Your liver does more than break down the nutrients in the foods and beverages you ingest. It also filters toxins out of your blood, synthesizes proteins, stores glycogen, vitamins, and minerals, and metabolizes medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements. Hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, impairs your liver’s ability to function....
While everyone experiences some type of abdominal pain at one point or another, persistent or recurrent abdominal pain could be a sign of an underlying problem. Knowing what’s causing your pain can sometimes be a challenge, however. At the Rivas Digestive Center in Hollywood, Florida, gastroenterologist John M. Rivas, MD,...
Did you know that about 75% of American adults will experience the discomfort of hemorrhoids at some point in their lives? Although this condition that affects the anus and lower rectum is common, it can be embarrassing to talk about, making it difficult to know whether you’re at risk. To...
Did you know that colorectal cancer is a highly preventable disease? Yet despite medical advancements that allow doctors to stop colorectal cancer before it starts, colon cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the US. The good news is that a simple colon cancer screening can...
Are you one of the 3 million Americans diagnosed with celiac disease? If so, you may feel lost, wondering how you’ll adjust to life without gluten. At the Rivas Digestive Center in Hollywood, Florida, we understand how difficult living with celiac disease can be. Triple board-certified gastroenterologist John M. Rivas,...
If you have recurrent acid reflux, you know how much it can impact your life. Worrying about what you eat and whether it will affect you later on can be frustrating. When it strikes you by surprise, the discomfort and pain of acid reflux can make life unpleasant. When acid...
Chances are you’ve heard of colon cancer, but did you know it’s the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States? Triple board-certified gastroenterologist John M. Rivas, MD, helps patients prevent and catch this deadly disease early with colon cancer screenings. Dr. Rivas meets with you at the...
If you struggle with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you’ve got company. Medical researchers estimate that between 25-45 million Americans have this digestive problem, as well as between 10-15% of the global population. More than half of the people with IBS report moderate-to-severe symptoms. And for people with this degree of...
What you eat not only affects how you feel today, but it may also influence your future health. Making healthy food choices makes it easier for you to maintain a healthy weight and prevent chronic health issues. Your food choices particularly influence colon health. Diet plays a critical role in...
Many people follow a gluten-free diet to help with weight loss, boost their energy levels, or improve athletic performance. Though there’s very little evidence that the gluten-free diet helps with weight loss or energy levels, the diet is medically necessary for people diagnosed with celiac disease or nonceliac gluten sensitivity,...
Every month, more than 60 million people in the United States experience acid reflux symptoms, better known as heartburn. If you’re among the one-quarter of people who experience acid reflux symptoms almost daily, you may have a more chronic condition caused gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). No matter the frequency of...
Your hemorrhoids can be an embarrassing topic to discuss with anyone, even your doctor. But hemorrhoids are common and affect 5% of adults in the United States every year, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. It’s estimated, in fact, that as many as three...
