GERD

SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) is a condition where bacteria that are normally present in small amounts in the small intestine—or that typically reside in the large intestine—begin to proliferate in the small intestine. SIBO disrupts normal digestion and nutrient absorption.

Symptoms of SIBO include bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation. However, it’s not just discomfort—SIBO can significantly impact quality of life, leading to chronic fatigue, skin issues, weight loss, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The underlying cause of SIBO is often another condition, and SIBO is a dysfunction of the gut that results from this primary issue.

In medical education, emphasis is placed on the ability to think about the most likely causes of illnesses, referred to as “horses” rather than rare cases, or “zebras”. This helps to diagnose common problems more quickly, but often leads to the overlooking of rare conditions. Therefore, the symbol of rare diseases, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, is a zebra — to remind doctors of the importance of considering unusual cases. Now,Hugo let’s talk about this and other “zebras”.

Hypermobility is a condition where joints have greater flexibility than usual. People with hypermobility can bend and extend their joints beyond normal ranges of motion. So far, this doesn’t sound too bad, right? Moreover, we usually envy people with hypermobility; after all, they can easily do splits, whereas an average person might need weeks, if not months, of training. Indeed, this condition can be harmless and even advantageous in certain sports and activities, such as gymnastics and dance, but it can also lead to various medical issues.

Before the discovery of Helicobacter pylori, many cases of gastritis were considered chronic but relatively harmless conditions. For a long time, it was believed that gastritis was caused by an excess level of stomach acid, and treatment was aimed at reducing acidity. Other theories included the role of stress, improper diet, and an unhealthy lifestyle in the development of gastritis.

I find myself frequently explaining to people nowadays that the medications they take for heartburn can actually be harmful and do not solve the underlying issue; they merely alleviate the unpleasant symptoms. That’s why I decided to write about it separately. It is often challenging for people to accept the fact that something that provides instant relief can pose a real danger. So, let’s delve into the matter in detail.