Abdominal pain refers to discomfort in the belly region, which is the home to the stomach, gallbladder, liver, small and large intestines, and pancreas. Together, these organs make up your digestive system, and any disease or disorder that affects them can cause abdominal pain. But pain can also stem from...
When you’re overweight, you know it — your body bulges, your clothes get tight, and the scale starts groaning. But did you know that your organs can also develop a weight problem? Specifically, your liver can build up fat and become enlarged. This is called fatty liver disease, which can...
Hemorrhoids are nothing more than swollen veins; they crop up in a sensitive spot — your anus. The private nature of the location makes some people avoid the topic and avoid seeking help, but the truth is hemorrhoids are quite common. At some point in time, one in 20 Americans experiences the problem. Dr....
Thin people can indeed experience heartburn, but overweight people are more prone, and there’s a clear link between obesity and acid reflux. Here, Dr. Ayub Hussain at Northside Gastroenterology Associates in Cypress and Katy, Texas, explains the connection and what can be done. Understanding the lingo Before diving into the relationship between weight...
No matter how old we are, what gender we are, how wealthy we are, or how we vote, there’s one thing that binds us all together: gas. We all have it and wish we could avoid passing it in public. Gas production is a natural part of digestion, so you...
Pregnancy is one of the most joyful phases of life, but it can also come with a long list of uncomfortable physical effects. One of the lesser-known aspects of pregnancy is the risk of developing hemorrhoids. Many of our pregnant patients are unaware of these painful, itchy veins bulge out around...
Everyone experiences occasional acid reflux and heartburn, and about 20% of American adults suffer from these symptoms multiple times a week due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If you’re one of them, you may also belch a lot, have trouble swallowing, and experience chest pain. Untreated GERD can cause bleeding ulcers and tissue damage, leading...
Living with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) means avoiding acidic and spicy foods, losing weight, not smoking, and keeping your head elevated when you sleep. You may even take medicine to manage your GERD symptoms. But suddenly dealing with asthma was never on your radar. If you’re experiencing the symptoms of both conditions,...
It’s a cruel fact of life that your body begins to break down just about the time when you retire and have more free time to do what you want. Arthritis sets into your joints, your vision gets a little blurry, and your hearing loses its edge, and your memory...
It’s never easy to talk about issues you’re having “down there” and we understand why. However, leaving a problem like hemorrhoids to its own devices can leave you dealing with long-term pain and other complications. Our specialist at Northside Gastroenterology Associates, Dr. Ayub Hussain, knows how important information is to managing...
Endoscopy uses a long, slender instrument with a tiny camera at the tip to give doctors a better look at your internal organs, vessels, and tissues. It only takes a tiny incision, so recovery time and wound care are simple and easy. At Northside Gastroenterology in Cypress and Katy, Texas,...
Nearly 53,000 Americans die from colon cancer every year. Although colon cancer typically occurs in people over age 65, more than 10% of folks under 50 get diagnosed as well. These staggering stats are enough to make you grab the phone and book a colon cancer screening right now, and we’re glad you’re motivated....
If you’ve been lying awake at night worrying about fiber, you may be overthinking it. But if you never think about fiber at all, you may be one of the 90%-95% of Americans who lacks this essential nutrient and has related medical conditions to show for it. At Northside Gastroenterology...
If you’re experiencing abdominal pain and need an expert diagnosis, you’ve come to the right place. Dr. Ayub Hussain, our board-certified specialist at Northside Gastroenterology Associates, offers patient-centered care to folks throughout Cypress and Houston, Texas. Abdominal pain is a common symptom that could indicate several different conditions. Here, Dr....
Occasional stomach aches are common occurrences, and you can usually handle them with rest, antacids, or a bowel movement. But when severe stomach pain hits, your world stops, and you start wondering who you should call for answers. If you live in or around Cypress or Katy, Texas, the solution...
When your stomach acid flows upward into your esophagus — a condition called acid reflux — the painful burning sensation in your chest is unmistakable. Commonly called heartburn thanks to its proximity to your ticker, acid reflux in its mildest form can be annoying and uncomfortable, and in its more...
Unless you never watch TV, have no social media accounts, and don’t read magazines and newspapers, you’ve probably seen the acronyms IBS and IBD several times over the last few years. As awareness of these common conditions increases, so does the confusion about their differences. If you’ve heard these terms...
Endoscopies revolutionized the field of gastroenterology by allowing doctors to see inside their patients without surgery. The earliest iterations in the mid-1800s used a rudimentary system of tubular speculums, candlelight, and mirrors, but they inspired today’s modern marvels that deliver clear digital images of the digestive tract. At Northside Gastroenterology...
The acid in your stomach is pretty potent. It breaks down chunks of steak, fibrous veggies, and even chewing gum if it has to. Your stomach lining is meant to handle this intense level of acidity, but if its acid comes into contact with other body parts, it can do...
You can’t go a day without seeing a television commercial or social media post about acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, or Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but you almost never hear about diverticulitis. And that’s odd considering it’s the third most prevalent gastrointestinal problem in the United States, and about 60%...
Most people are familiar with occasional heartburn, the searing sensation you feel when a bit of your stomach acid slips into your lower esophagus (which happens to be near your heart). Your ticker is fine, but your esophagus may sustain some damage if you have frequent heartburn, also called acid...
If you frequently find yourself sitting in a meeting, a classroom, a restaurant, or movie and suddenly feel intense pressure in your bowels that makes you scan for the nearest exit, you may have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). And without an emergency escape plan wherever you go, you may be...
If you have gut issues, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), difficulty swallowing, or unexplained abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, or anemia, you may need an endoscopy to help identify the problem. An endoscopy is simply a procedure that enables your doctor to capture images of your digestive tract. There are several...
Hemorrhoids are uncomfortable in more ways than one. Not only do they cause pain and itching, they also make you uneasy when it comes to talking about them, even to your doctor. While we understand that discussing your anus probably tops the list of your least favorite things, there are...
Your stomach contains some pretty powerful acids that help digest the food you send down. And that’s okay, because your stomach lining was designed to handle it. But other tissues in your body are more sensitive and face severe damage if they come into contact with that acid. One of...
It’s human nature to keep certain aspects of life private — and bathroom business certainly falls into that category. But if you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), your bowel behavior is erratic and unpredictable, which means you can’t control when or where you’ll need to desperately find a restroom,...
If you have hemorrhoids, you’re not likely shouting it from the rooftops. You’re probably discreetly clearing your local drugstore’s shelves of home remedies and short-term solutions, hoping your little problem will resolve itself quietly. But for 1 in 20 American adults, hemorrhoids are far from a little problem. They have...
The doctor’s office is a great place to be honest about your health and get expert advice on how to treat what ails you. It’s also a place where you have to go through some less-than-comfortable experiences like colonoscopies in the name of health. At Northside Gastroenterology Associates, Dr. Ayub...
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a digestive issue that can affect anyone of any age. Twice as many women as men get IBS, and estimates suggest between 25 million and 45 million people in the United States alone are affected. There’s no precise cause behind IBS, and only a few...