Anita Bennett MD

In the last few years, we have been learning more about certain carbohydrates that can cause gastrointestinal distress.  There have now been reputable studies to show that about 75% of patients with irritable bowel syndrome get significant relief from their symptoms almost immediately after starting a low FODMAP diet.  In…

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the large intestine.  It causes a mix of abdominal symptoms, including pain.  It can sometimes cause significant symptoms, but is not associated with any evidence of underlying damage in the colon.  There are three types of IBS;…

According to a recent study, there is a simple test to predict your risk of premature death, including death from heart disease, cancer, and other causes as well.  See if you can climb four flights of stairs in under a minute, without having to stop.  This study measured the exercise…

Last week we talked about the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This week I thought we could focus on screening and diagnosis. Unfortunately, there is no specific medical test to diagnose ASD, so the diagnosis can sometimes be difficult. Doctors must look at many features of a child’s behavior…

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disorder related to brain development which causes problems with behavior and the ability to communicate or interact with other people.  The word spectrum indicates that there is a wide variation in both the type and the severity of symptoms that different people experience.  Although…

Most people have heard about the “baby blues” that can happen after a woman has a baby.  But there is a much more severe and long-lasting form of depression that can happen after childbirth, called postpartum depression (PPD).  This is a condition caused by physical and chemical changes that happen…

Organ donation is the process of providing an organ, part of an organ, or multiple organs to transplant into one or more people. Organ donors can be living or deceased. This is such an important program, for so many people, that I thought this would be a good topic for…

I’m continuing my series on hepatitis by focusing this week on hepatitis A, which is a virus that causes a highly contagious liver infection.  This is an acute form of hepatitis, although symptoms can last up to 6 months in some cases.  Most people who become infected with hepatitis A…