Category: Digestive Health

Disclaimer: This is general health information only and is not a substitute for advice from your GP or healthcare professional. 1. What is irritable bowel syndrome? Irritable bowel syndrome is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects how the bowel works. It causes recurrent abdominal pain associated with changes in bowel habits, without any identifiable…

Disclaimer: This is general health information only and is not a substitute for advice from your GP or healthcare professional. 1. What is SIBO? SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. While the large intestine normally contains large numbers of bacteria, the small intestine should have relatively few. SIBO occurs when bacteria migrate from the…

Disclaimer: This is general health information only and is not a substitute for advice from your GP or healthcare professional. 1. What is MASLD? MASLD is a condition in which fat accumulates in the liver due to metabolic dysfunction, such as insulin resistance, obesity, high blood sugar, or abnormal cholesterol. It is the updated term…

Disclaimer: This is general health information only and is not a substitute for advice from your GP or healthcare professional. 1. What is faecal calprotectin? Faecal calprotectin is a protein found in white blood cells that appears in the stool when there is inflammation in the intestines. It is used as a non-invasive marker to…

Disclaimer: This is general health information only and is not a substitute for advice from your GP or healthcare professional. 1. What is IBD? Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a term for chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, mainly including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It causes ongoing gastrointestinal symptoms and may affect quality of…

Disclaimer: This is general health information only and is not a substitute for advice from your GP or healthcare professional. 1. What is Barrett’s oesophagus? Barrett’s oesophagus is a condition in which the normal lining of the lower oesophagus changes to a different type of tissue, usually as a result of long-term acid reflux (gastro-oesophageal…

Disclaimer: This is general health information only and is not a substitute for advice from your GP or healthcare professional. 1. What is diverticulitis? Diverticulitis is a condition where small pouches (diverticula) in the lining of the bowel become inflamed or infected. It most commonly affects the large intestine. 2. What causes diverticulitis? Diverticulitis occurs…

Disclaimer: This is general health information only and is not a substitute for advice from your GP or healthcare professional. 1. What is lactose intolerance? Lactose intolerance is a digestive condition in which the body is unable to properly digest lactose, the natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. This happens because of low…

Disclaimer: This is general health information only and is not a substitute for advice from your GP or healthcare professional. 1. What is coeliac disease? Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition in which eating gluten triggers an immune reaction that damages the lining of the small intestine. This damage affects nutrient absorption. 2. What causes…