By: Said Nabhan, M.D. Colon cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer, thanks to colonoscopies, which can detect and remove small growths, called polyps, before they potentially become malignant. But did you know that a range of simple everyday practices can help prevent those polyps from ever even forming? Because March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we’re using this blog to share some of those practices, beginning with why polyps form. Why Colon Polyps Pop Up A polyp is a little cluster of cells that can grow in various parts of your body, including the lining of the colo ..read more

March 2024 Delaying Your Colonoscopy? Why You Shouldn’t. You might think you have plenty of time to schedule a colonoscopy, but waiting can be costly. The five-year survival rate for colorectal cancer is 64%. If caught early, it’s 91%. We know colorectal cancer develops slowly. There’s just a 24% chance that a pea-sized polyp will become cancerous in 20 years. It’s enough to make you think there’s no rush to get screened. But that delay can mean the difference between a normal life and one that includes cancer treatment. Such delays may be why colorectal cancer remains the second-deadliest ..read more

By: Gregory Lam, D.O. Here’s a pop quiz question anyone should get: What automatic act does your body make that requires your brain, several nerves, a few muscles, and the esophagus? Here’s a hint: It’s no gag. The answer is swallowing. A range of complex body functions kicks in every time you chew food, so you can get it down comfortably. If something goes wrong in that process, you might feel like your food has gotten stuck in your esophagus (the food tube), or worse – it goes down the wrong pipe. The medical term for this disorder is dysphagia. Don’t confuse it with how difficult it ..read more

By: Said Nabhan, M.D. If you feel like your three square meals are making actual squares in your gut, it might be time to add a round of greens. Greens – and oranges, reds, yellows, and even browns. These are the colors of the plant-based foods your body craves – not just fruits and vegetables but also whole grains, nuts, and beans. And the key location through which these nutrients must travel, in order to benefit your body, is square in your gut. That’s where your gut microbiome lives. And it loves to feed on plants. Hold Up. Something’s Living In My Gut? The gut microbiome is not simply a ..read more

By: Gregory Lam, D.O. Here’s a pop quiz question anyone should get: What automatic act does your body make that requires your brain, several nerves, a few muscles, and the esophagus? Here’s a hint: It’s no gag. The answer is swallowing. A range of complex body functions kicks in every time you chew food, so you can get it down comfortably. If something goes wrong in that process, you might feel like your food has gotten stuck in your esophagus (the food tube), or worse – it goes down the wrong pipe. The medical term for this disorder is dysphagia. Don’t confuse it with how difficult it ..read more

So what’s it going to be for you next year? Keto? Pilates? Dry January? Each year around this time, millions of people vow to start living in healthier ways, and then embark on specific programs that promise to deliver on their personal goals. But many don’t stick around. We suggest a new approach: let your healthy gut be the goal to overall wellness. Your gut is headquarters to trillions of the most important health leaders of your body – good bacteria, viruses, and fungi that make up your gut microbiome. Together, they break down and sort nutrients as they pass through your intestines, put ..read more

December 2023 Raising Awareness About Abdominal Pain That Won’t Go Away The first week of December is National Crohn’s and Colitis Week. The goal is to raise awareness about Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) which are disorders that cause chronic inflammation of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Two of the most common forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.  If you have an IBD, you may be experiencing abdominal pain that won’t go away. It may be intense, crampy, and last for weeks or longer (not the occasional pain of a stomach bug or gas). Other signs of IBD may include ..read more

Cincinnati (October 23, 2023) – The Anderson Endoscopy Center, owned and operated by Cincinnati GI, was recognized on Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers 2024 for the fourth consecutive year. Cincinnati GI is a specialty physician group focused on diagnosing and treating conditions and diseases of the digestive tract. For 2024, Cincinnati GI’s Anderson Endoscopy Center is ranked 14th in Ohio and is the only outpatient surgery center in Cincinnati recognized on this year’s list. The full list for Ohio can be viewed here. About Cincinnati GI Cincinnati GI has served pa ..read more

Forget about remembering what you had for dinner last night. The more important question is: Do you have any idea where that dinner is now? It’s a wonder that our bodies are capable of digesting everything we put into them, typically without complaint, while we go on our merry way. But maybe you should take a few moments to wonder about what’s going on in there. A healthy digestive system does so much more than turn food into energy and push what’s left out of your body. When it’s running well, your gastrointestinal tract strengthens your immune system, it regulates your mood, and it helps yo ..read more

By Said Nabhan, MD There are many ways a doctor can see your insides. However, when it comes to your digestion, only one procedure can see the full journey your food travels. The gastrointestinal endoscopy, which typically involves the use of a thin, camera-equipped tube (endoscope) to see inside your digestive tract, is a common and safe diagnostic procedure. Nearly 25 million endoscopies are performed in the United States every year, including about 12,000 here at Cincinnati GI. Still, many people are unsure what to expect. Let’s scope it out. Explaining the Basics: Upper and Lower Endosco ..read more