Answers to Your GI Health Questions
Our Beverly Hills Gastroenterologists Have Answers
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What should I bring to my first visit? It is helpful to come prepared with questions for your doctor. If you are seeking a second opinion for a chronic, reoccurring condition, be sure to bring information detailing when your symptoms started, how your symptoms have changed over time, and other information you feel is important.
You should also bring:
- Your insurance card
- Your driver’s license
- A list of the medications, and dosages, you are currently taking
- A list of any herbs, supplements, vitamins, or homeopathic medicines
Pertinent prior medical records including operative and pathology reports, laboratory tests, and hospital discharge summaries are also recommended.
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What causes hemorrhoids? Pressure on the rectum causes hemorrhoids to form. This pressure can come from prolonged sitting, constipation, straining, and even diarrhea. Pregnancy, obesity, and heavy lifting are also associated with hemorrhoids. During the third trimester of pregnancy- and even more so during the delivery process- the uterus lowers down and puts pressure on the anus and forms hemorrhoids.
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When should I have my first colonoscopy? Those without a family history of colon cancer should begin screenings at the age of 45. There is an increasing incidence of colon cancer in patients who are in their 40s, so early screening needs to be considered on a case by case basis. African-Americans, who are more susceptible to the disease, should begin screenings at the age of 40. If you have a family history of colon cancer, you should begin screening 10 years before the age at which your relative was diagnosed (i.e. if your father was diagnosed with colon cancer when he was 52, you should receive your first colonoscopy at the age of 42).