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Stool Testing for Blood (Fecal Occult Blood Test)

Because small amounts of blood normally appear in the stool, tests for occult blood are designed to detect larger quantities of blood. A positive f...

Pancreatitis

You may be given a pancreatic function test to see how well the pancreas releases digestive enzymes. To diagnose acute pancreatitis, your doctor te...

What is Liver Failure?

Liver failure is a life-threatening condition that demands urgent medical care.

Liver Biopsy

Laboratory tests will be performed on the day of a liver biopsy or 2-3 days before the procedure, as directed by your doctor.

Digestive Diseases and ERCP Testing

ERCP (short for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) is a procedure used to diagnose diseases of the gallbladder, biliary system, pancre...

Digestive Diseases and Endoscopy

Endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure used to examine a person's digestive tract. Examining the upper digestive tract (upper endoscopy or ERCP) requ...

What is Constipation?

Being constipated means your bowel movements are tough or happen less often than normal. Each of them works in a different way to ease constipation...

Bloating 101: Why You Feel Bloated

If you frequently experience bloating caused by gas, avoid these habits that increase how much air you swallow. It’s possible that practicing ways ...

Basics of Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure in which your large bowel (colon and rectum) is examined. The colonoscopy should be performed by an experien...

Safely Using Laxatives for Constipation

Laxatives contain chemicals that help increase stool motility, bulk, and frequency -- thus relieving temporary constipation. Fiber is the laxative ...

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that’s triggered when you eat gluten. Researchers think that as few as 20% of people with the disease get ...

Bowel Incontinence

Bowel incontinence (also called fecal incontinence) is when you’re not able to control your bowel movements. Anal surgery can also damage the anal ...