Ghassan Al-Sabbagh, MD: Potential Acid Reflux Causes

Ghassan Al-Sabbagh MD, is a successful North Carolina physician with an excellent reputation for his knowledge in gastroenterology and hepatology. He has over thirty years of experience and has seen thousands of patients with acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.

Though countless patients suffer from acid reflux disease, doctors like Ghassan Al-Sabbagh, MD, aren’t always sure what the cause is. The disease can be caused by a variety of factors, such as those touched on below: 

 Hiatal Hernia

A hiatal hernia is a stomach abnormality that surfaces when the LES, or lower esophageal sphincter, and the upper part of the stomach move higher than the diaphragm. The diaphragm separates your chest from your stomach and normally helps prevent stomach acid from rising to the esophagus. A hiatal hernia makes it easier for the acid to rise. 

 
 Smoking

Smoking increases the risk of cancer in the esophagus and can contribute to acid reflux disease by reducing the function of the LES muscle. It can also cause acid reflux disease by increasing acid secretion, reducing salivation, impairing throat muscle reflexes and damaging mucus membranes. 

Pregnancy

Many women, especially those who have not had children, experience acid reflux when they become pregnant. Most prevalent during the third trimester, pregnancy-related acid reflux can be caused by the pressures of the growing fetus and the increase in hormone levels. 

Common Foods

Certain foods cause acid reflux more than others. These common foods include coffee, tea, alcohol, chocolate, carbonated beverages, spicy foods, garlic, onions, foods containing tomato, fatty foods, fried foods, mint and citrus fruits. 

NOTE: The above information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Seek the in-person advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider like GhassanAl-Sabbagh MD, with any questions regarding a medical condition. 

Read in details about Dr Ghassan Al-Sabbagh MD at here: https://www.sharecare.com/doctor/dr-ghassan-al-sabbagh

Ghassan Al-Sabbagh, MD: What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ghassan Al-Sabbagh, MD, received his Doctorate of Medicine degree in 1983 from Damascus University School of Medicine. He later came to the United States to further his education and become a specialist in gastroenterology and hepatology, and he has helped thousands from his North Carolina private practice. Ulcerative Colitis is among the many conditions that he has diagnosed and treated.

Ulcerative colitis is found in the lining of the large intestine. This chronic disease occurs when the lining becomes inflamed and develops ulcers that can produce mucous and pus. The ulceration and inflammation can result in abdominal pain and frequent bowel movements. With a skilled physician like Ghassan Al-Sabbagh, MD, though, you can understand this disease and manage your symptoms, allowing you to live a full life.

The inflammation and ulcerations are caused by an abnormal immune system response. The immune system mistakes materials like food and bacteria for foreign bodies, sending white blood cells to the large intestine lining. 

Unlike Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis affects only the lining of the colon. It is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Symptoms include more urgent bowel movements, persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal cramps and bloody stool. 

If you are suffering from ulcerative colitis, you might experience a lack of appetite and unexplained weight loss, accompanied by a feeling of fatigue and low energy. Symptoms can come and go, with distress-free periods lasting months or even years between flare-ups. Unfortunately, symptoms do return in time. This makes evaluation of certain treatments difficult for even the best physicians.  

NOTE: The above information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Seek the in-person advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider like GhassanAl-Sabbagh, MD, with any questions regarding a medical condition. 

Visit here to know more about Dr Ghassan Al-Sabbagh MD: https://www.sharecare.com/doctor/dr-ghassan-al-sabbagh

Ghassan Al-Sabbagh MD: Medical School: What to Expect

Ghassan Al-Sabbagh MD received his Doctorate of Medicine from Damascus University School of Medicine in Syria. Like all medical students, he spent years in school and underwent a rigorous residency program before becoming a doctor. If you are considering becoming a doctor, here is what you can expect after enrolling in medical school.

It will take you four years to complete your education, plus you'll need to spend another three to seven years in a residency program. The first two years of your education you will spend in the classroom and participate in labs. You'll have to take basic science classes, including pathology, anatomy, microbiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology. This is also the time you will learn how to interview and examine patients. During the first two years, you’ll also take between four and five courses that various in disciplines. By the end of the second year, you’ll be ready to take the first step of the USMLE.

The third and fourth years of medical school you will gain clinical experience. This is the time you will do rotations at hospitals and clinics that are affiliated with your school. You will be required to spend time assisting the residents. The residents you work with will depend on which specialty you've chosen to study. At the end of the fourth year, you'll need to take and pass, the second step of the USMLE.

After getting through the four years of medical school, you’ll earn you’ll Doctorate of Medicine degree. You will still need to pass the board exam and spend time completing your residency program. Ghassan Al-Sabbagh  has been a practicing doctor for more than thirty years, opening a gastroenterology private practice in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Ghassan Al-sabbagh: Symptoms, Treatments, and Prevention of Gallstones

Ghassan Al-sabbagh is a hepatologist and gastroenterologist from North Carolina. Ghassan Al-Sabbagh MD received higher education in biliary disease from 1998 to 1999. Biliary disease is defined as “any pathology affecting the gallbladder and its conduits”.

 A common condition of the gallbladder is gallstones lurking inside one’s gallbladder, which are hard deposits. A gallbladder is a small organ that is responsible for storing bile, a digestive fluid made in the liver. Some people have asymptomatic gallstones, meaning they have no symptoms at all. However, the symptoms may be: pain in the abdomen, fever, nausea, vomiting, clay colored stools or a yellowish tint in skin or eyes, indicating jaundice.

Several procedures of different types are performed for the diagnosis of gallstones. The tests include:

Abdominal CT scan

This is an imaging test taking pictures of one’s abdominal region and liver.

Ultrasound

This can be done to produce images of the abdomen. It is a preferred method to confirm the gallstone disease.

Gallbladder Radionuclide scan

This is a scan, in which a specialist injects into veins, a radioactive substance; and this scan takes around one hour to complete. This substance travels through blood to liver and gallbladder and highlights blockages or infections.

Blood tests

Blood tests can be done to measure bilirubin in the blood and to determine the functioning of the liver.

There are various treatment options used for the removal of stones or improvement in condition, which are:

Medications

Drugs can be prescribed to dissolve cholesterol-caused gallstones. However, medications can take a lot of time or years in the elimination of gallstones.

Surgery

It is the first option considered by a doctor. A common surgery known as laparoscopic gallbladder removal may be performed. It is a procedure in which a surgeon inserts a small lighted device by making incisions in the abdomen, in order to remove the gallbladder.

Ghassan Al-sabbagh Md stresses that a gallstone cannot be prevented, however the risk of having one can be reduced by eating a balanced diet, drinking lots of water every day in order to keep the body hydrated, and not skipping any meals. Rapid weight-loss can also increase the risk of gallstones, therefore, one should try to lose weight slowly and gradually.

Read more about Dr Ghassan Al-Sabbagh Md at here: http://www.vitals.com/doctors/Dr_Ghassan_Al-Sabbagh.html

Ghassan Al-Sabbagh: Surprising Causes of Acid Reflux

Ghassan Al-Sabbagh, an experienced physician who runs a private practice in Wake Forest, NC, has helped thousands of patients in his career. A specialist in gastroenterology and hepatology, one of the common ailments he’s treated is acid reflux. While it’s easy to think that acid reflux is an easy problem to spot and treat, it’s symptoms can be less than obvious in many instances.

Acid reflux, or heartburn, can cause Barrett’s esophagus if left untreated, which is a forerunner to esophageal cancer. The following are some symptoms of acid reflux you need to watch out for.

Chest pain

Chest pain occurs when stomach acid reaches the esophagus, which is a classic symptom of acid reflux. Sometimes, however, the pain can carry on longer and become more intense. Chest pain, regardless of intensity, shouldn’t be ignored, especially if it gets worse with physical activity.

Nausea

It’s hard to associate nausea with acid reflux, but it is an unusual symptom of the condition. If nausea tends to start after meals, it’s an indication that acid reflux might be the cause. Antacid medication can be the solution to ease the discomfort.

Hoarse voice

You might think a cracking voice is the result of a cold you feel coming on, but stomach acid leaking into the esophagus can also be a reason. When your voice gets gruff, especially after eating, it could be reflux. 

Difficulty in swallowing

With time, the damage caused by acid reflux scars the esophageal tissue, which in turn swells and makes it difficult to eat.

Ghassan Al-Sabbagh MD runs a GI practice with offices in Wake Forest, Raleigh, Knightdale and Louisburg in North Carolina.