Blog Archives
Are Artificial Sweeteners the Answer to Your Sugar Problem?
Nobody would blame you if you said that sugary foods are your weakness. Whether it’s soda, cake, alcohol or the multitude of other foods and drinks that contain lots of sugar, it has become a staple in our lives. And, unfortunately, it is a vicious cycle. The more sugar we consume, the more tolerance we have and the more we crave. Processed and restaurant foods and drinks contain ever more sugar to satisfy our cravings and the result is weight gain.
Can the Gastric Sleeve be Performed on an Outpatient Basis?
Let’s get right to it and say…yes! We are outfitted with the most advanced robotic surgical technology, known as the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system – specifically created for general surgeries including bariatric surgery.
While we do perform many of our sleeves in the outpatient setting, not all weight loss surgery procedures can be handled at an ambulatory surgery center. Some patients will require an overnight hospital stay. This is especially true for patients that, either due to poor health or other reasons, have a higher risk of complications. For high-risk patients, it is important that they have access to the full breath of hospital services in case of a complication.
What Made You Have Bariatric Surgery?
What was your motivation to pursue weight loss surgery? Did a physician mention it to you? If not, was your PCP supportive? If you spoke to 10 different prospective bariatric patients who walk into our office, they will all have broadly similar goals – losing weight, improving their lifestyle, getting healthier, living longer and having better social and work opportunities. But ask them how they arrived at the decision to have bariatric surgery and you may get some very different answers.
Is There Evidence for a Set Point That Regulates Human Body Weight?
Weight loss is hard. Even harder is keeping the weight off. There is a theory, known as the Set Point Theory, that some believe explain why our bodies fight weight loss and so easily regain weight after we have worked hard to lose it. While traditional thinking about how our bodies regulate weight have long said calories in versus calories out equals the balance of weight gain or loss, this very simplistic view does not account for many factors that contribute to how our body works. These factors include intricate systems and feedback mechanisms that allow for our body and brain to communicate.
Are You at Risk of Diabetes?
Tapping into a great deal of research involving excess blood sugar, we now know more than ever before about diabetes – also known as the silent killer. It is so named because many of the significant follow-on effects of the disease are not readily apparent until they have caused serious and often permanent damage (nerve damage, kidney disease, blood circulation issues and more). Sadly, the CDC expects that over a third of the US population will have diabetes by 2050, representing the single greatest threat to our collective health. Unfortunately, many people simply do not know that they have diabetes, or pre-diabetes — a precursor to the full-blown disease. Further, diabetes is a chronic disease. Meaning, once you have it, it cannot be cured – only managed.
Cologuard® versus Colonoscopy. Which is Better?
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and its incidence and severity have increased as our diets have worsened over the years. Fortunately, however, detection of colorectal diseases has improved tremendously over the past several decades. Today, with proper screening, colorectal cancer is one of the most detectable and treatable cancers. Your doctor will recommend that you begin colon cancer screening around the age of 45 or 50 if you have no family history of the disease and if you are at normal risk. The screening schedule will be more aggressive if you are at a higher risk.
What Will Eating Be Like After Bariatric Surgery?
So many of us are sick and tired of being overweight, obese, and ill. We may have lived with our diseases for years, decades or even our entire adult life. The stories we hear from our patients are all unique, varied and emotional. And even though bariatric surgery may be very daunting, one of the questions we are asked most frequently is what eating will be like after surgery. After all, we all love good food and it would be an absolute shame if we couldn’t enjoy what we eat for the rest of our lives.
We’re here to tell you that you have nothing to worry about.
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Do I Need My Large Intestine? Do I Need My Small Intestine?
The gastrointestinal tract is a varied and complex bodily system. Two critical components of this system are the large and small intestines. While you may initially think that the large intestine is longer, that’s not the case. Actually, large and small refer to the diameter of the intestines. The small intestine is very long (20 feet!) and thin, while the large intestine is shorter and wide.
Can Thinning the Waist Help Prevent Thinning in the Brain?
On July 31st, 2019, Dr. Husain Abbas of MASJax appeared in an interview for local station News4Jax to discuss recent study findings tying increased body mass index, a common measure for obesity, to increased risk of dementia.
We know that obesity has many health consequences including cardiovascular problems and diabetes, but a new study in the Journal of Neurology1 also indicates your excess weight may also affect your mental health including your cognitive function and diseases like dementia.
Surgical GERD Treatment: LINX vs. Traditional Fundoplication
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, more commonly known by its abbreviation GERD, is an all too common condition. Caused by dysfunction of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), which controls flow into the top of the stomach from the esophagus, chronic acid reflux can lead to frequent discomfort and long-term damage to the upper GI system. GERD can be difficult to manage with several contributing factors like diet, weight, age, and lifestyle.
Patients often start with lifestyle modifications and oral medication like antacids and Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs). These, however, do not treat the dysfunction, only attempt to mitigate the symptoms of the LES failure. Further long-term PPI use may be problematic Surgical treatment is the only true corrective option for GERD. Please read below as we discuss the differences and benefits of the two reflux surgery options.
