August 7, 2019
Signs your digestive tract is unhealthy
By uclahealth 
Regular bowel movements are the top indicator of a healthy digestive tract. While every person is different, having a bowel movement daily or several times a week is typical. Abnormal bowel habits may indicate an underlying health condition. Although it can feel awkward, don’t be embarrassed to speak with your doctor if you think you […]
Tags: anal fissures, colon cancer, constipation, fecal impaction, hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases
August 2, 2019
By uclahealth
“We tried other hospitals, but this is the only place we can bring her,” says Joe Pineda, father to 12-year-old Elyse Pineda. “Elise has chronic pseudo obstruction, which means her bowels get backed up. She’s had this condition since birth. Whenever they have events like Beauty Bus it helps the day go much faster. The […]
Tags: chronic pseudo obstruction, featured, UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital
August 2, 2019
By uclahealth
“You can have your hair or makeup done during Beauty Bus,” says 12-year-old Elyse Pineda, who has chronic pseudo obstruction, a rare gastrointestinal disorder. “When I was first born, I was diagnosed with my medical condition. I’ve grown up with it my whole life, and we’ve found that this place is the best hospital. I’m […]
Tags: chronic pseudo obstruction, featured, gastrointestinal disorder, UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital
June 24, 2019
By uclahealth
“We love coming back to see everybody who took care of Rose,” says Melody Curtis, mother to five-year-old Rose Curtis, who is enjoying the NICU Reunion. “At 14 weeks Rose was diagnosed with something called an omphalocele, which means her spleen, stomach and intestines were outside her abdominal wall when she was born. She was […]
Tags: featured, NICU, NICU nurses, NICU Reunion, omphalocele, patient story, pediatric gastroenterology, pediatrics
May 8, 2019
Colon-Cancer Screenings Save Lives
By UCLA50Plus 
March was “Colon Cancer Awareness Month” to help raise awareness of the importance of screening to help prevent one of the most common cancers in both men and women. Are you due for a screening? Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and women. It affects 150,000 Americans a year and […]
Tags: 50 plus program, colon cancer, colonoscopy, Dr. Fola May, fecal immunochemical test, FIT kit, gastroenterologist, polyps, precancerous polyps
March 20, 2019
By uclahealth
“I love to bake, and the blue ribbon helps raise awareness,” says Marissa Chavez, a gastroenterology technician at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. “March is colon cancer awareness month. Two years ago I wanted to make a cake, so I made it in the form of colon, with intestines that had polyps. It’s become a […]
Tags: cancer, colon cancer, colon cancer awareness month, featured, gastroenterology, gastroenterology technician, polyps, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
March 19, 2019
By uclahealth
“If the other doctor had done a physical inspection in 2016 instead of assuming it was hemorrhoids, my colon cancer would have been stage one or two instead of stage three,” says 52-year-old Cesar Perez, who came to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center for a second opinion on treatment and surgery in November of 2017. […]
Tags: chemotherapy, colon cancer, colonoscopy bag reversal, Dr. Kevork Kazanjian, featured, hemorrhoids, radiation, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
March 18, 2019
Coming to UCLA is Like Coming Home
By uclahealth
“Little did I know that there was kind of a time bomb within me,” says Michael P. Richards, a patient liaison volunteer at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center who checked into the emergency room after having trouble walking. “I was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer in March of 2014. I’m so prejudiced because of […]
Tags: cancer, chemotherapy, colorectal cancer, emergency room, featured, patient liaison volunteer, stage three colorectal cancer
March 4, 2019
By uclahealth
“Do you want to be healthy? Not just now, but in 10, 20 or 30 years from now?” asks Dr. Eric Esrailian, Chief of the Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Disease and director of the Melvin and Bren Simon Digestive Disease Center at UCLA. “If the answer is yes to that question, it […]
Tags: colon cancer, colonoscopy, Dr. Eric Esrailian, featured, stool testing
October 2, 2018
Ask the Doctors – What are the risks of Zenker’s diverticulitum?
Dear Doctor: I have Zenker’s diverticulum that, after 10 years, seems to be very large, judging by the volume it holds. At virtually every meal, I choke on food clogged in my esophagus, then I aspirate, then I cough for 10 minutes. Are my aspiration-related-pneumonia risks high enough to warrant surgery? Think of the esophagus […]
Tags: Ask the Doctors, aspiration, Dr. Robert Ashley, Zenker's diverticulitum
