traditional Western Medicine, we bring knowledge and experience in integrative holistic medicine to help your symptoms. We help you discover the cause of your trouble and create a nutritional and lifestyle plan customized for you.

Common Digestive Disorders

Digestive disorders cover a broad range of conditions, including problems with the gastrointestinal tract, the liver, the gallbladder, and the pancreas. Some of the most common disorders we diagnose are:

  • Abnormal stool content
  • Acid reflux
  • Barrett’s esophagus
  • Blood in stool
  • Candida Enteritis
  • Celiac disease
  • Colitis
  • Constipation
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Diarrhea
  • Diverticular disease
  • Diverticulosis
  • Diverticulitis
  • Food allergies
  • Food sensitivities
  • Gas
  • Gastroparesis
  • GERD
  • Gluten sensitivity
  • H. pylori
  • Increased intestinal permeability
  • Indigestion
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Lactose intolerance
  • Leaky gut
  • Low stomach acid
  • Malnutrition
  • Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
  • Stealth infections (cryptic infections such as Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, co-infections)
  • Ulcerative colitis

Non-Digestive Disorders

At LA Integrative Gastroenterology & Nutrition, we generally address a broad variety of non-digestive disorders as well. Because all parts of the body are ultimately related to the digestive system and the food we eat, we are often able to address seemingly non-digestive conditions such as headache or fatigue. We do this by using an integrative approach that combines the best of both holistic and Western Medicine. This integrative method helps us provide a broader range of options to our patients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know if I’m gluten intolerant or not?

A: Non-celiac gluten sensitivity can cause symptoms throughout the body. These include skin problems, brain fog, joint pain, rashes, and numbness in the arms and legs. The most common digestive symptoms are diarrhea and stomach ache. Some people have also been diagnosed with gluten-induced headaches, anxiety, and depression. If you have some or all of these symptoms, you may want to get checked for gluten intolerance.

Q: What is Crohn’s disease and who is affected by it?

A: Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that occurs in the gastrointestinal tract. It is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that typically affects the small bowel and the colon. The most common symptoms are diarrhea, rectal bleeding, cramps and abdominal pain, constipation, and an urgent need to move the bowels. Crohn’s disease is most prevalent among men and women between the ages of 15 and 35, but can occur at any age.

Q: How can a gastroenterologist help me with non-digestive disorders?

A: While the human body is made up of a variety of different symptoms, they are all connected through the food we eat and how it is digested. The digestive system is the part of the body that takes in fuel from outside and sends it out to other areas of the body. So when something is off in one of these other parts of the body, it is often related to a problem that started in the digestive system.

Q: What is the difference between food allergies and food sensitivities?

A: A food allergy is a specific type of immune system response. Food allergies cause an immediate and severe reaction that may lead to a life-threating allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can result in breathing trouble and dangerously low blood pressure. Food sensitivities are more of a gradual reaction and do not involve an immune system response.

Q: Do I have acid reflux or GERD?

A: Acid reflux and GERD are closely related but not necessarily the same thing. “Acid reflux” refers to a general symptom described by patients. GERD is a medical term in which “acid reflux” (heartburn) is the primary symptom. GERD may also include coughing, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, and chest pain.

Contact a Los Angeles Digestive Disorders Expert

In addition to using the best and latest techniques of Western Medicine, we at LA Integrative Gastroenterology & Nutrition attempt to address difficult digestive and non-digestive disorders using a holistic, “whole-person” approach. Email us or call (310) 289-8000 to schedule your consultation.

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