Medical

 Doctor's Corner

 

Josh Watson, MD and the American College of Gastroenterology compile the Digestive Health SmartBrief containing news and information for your GI health.

The email newsletter is distributed monthly and the sample on this page represents one story of many included in the full version. To receive and view the full newsletter, please sign up athttps://www.smartbrief.com/dhsb/index.jsp

Digestive Health SmartBrief

Data suggest probiotics could help reduce constipation
Studies of probiotic supplements to manage constipation found that they may slow gut transit time, increase bowel movements and soften stools, according to a report by British researchers. Dr. Allan Walker at Harvard Medical School, a probiotics expert, said the evidence still is not enough to recommend a specific probiotic, but that probiotics overall could help deal with constipation and other health issues. Harvard Health Publications/Harvard Health Blog (8/21)

 

The FDA on Monday approved an at-home, DNA-based colorectal screening test from Exact Sciences that can spot genetic mutations linked to cancerous and precancerous growth in the colon. The Cologuard test was able to detect more cancers during clinical trials compared with blood testing. The test isn't meant to replace more thorough evaluation methods, such as colonoscopy, but rather to encourage more people to be screened, doctors say. STILL HAVE YOUR COLONOSCOPY! FoxNews.com (8/12)