Gallstones (gall stones) are formed from bile, bilirubin, and cholesterol. They are common, and usually have no symptoms. However, when they do occur, the most common symptoms are biliary colic and cholecystitis. Biliary colic pain comes on suddenly, is constant, severe, and located in the middle or right of the upper abdomen. Diet changes have not shown to treat or prevent gallstones. Treatment or surgery for gallstones depend on the type.

Read about bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) life expectancy, survival rate, symptoms, treatment, stages, prognosis, causes, and risk factors. Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare form of cancer with fewer than 2,500 cases in the United States per year.

Causes of sudden or gradual-onset double vision include migraines, multiple sclerosis, dry eye, cataracts, strokes, aneurysms, and trauma. Read about symptoms, diagnosis, testing, and treatment.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) treatment includes medications (for example, UDCA, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, and drugs to treat PBC symptoms) and sometimes surgery.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a liver disease. Symptoms include jaundice, fatigue, confusion, and abdominal pain. Learn about treatments for PSC.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a procedure to examine and diagnose diseases of the liver, bile ducts, and pancreas.

Cholescintigraphy (HIDA Scan) is a procedure used to diagnose gallstones or tumors in the gallbladder. There are few side effects of HIDA scan.

Learn about choledochal cyst (cyst of the bile ducts) causes and symptoms like abdominal pain, jaundice, pancreatitis, and gallstones.

The liver has many functions. Signs and symptoms of liver disease include abdominal pain, jaundice, nausea, and weakness. Causes, treatment, and life expectancy vary. Lifestyle changes may slow the progression of some types of liver disease.

Cirrhosis of the liver symptoms includes jaundice, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, itching, and easy bruising. Learn about causes, treatment, 4 stages, life expectancy, and cancer.

Gallbladder pain is typically caused by biliary colic, cholecystitis, gallstones, pancreatitis, and ascending cholangitis. Treatment for gallbladder pain depends on the cause.

The antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) produced in the blood of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) sufferers allows doctors to test for PBC. PBC is a chronic disease with common signs and symptoms such as fatigue, itching, and jaundice. AMAs react to a multienzyme complex that allows for diagnosis.

Intravenous cholangiogram (IVC) is an X-ray procedure to view the larger bile ducts in and outside of the liver. Risks include serious allergic reactions.

Drug-induced liver disease comes in many types, and has many potential causes. Find out about drug-induced liver disease treatment, signs, and symptoms like itching, easy bruising, and jaundice, and learn how certain drugs can cause liver disease.

Learn about duodenal biliary drainage, a procedure used to assist in the diagnosis of gallstones.

Consumer information about the types of type 2 diabetes medications. Read about the side effects of Precose, Diabinese, Amaryl, Glucophage, Actos, Avandia, Starlix, Prandin, and more. Drug interactions, dosing, storage, and breastfeeding and pregnancy safety information is provided.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Learn about symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.

Stool color changes can be caused by diseases or conditions, pregnancy, medications, and diet. The color changes can vary from yellow, green, black, clay-colored, bright red, or maroon. Other stool changes include greasy and foul smelling stool, tarry stools, stool that floats, or mucus in the stool.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a disease of the liver. Symptoms of PBC include fatigue, itching, jaundice, and fat and vitamin absorption. Learn about life expectancy, causes, diet, testing, and treatment.

Pancreatic cysts can be either benign and malignant (cancerous). Symptoms include abdominal pain, back pain, and fever. Learn about types, causes, and treatments.

Learn more about oral cholecystograms, and how an OCG procedure is excellent for diagnosing gallstones.

Sore throat natural and home remedies such as frozen foods, chicken soup, Throat Coat tea, raw garlic, and essential oils can help soothe sore throat pain.

Read about photodynamic therapy (PDT) recovery, costs, and side effects. PDT uses a photosensitizing agent and light source to treat cancers (skin, lung, esophageal, Barrett's esophagus), acne, psoriasis, and rosacea.

Learn about duodenal diverticulum (extramural and intramural) causes, symptoms, complications (gallstones, pancreatitis), diagnosis, and treatment options.

Get information about the function of the liver, the largest gland in the body. Liver diseases include hepatitis, cancer of the liver, infections, medications, genetic conditions, and blood flow problems. Read about liver disease symptoms and signs like fatigue, yellowing of the skin, nausea, and more.

Learn about the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, foods that are part of the meal plan, and diseases that the diet is supposed to prevent.

Consumer information about bilirubin levels, and the bilirubin blood test. Information includes what bilirubin is; what normal bilirubin and elevated (high) levels in the blood mean; symptoms and causes of high bilirubin levels; and test procedure information.

Omega-3 fatty acids are a class of essential fatty acids. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids include certain types of fish, walnuts, and canola oil. Researchers believe that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce the risk of having a heart attack.

Pancreatic cancer symptoms and signs often do not manifest until the cancer has metastasized. Treatment incorporates chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or surgery. Genetics, obesity, tobacco use, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, pancreatitis, and a fatty diet are risk factors. Read more...

Poison ivy, oak, and sumac contain a substance called urushiol, which causes an itchy rash on people who touch it. See pictures and images, learn treatment, symptoms, and prevention, and learn to identify these poisonous plants.

Constipation can be relieved and cured by eating certain foods, like beans (baked, pinto), kiwi, popcorn, nuts, seeds, and whole grain breads.

Percutaneous ethanol injection of the liver is a procedure in which pure alcohol is injected through the skin into liver cancers to kill the cancer cells using ultrasound or CT visual guidance. Doing this deprives liver cancer cells of water through dehydration. The most common side effect is leakage of alcohol onto the liver's surface, which can cause pain and fever.

Learn about wisdom teeth removal, pain, recovery, and cost. Read about when wisdom teeth come in and how to facilitate recovery after wisdom teeth removal.

How do the heart and the lungs work together? Learn about the anatomy of the heart and how the heart works. Includes how blood flows through the heart and lungs, where the heart is located, what your heart and coronary arteries look like, and how the heart beats.

Symptoms and signs of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) include jaundice, abdominal swelling and pain, and swollen feet. Read about liver cancer survival rates, life expectancy, stages, prognosis, treatment, and metastatic liver cancer.

What is the function of the digestive system? Read about the human digestive system and its functions and organs. The mouth, stomach, intestines, gallbladder, pancreas and more play important roles in digesting food and eliminating waste.

Pancreas divisum is a common congenital anomaly of the pancreatic duct(s). The majority of people born with pancreas divisum experience no symptoms, however, a small number of people will experience repeated episodes of pancreatitis.

Consumer information about peritonitis, including spontaneous bacterial peritonitis symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, constipation, and unexplained mental changes. Causes, types, and treatment options for peritonitis is provided.

Gastritis (acute and chronic) is inflammation of the stomach lining. The two main causes of the inflammation gastritis are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and H. pylori gut infection. Some people do not have gastritis symptoms, but when they do they include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, and belching. Home remedies, OTC, and prescription drugs help relieve gastritis symptoms.

Clinical trials and clinical research are important for the progress of modern medicine. There are five types of clinical trials. Some are paid clinical trials, and some aren't. Learn the types, as well as the different clinical trial phases. Discover the pros and cons of clinical trials.

Learn about liver blood tests used to detect liver damage disease such as fatty liver, cirrhosis, hepatitis, and Tylenol liver damage. This includes measuring the aminotransferases enzymes (AST and ALT levels).

Abdominal pain can be caused by a variety of problems and locations in the digestive system, for example, diet, gallstones, food poisoning, GERD, liver disease, SIBO, pancreatitis, appendicitis, colon cancer, and abdominal (scar tissue from previous surgeries). Treatment for abdominal pain depends on the cause.

Learn about PCR (polymerase chain reaction) a method of analyzing a short sequence of DNA or RNA. PCR has many uses, diagnostic, forensics, cloning, and more.

PUVA therapy was originally developed as a treatment for psoriasis. Read about side effects, types, and effectiveness.

Balloon endoscopy is a procedure to view the small intestine and the digestive track. There are two types of balloon endoscopy, single balloon and double balloon. Balloon endoscopy is used to diagnose and treat diseases of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and colon (large intestine).

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. Crohn's disease symptoms and signs include abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and weight loss. There are a few types of Crohn's disease. Several Crohn's disease treatments exist, but there is no cure.

Intestinal gas and painful bloating are common. Learn about what causes gas pain and how eliminating certain foods from your diet can help relieve symptoms.

Jaundice or hyperbilirubinemia in adults is caused by an underlying disease or condition. Learn about when to worry about jaundice in adults, symptoms, treatment, causes, diagnosis, and prevention.

Learn how endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) combines endoscopy and ultrasound to obtain high-quality images of organs inside the body. Used to research a variety of potential ailments, including cancer, pancreatitis, liver tumors, gallstones, fecal incontinence, and submucosal lesions.

Read about the barium enema procedure used as a diagnostic tool to diagnose conditions such as diverticulitis, colon polyps, colonic abscesses, cancer, and Hirschsprung disease. Learn about GI colon barium enema prep, as well as air contrast barium enemas and double contrast barium enemas.

Colon cancer is preventable and curable if it is detected early. Get information about risk factors, available screening procedures and tests, and genetic testing information for colon cancer.

Read about autopsy (also called "necroscopy" or "post-mortem examination") and the situations in which one is mandatory or may be ordered upon death. Results of an autopsy may be fairly quick, but if toxicology reports are necessary it may take weeks for the results to be known.

Colon and colorectal cancer screening include colonoscopy, fecal occult blood tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, and air contrast barium enema.

Portal hypertension is increased blood pressure in the blood vessels that lead to the liver. Liver cirrhosis is the most common cause. Symptoms include varices, rectal bleeding, vomiting blood, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and enlarged spleen.

The nature vs. nurture theory has been discussed since Hippocrates was alive. "Nature" refers to how our genetic makeup affects our physical and mental health, while "nurture" refers" to how our environment affects our physical and mental health. For example, if heart disease runs in your family, you can decrease your risk of developing the disease if you exercise and eat a healthy diet.

Barrett's esophagus is a complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Learn more about Barrett's estophagus, including symptoms, causes, treatment, cancer risk, related dysplasia, and survival rate.

What is hemophilia and what causes hemophilia? Learn the definitions of hemophilia A and hemophilia B, part of a group of genetic bleeding disorders. Discover the symptoms of hemophilia and the treatments available to hemophiliacs. See how hemophilia is inherited, and whether hemophilia is dominant or recessive.

Read about sarcoidosis, a chronic lung disease. Learn causes, symptoms (cough, erythema nodosum, eye inflammation, fibrosis, granulomas), diagnosis, and treatment.

Treatment for high blood pressure includes lifestyle modifications (alcohol, smoking, coffee, salt, diet, exercise), drugs, and medications. Learn about alternative treatment, prevention, risks, and complications.

Read about ulcerative colitis causes and symptoms and signs, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, rectal pain, an urgency to defecate, or painful bowel movements.

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. Pancreatitis can either be acute (develops suddenly and lasting days to weeks) or chronic (multiple pancreatic episodes that can last for months to years) in which the main symptom is abdominal pain. Other symptoms of pancreatitis are nausea, vomiting, and fever. Both acute and chronic pancreatitis treatment may require hospitalization.

Learn about thrombocytopenia, a decreased number of platelets in the blood. There are many causes of thrombocytopenia such as decreased platelet production, increased platelet destruction or consumption, or increased splenic sequestration.