Associated Endoscopy Tops US Average in Quality Colonoscopy

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When selecting a GI doctor near you for a colonoscopy procedure, there’s no substitute for quality. If you’re at average risk for colon cancer, you may only need a screening colonoscopy once every 10 years, so you want a gastroenterologist with expertise and precision.

Associated Endoscopy, just east of Nashville, is an accredited ambulatory surgery center (ASC) with six board-certified gastroenterologists who exceed the national benchmarks for quality colonoscopy procedures.

When choosing a GI doctor for your screening colonoscopy, there are two qualifying criteria: adenoma detection rate (ADR) and cecal intubation rate. As one of Middle Tennessee’s premier GI specialty centers, Associated Endoscopy is proud to share its GIQuIC quality measures.

Poor Gut Health Increases Depression, Anxiety Risks

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For years, physicians and researchers sought to treat depression by treating the brain, but recent research is shifting our attention to the gut as the center of mental health.

The Gut, Our “Second Brain”

The nervous system transmits and interprets information from all parts of the body through an intricate network of neurons. Although we mostly associate neurons with the central nervous system and the brain, the gut serves as a secondary hub of neurological activity. Trillions of bacteria and over 100 million neurons line the digestive tract, and they communicate with the central nervous system, endocrine system and immune system. This complex network is called the enteric nervous system or the “second brain.”

“Gut Feeling” Isn’t Just a Saying

We’ve all had a “gut feeling” or “butterflies in our stomach,” but those expressions aren’t just idioms.  According to a study by E.M.M Quigley, the second brain strongly influences emotions, moods and behavior. The enteric nervous system and gut microbiome control 80 percent of the communication between the body and the brain.

Gut Inflammation Increases Depression, Anxiety Risk

Healthy emotions begin with a healthy gut. One study proposes that gut inflammation initiates chronic conditions like depression and anxiety. A healthy gut is comprised of a wide diversity of bacteria and high concentrations of beneficial strains of bacteria. Poor diet, illness or antibiotic use can disrupt the delicate balance of gut flora, and this imbalance can result in inflammation and increased risk for depression and anxiety disorders (Huffington Post).

Gut Health Diet: How to Maintain Healthy Gut

Eating many colorful varieties of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, nuts and seeds is essential for a nutritious diet and healthy digestion. You can boost concentrations of beneficial bacteria in your gut by adding probiotics to your diet like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, miso and kombucha.

A GI Doctor Can Help

Depression and anxiety is a serious condition that requires a physician’s care. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss how improving your digestive health can boost your mental wellness. 

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Early Cataracts: Signs You May Need Cataract Surgery

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Cataracts are a degenerative eye condition usually associated with advanced age, but people of all ages can be treated for cataracts. June is Cataract Awareness Month, so let’s explore some of the most common questions about early cataract development and treatment.

What Causes Cataracts

Most people will eventually develop a cataract, but some cataracts form earlier or quicker. Certain environmental factors, health conditions and lifestyle habits can cause cataracts to form more rapidly. These include cigarette smoking, UV exposure, eye trauma, hypertension, diabetes, steroid use, or genetic predisposition to early cataracts.

How Do You Know If You Have Cataracts

Cataract development is a slow and progressive process. In fact, you probably won’t know you have a developing cataract until your ophthalmologist tells you. It may be years before the cataract begins to impair your vision and cause symptoms like double vision, blurred vision, muted colors, glares and halos.

When to Have Cataract Surgery

Over time, a cataract will impact your daily activities. You’ll find it difficult to drive at night, read street signs, decipher fine print, and do detailed crafts and hobbies like needlework. When cataracts affect your schedule or your independence, it’s time to talk to your ophthalmologist about scheduling cataract surgery.

Once your ophthalmologist determines that you’re a candidate, there’s no reason to put off the procedure. It’s time to make decisions about the type of intraocular lens (IOL) that would be best for your eye, and whether you should have traditional or laser-assisted surgery.

Benefits of Early Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is truly a cure for cataracts, and many people can experience 20/20 vision again.  It takes only about 15 minutes per eye, and most people can resume their normal activities within a few days. Cataract surgery improves quality of life, increases independence and reduces the risk of falls, hip fractures and automobile accidents (American Academy of Ophthalmology).

Talk to your ophthalmologist about whether you’re a candidate for cataract surgery. With over 3.6 million procedures performed each year, cataract surgery is one of the most common operations in the United States. Make an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam today. 

Colorectal Cancer: Facts on 3rd Leading Cause of Death in US

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Colorectal Cancer: Facts on 3rd Leading Cause of Death in US

When you hear someone mention colorectal cancer, you probably don’t give it much thought. After all, colon cancer is rare and it only affects older people, right?

Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States, and it’s expected to cause 50,630 deaths in 2018.

Here are Colon Cancer Facts for Americans:

  1. The risk of developing colorectal cancer is one in 22 for males and one in 24 for females.
  2. In 2018, an estimated 97,220 Americans will develop colon cancer and an estimated 43,030 will develop rectal cancer.
  3. Obesity is a major risk factor of colorectal cancer, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, over 36.5 percent of U.S. adults are obese.
  4. Although overall colon cancer incidence is dropping in the U.S., young-onset colon cancer in the has increased over the past decade.
  5. One-third Americans between the ages of 50 and 75 are not being properly screened for colon cancer and are putting themselves at unnecessary risk. This includes men and women who are not up-to-date on colon screenings or have never been screened for colon cancer. 
  6. Having health insurance impacts colon cancer screening rates. Adults who carry health insurance are more likely to be current with their colon screenings (71.1 percent) than adults who don’t have health insurance (36.3 percent).
  7. Adults between the ages of 65 to 75 are more likely to be current with colon screenings (78.4 percent) than adults aged 50 to 65 (61.8 percent) (Source: Center for Disease Control).

Why Colon Cancer is Common in US

Colon cancer rates in the United States continue to be high because of unhealthy lifestyle choices. Our high-fat/low-fiber diet coupled with a sedentary lifestyle puts Americans at risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and colorectal cancer. Smoking and alcohol use also significantly increase cancer risk, as well as eating red and processed meats. 

How to Lower Colon Cancer Rates in US

We can reduce the number of new cases of colon cancer through education and screening. Americans need to know that colorectal cancer is a real threat and take active steps to prevent it.  Because young-onset colon cancer is increasing, the American Cancer Society now recommends baseline colon screenings at age 45 instead of 50  for men and women at average risk for colon cancer. If you are African American or have a family or personal history of colon polyps or colon cancer, you should get screened earlier.

Prevent Colon Cancer with Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colon screening because it is the only test that can prevent colon cancer. During a colonoscopy, your gastroenterologist can remove precancerous polyps so they can’t develop into cancer.

A preventable cancer shouldn’t be the third-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Tell your family, friends and loved ones about the importance of getting a colonoscopy. It’s truly a life-saving exam.

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Patient Safety for Cataract Surgery

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All surgeries have associated risk, but your surgical team has specific safeguards in place to provide the best possible outcome.

June is Cataract Awareness Month, a good time to learn about ways that your surgeon and surgical team prioritize patient safety:

  1. Patient consent — Before your procedure, you must give written consent to have cataract surgery. All forms should be written clearly, but be sure to ask office staff for clarification if any of the information is confusing. Read the forms carefully for details concerning the correct operative eye, the type of surgery to be performed (traditional or laser-assisted) and the type of intraocular lens (IOL) to be inserted. We have drafted these forms for your safety.
  2. Lens management policy — On the day of surgery, your surgical team will mark the eye on which they will operate, as well as your customized IOL, to make sure they are placing the correct lens in the correct eye. Marking the lens and the operative eye prevents errors. 
  3. Time-outs — Before the procedure begins, your team will perform what is referred to as a “time-out” to verbally verify your name, date of birth, operative eye and IOL before beginning your procedure.
  4. Least invasive anesthesia — The anesthesia staff will use the least invasive form of anesthesia or sedative appropriate for your case. You may speak with the anesthesia team about your options.
  5. Infection prevention — You’ll be given prescription-strength antibiotic eye drops to administer during your recovery. Use these drops as directed to prevent inflammation and infection.

Talk to your ophthalmologist about patient safety measures during and after cataract surgery. We value your trust in our center, and we look forward to serving your vision needs.  

Arthroscopic Knee Surgery: When to Get a Knee Scope

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Knee arthroscopy — sometimes called knee scoping — is a minimally invasive medical procedure used on the knee joint to diagnose and treat knee conditions or injuries. It’s performed using an arthroscope, which is a tiny surgical instrument with a light and camera at the end that is inserted into the knee.

A doctor may recommend knee scoping if a patient has a painful condition that is not responding to a nonsurgical treatment such as medication, cortisone injection or physical therapy.  In particular, knee arthroscopy is often successful in helping reduce or eliminate pain associated with cartilage damage or soft tissue damage.

Many doctors and patients prefer knee scoping to other procedures. That’s because the orthopedic knee surgeon only needs to make a tiny incision to use the arthroscope. There is usually less knee pain, less joint stiffness and easier recovery than with other procedures.

When Knee Arthroscopy Is Performed

Knee arthroscopy can be used when making or confirming a diagnosis and performing surgery:

  • Making a Diagnosis: If a patient has knee pain, a doctor may order an X-ray or other imaging tests. However, the provider might need more information before moving forward with a treatment like surgery. In this instance, the doctor can use knee scoping for a diagnosis or to confirm treatment. To do this, a doctor makes a single small incision, then inserts the tiny arthroscope into the knee, and the images can be viewed on a video screen. An example of how this might be used is when a surgeon wants to view a meniscus tear to assess the extent of the damage.
  • Performing Surgery: If arthroscopy is being used for surgery, small incisions are made at different points around the knee joint, in addition to the opening that’s made for the arthroscope. These additional openings allow the doctor to insert tiny surgical tools into the area as needed. Using the images from the arthroscope as a guide, the surgeon can repair torn ligaments, remove a torn or damaged meniscus, remove loose bone fragments or perform other treatments.

More on Knee Scope Surgery=

Unless a patient has another medical issue, knee arthroscopy may performed in an outpatient setting, so the patient will not need to stay overnight at a hospital.

Knee surgery using an arthroscope can take 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the extent of the damage. When using knee arthroscopy for diagnosis only, the time could be even shorter.

Before knee arthroscopy, a patient will have some type of anesthesia. The doctor and patient will determine whether local (numbing knee only), regional (numbing from waist down) or general anesthesia (putting patient to sleep) is best.

After Knee Surgery

After the procedure, the surgeon will close the incision. Sometimes, only small strips of adhesive tape are needed. Other times, one or two small stitches will be required.

Next, the patient rests in a recovery room for several hours. At home, the patient will follow the doctor’s instructions, which may include taking certain medications, elevating the knee, getting plenty of rest and eventually, exercising. Usually, a patient can return to light activity within a few weeks, although every patient is different.

Learn more about knee arthroscopy from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Benefits of Probiotics: Gut Health Linked to Improved Memory

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Do you ever feel like your brain is overloaded with stuff you need to remember? An efficient memory is an important component of well-being and happiness, so it’s definitely worth our effort to find ways to boost our recall memory.

The Second Brain: Gut and Memory

Studies show that the gut makes most of the important chemicals that affect memory. Often called “the second brain,” the gut houses the largest colony of microorganisms that regulate digestion, immunity, vitamin production and, yes, memory. Maybe that’s why we always talk about having a “gut feeling” about someone or about how “something in our gut” steered our decision.

Probiotics Benefit Brain Function

Probiotics are the beneficial yeast and bacteria in the gut that keep you healthy, and research shows that probiotics are responsible for making most of the body’s serotonin that sends messages and chemicals to the brain. So, it’s safe to say that you can’t have a keen memory without a thriving gut. 

In a recent study, participants took probiotics for four weeks and a placebo for four weeks. They scored higher on memory tests and reported less anxiety and stress while taking probiotics than when taking placebo.

Probiotic Balance

If you’ve got a “gut feeling” that your memory is declining, you can add probiotics to your diet to boost your gut health. The delicate flora of your gut can easily be disrupted by stress, illness, poor diet or contaminants in food. Another disrupter of a healthy gut is antibiotics. Taking antibiotics can eliminate a large percentage of the good bacteria in your system, so it’s important to restore the balance with a diet that’s high in probiotics.

Foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha, tempeh, miso, pickles, sourdough bread, kimchi and even dark chocolate are full of probiotics. You might notice that many of these foods are pungent or sour, and that’s  because they’re fermented. The fermentation process exponentially increases the number of probiotics in foods, so look for products that boast “trillions of live cultures.” Incorporating these foods into your diet will enhance your memory, boost immunity and improve digestion (Hyperbiotics).

Talk to your doctor about how your body – and mind – can benefit from probiotics. Before changing your diet, get approval from your physician so you can make the best decisions for your health.

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