Giardia: Not a Traveler’s Best Friend

Giardiasis is a fairly common infection of the small intestines caused by the organism Giardia intestinalis (also known as Giardia lamblia). Giardia is a protozoan parasite that thrives in the intestinal tract of mammals and that reproduces by forming cysts, which are transmitted from host to host through the feces of an infected person or animal being ingested by another. The cysts …

Woman with Abdominal Pain

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), When the Mind-Body Connection Short Circuits

So many diseases and conditions in America are automatically treated with a prescription pad. But what if pills won’t help? “The mind and the body are linked, physically, neurologically, as well as emotionally, and that things that affect the mind can affect the gut and vice versa. If you do something to alleviate mind stressors, you can improve body functions.” …

Female Athlete

Do you or a loved one have the Female Athlete Triad?

How often does a doctor say “you need to gain weight?” We’re all used to medical professionals (and the media) focusing on weight loss and other ways to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease. What’s often overlooked is that a surprising number of otherwise healthy people actually suffer from being underweight, sometimes with devastating consequences. One group of such people is …