Hospital hosts free digestive health seminar

NEW SMYRNA, Fla., April 3, 2017 On March 28, Florida Hospital New Smyrna outpatient facility hosted a free community seminar on digestive health. Gastroenterologist Dr. Antonio DeCarli discussed digestive disorders, focusing on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and hemorrhoids. Irritable bowel syndrome is the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal condition and is prevalent in about 15 percent of Americans, including both men and women, as well as both the young and the elderly, DeCarli said. There is a wide variety of symptoms associated with IBS, but the two primary symptoms are chronic abdominal pain, which can range from dull pain to sharp pressure, and altered bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea. Only about 15 percent of those with IBS seek medical attention, but there are so many who are impacted by this condition that IBS comprises about 25 to 50 percent of all referrals to gastroenterologists, he said. It is the second highest cause of work absenteeism, after the common cold. DeCarli also discussed another common condition he sees in his practice: hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are normal, but they can enlarge when we strain or perform weight bearing exercises. They can also enlarge when we sit for prolonged periods of time which many of us do these days or if we have constipation or diarrhea, he said. One treatment option is hemorrhoid banding. During this procedure, a painless band is placed on internal hemorrhoid which stops the blood supply to the external hemorrhoids, DeCarli said. It takes two minutes and there is no sedation. We can do this in the office and there is no recovery time; patients can drive home or go back to work immediately. About Florida Hospital New Smyrna Florida Hospital New Smyrna is a member of Adventist Health System, a faith-based health care organization with 46 hospital campuses and nearly 8,200 licensed beds in 10 states. With 112-beds, Florida Hospital New Smyrna is one of the six Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties that composes the Florida Hospital East Florida Region. As the largest hospital system in the area, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region has 923 beds and more than 6,000 employees.