Granite Peaks, Author at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology of Utah

Women’s Health Week

Posted on May 11, 2022May 11, 2022 by Granite Peaks

Originally posted on 5/10/20121
Updated on 5/11/2022

Women’s Health Week

Self-care is about more than kicking up your feet at the end of the day and sipping tea for a few moments of relaxation. There are many ways to take great care of yourself and teach your loved ones to do the same.

Sleep

Getting enough rest helps your body recharge to better handle the stresses of life. It also helps prevent excess weight gain, improves mood, improves heart health, helps prevent illness, and boosts mood and brain function. Life is just better when you are well-rested.

Eat

Eat good-for-you foods that feed your body and soul. Getting the right nutrients in delicious, healthy foods supports body function, muscle and brain function and overall health. Your gastrointestinal health depends on it, as well as your heart, bones and teeth. Good nutrition also helps control diabetes and reduces the risk of some cancers, including colorectal cancer.

Mind Your Mind

Give yourself positive, loving feedback to put your head in a peaceful place. Don’t you deserve to hear the same loving language that you offer to your family and friends? Providing loving support for yourself, asking for the things you need from others and reducing your contact with negativity all help you gain self-confidence and self-love, which goes a long way toward being your best, healthy self.

Move

Achieving meaningful health benefits from exercise does not necessarily mean 60 minutes of hard-core sweat-drenched cardio. Even 10 minutes at a time, a few times a day, is beneficial. Depending on your age and health, start small and work your way up. Exercise improves muscle tone and bone strength, helps keeps weight in check, improves blood pressure and heart health, keeps joints and muscles moving freely, and improves mood and depression. Even a little is better than none.

Health Visits

You are an important part of your family, so take care of you! Make a date for your annual physical to ensure that your important systems are on-track. If you are 45 or older, get your colonoscopy done! Don’t miss or delay your mammograms or PAP tests. If you’re suffering with hemorrhoids, chronic heartburn or abdominal pain, get them checked out before it becomes worse. If you are unsure whether a change or symptom is important, ask your healthcare provider. They will know whether you need further evaluation or if you can put your mind at rest.

If you are experiencing digestive health problems, it is time to check in with a gastroenterologist. Your gut takes care of a lot of important functions in your body, so don’t ignore its signals. Call the gastrointestinal specialists at Granite Peaks GI to keep your digestive health on track. Request an appointment today!

The Quick and Easy Way to Learn About a Colonoscopy

Posted on March 16, 2022March 16, 2022 by Granite Peaks

Originally posted on 3/11/2019
Updated on 3/16/2022

If you’re not sure what is involved in having a colonoscopy, this easy-to-read infographic developed by the doctors at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology may answer your questions. A physician may use a colonoscopy to test for colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and many other digestive health ailments. It allows a physician to visually examine the inside of your large intestine and remove polyps, gather biopsies or evaluate damage from other conditions.

It’s easier than you think and could uncover the answers to your digestive health problems. Contact Granite Peaks Gastroenterology, in Sandy or Lehi, to determine what is the next step to diagnosing your digestive issues.

Download Information

colonoscopy micrographic

Stress Management Techniques to Support Digestive Health

Posted on February 15, 2022 by Granite Peaks

Keeping your digestive system on track can be a delicate balance of several factors. What you eat and drink, how much exercise you get, and how stressed you feel are all parts of the equation that totals good gut health.

As part of the fight-or-flight body response to stress, cortisol is produced when the body is under stress. Cortisol helps your body respond to threats by increasing heart rate, blood pressure and glucose. It also slows other body functions, including digestion, so it makes sense that prolonged stress produces excessive cortisol and can negatively impact your digestive system.

Move

Most people know that taking a break to walk, run, swim, dance or get any form of exercise is a good way to de-stress. Not only does it help you burn off excess cortisol and calm your mind, but it gets all your muscles moving, including your heart, lungs and your digestive tract muscles. Your digestive system needs a bit of a workout too!

Breathing Exercises

Breathing exercises are a great way to stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system and take control over the functions of your body. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the fight-or-flight response. The parasympathetic nervous system handles the activities that take place when the body isn’t on high-alert, helping you feel less stressed.

Here’s a breathing exercise to try:

Choose a number to count to (at least up to three)
Inhale while counting to that number
Hold your lungs full of air for that long
Take that long to exhale
Hold your breath with your lungs empty for that long

Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness helps you build awareness of your body and can help relieve stress and protect your digestive health. Practices such as yoga, meditation or body scanning can empower you to notice stress sooner and take steps to reduce it.

Not everything works for everybody but you can find the best way to help your body help itself, relieve stress, and allow your digestive system to function well.

Want to learn more about how stress affects your digestive system? Learn more here: Stress and Your Digestive System.

If you are experiencing prolonged digestive problems, talk to your Granite Peaks gastroenterology specialist. They can help you find the solutions to your digestive issues.

Tips for Preventing Cross Contact with Gluten in Your Home

Posted on January 26, 2022January 26, 2022 by Granite Peaks

Anyone who lives with celiac disease, or lives with someone who has it, knows how important it is to prevent the consumption of gluten by the person with the disease. That can be easier said than done if everyone in the house does not eat a gluten-free diet. With some extra care and effort, however, you should be able to prevent cross contact with gluten within your home.

You First

If you are a celiac patient, you get first dibs on shared food before anyone has a chance to contaminate it. Teach your housemates when using utensils to apply a spread or condiment to a source of gluten, they should either use a new utensil each time they dip into the food or they can serve it onto a clean dish and spread it from there. Otherwise, a gluten-free item can become contaminated. Similarly, if you want a gluten-free chip dip or salsa to stay that way, dish out some specifically for chips or crackers with gluten. All it takes is one swipe of a cracker for that dip to no longer be gluten-free.

Keep Gluten-Free Items Separate

An even easier way to avoid cross contact with gluten-free foods is to keep them completely separate from one another. Keep gluten-free pantry items separate from other foods. Purchase separate items such as peanut butter, jam, butter and other regular foods and label them. You might even consider getting separate lidded or sealed containers for foods to further protect them from cross contact.

Clean and Buy Separate

Arguably the most important thing you can do to prevent cross contact is to carefully clean your kitchen, leaving no crumb behind. The other thing is to purchase separate items for gluten-free use. Cooking and eating utensils, pans, cutting boards, sponges and dish cloths. Yes, you even need a separate toaster! If it touches food at all, should be separate and stored separately, if possible.

Preventing cross contact takes dedication and discipline, but it is possible. Not sure if symptoms you’re having may point to Celiac disease? Learning more about the symptoms of Celiac disease can help.

Meet Your Esophagus

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Granite Peaks

When it comes to the internal components of your body, you probably don’t notice them until something feels “wrong.” For example, let’s discuss your esophagus. This otherwise unnoticeable tube, responsible for transporting food from your mouth to your stomach, has a big job to do and if something is wrong, you’ll notice.

Esophageal Anatomy

Your esophagus is the tube that runs from your mouth to your stomach to control the exchange of air, food, and liquids. There are sphincter muscles at the top and bottom of the esophagus. The upper muscle prevents liquids and food from going down the windpipe into the lungs and moves food down the esophagus toward the stomach. The lower muscle allows food to pass into the stomach and prevents acidic stomach contents from escaping back into the esophagus or lungs.

When Does Heartburn Become a Problem?

Most people experience heartburn at some point in time. That burning sensation felt near the center of your ribcage, usually shortly after eating or drinking, might be acidic stomach contents pushing back up the esophagus from the stomach, which is also known as reflux.

However, about 50% of American suffer with GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), the stage when heartburn becomes a frequent, chronic condition. GERD is best managed with your gastroenterologist to monitor changes in the esophagus and effectiveness of recommended treatment. Left untreated, GERD can cause significant damage to the esophagus, leading to Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal ulcers, strictures (narrowing of the esophagus) or esophageal cancer.

Tips for Keeping Your Esophagus Healthy

Reduce your risk of acid reflux. Choose smaller meals and eat slowly, chewing food thoroughly to aid the process of breaking down food. This will also help the rest of your digestive system work better too. Avoid or limit fatty, acidic or spicy foods, and alcohol or caffeinated beverages such as cola, tea, coffee. If simple changes don’t help, see your gastroenterologist for more specific ideas for relieving symptoms and determining whether your heartburn could really be something more serious. Learn more here.

3 Sneaky Places Dairy Might Be Hiding

Posted on December 2, 2021January 12, 2022 by Granite Peaks

There are many people worldwide who have some degree of lactose intolerance. For some, the symptoms may be as mild as minor bloating and a little extra gas. For others, consuming dairy may result in more severe gastric distress or for those who have a true allergy, anaphylaxis can occur. Avoiding dairy products may seem simple, but there are a few places you may find dairy that would surprise you.

Chewing Gum

It sounds crazy, right? Most of the time, chewing gum is safe for lactose intolerant people, but there is one ingredient that could have a significant effect on those with a lactose allergy. Recaldent is an additive that is derived from milk and is used by some brands of chewing gum to strengthen teeth’s enamel with calcium and phosphate. If you’re not sure, check with your doctor or dentist before using a new product for the first time.

Processed Meats

Processed meats are a food that should be a limited part of anyone’s diet. Fillers in certain types of processed meats (hot dogs and deli meat) may include whey, made from milk protein and lactose. An additional risk is meat that is cut on the same slicer as deli cheeses. Be cautious if you have issues with lactose intolerance or milk allergies.

Alcohol

If you’re a social or recreational drinker, you might want to think twice before reaching for a new beer or wine that you’ve never had before. Sometimes, milk and its derivatives are used in the process of making such beverages. Vegan alcoholic beverages will always be free of dairy and its derivatives.

For the most part, avoiding dairy foods like milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream will take care of most of your lactose intolerance symptoms. To stay symptom-free always check the ingredients label before purchasing a new food to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Not sure if you are lactose intolerant? Check out the Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance to learn more. The specialists at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology can help you pinpoint the cause of your digestive health symptoms and help you make choices to keep you feeling your best.

The Holidays are on the Way – Keep Your Gut Health in Check!

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Granite Peaks

Let’s face it. Many of us tend to over-indulge during the holidays. So many wonderful foods you only see at this time of year can be hard to pass up, but sometimes it’s worth the pass to not deal with the gas. Gas, bloating, acid reflux, and gut pain can all be part of the “joys” of the holidays if you suffer with digestive health challenges.

Be Mindful of Your Choices

Be aware of the foods you can’t seem to resist and think carefully about how you feel after you eat them. If you’re able to have a small amount of a favorite food, go for it! Enjoy every moment of the smell, taste and texture of that small serving. You’ll probably find the smaller serving is just right for you.

If you have a condition such as celiac disease or lactose intolerance, even small amounts of offending foods can be devastating to your digestive system. There are more fantastic gluten-free or lactose-free options for all types of foods than ever before at your local grocery store. You can have your treat and eat it too!

Foods high in sugar or sweeteners can make certain conditions, such as acid reflux, worse and they can have a negative effect on your gut and other organs. When you can, choose natural sweeteners in limited quantity to make your holiday treats sweet.

Don’t Make the Holiday a Drag

Shoot for the dishes you can enjoy without experiencing painful symptoms. To be sure you can enjoy your favorites by bringing safe dishes to share at important gatherings. Your host will love the help and you’ll have more fun!

Eating foods that taste great for a moment but take you out of the action aren’t going to help you enjoy your holidays. Aim for healthy foods that help you stay feeling your best. It will also help you keep your weight in check and avoid those extra holiday pounds.

When Your Digestive Issues Need Attention

If you have been having persistent digestive issues, now is the time to get checked out. Afterall, you can’t fix a problem if you’re not sure what the problem is. People sometimes suffer longer than necessary with symptoms such as acid reflux, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation and other digestive ailments. See a gastroenterology specialist at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology to find the cause of your symptoms. An accurate diagnosis is the first step toward feeling your best, for the holidays and every day.

The Facts About a Colonoscopy

Posted on August 5, 2021August 5, 2021 by Granite Peaks

A colonoscopy is a simple procedure during which a gastroenterologist uses a Colonoscope to view the entire colon of a patient. This procedure may be used for diagnosing various gastrointestinal disorders, such as colon polyps, colon cancer, diverticulosis, inflammatory bowel disease, rectal bleeding or abdominal pain.

The unique benefit of having a colonoscopy colon cancer screening is that the test is also the treatment for colon polyps. While the gastroenterologist is viewing the colon, they remove polyps before they have a chance to grow and develop into cancer.

What to Expect Before Your Colonoscopy

The bowel prep is what most patients dread the most, and it’s actually quite simple. For most people, not all, they will be on a clear liquid diet the day before their procedure. They will begin drinking the first dose of bowel prep (in most cases, a tasteless powder mixed with the clear liquid of your choice) between 4-5:30pm that evening. After spending some time in the bathroom, you should be able to get some sleep, waking up 4 hours before your appointment to drink the second half of your bowel prep. Here are some other expectations you should have before your colonoscopy:

Plan for your driver to remain at the facility during your procedure
Plan to be at our facility for approximately 2 hours
Complete paperwork
Nurses will admit you and place your IV
Meet your procedure team – Doctor, CRNA, Technician
Your Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) will sedate you using Propofol

What to Expect During Your Colonoscopy

Our gastroenterologists use a flexible instrument with a light and miniature camera on the tip, called an endoscope. The “scope” is placed in the rectum and advanced through the colon. The camera displays magnified images on the TV for your gastroenterologist to evaluate while performing the colonoscopy. Miniaturized instruments can be inserted through the scope to obtain biopsies of the colon, remove polyps and to help diagnose or treat your condition. Bonus: a hemorrhoid banding is required, it can be done at the end of your procedure, while you are still sedated.

What to Expect After Your Colonoscopy

You will awaken in the recovery area where your driver may join you, if you wish
You’ll need to pass gas – do this as much as possible to prevent cramping
Your doctor will discuss his/her impressions of the exam
Your nurse will discuss discharge instructions with you
Dress, go home and EAT (unless your doctor instructed otherwise)
Any biopsies taken will be sent to a lab for evaluation
Expect Lab Results in 7-14 days, depending on the type of tests
You may not drive, make legal decisions or perform functions requiring judgment or balance for 4 hours
Our nurses will call you the first business day following your procedure to check on you and to address any issues or questions you may have. Please let them know if you are experiencing any problems after your procedure.
When results are available, your physician’s medical assistant will call you to share results and any orders the physician feels are important for your continuing digestive health care.

A colonoscopy is a simple procedure with excellent success rates for catching colon cancer in its early stages. If you are 45 or older, or have a family history of colon cancer, schedule your colon cancer screening colonoscopy today with the physicians at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology.

I’m Lactose Intolerant – What Are My Options?

Posted on August 5, 2021August 3, 2021 by Granite Peaks

Food – you need it to live, but if you eat the wrong thing it can cause some serious problems. Of course, what constitutes being the “wrong” thing differs from person to person. If you’ve been told that you are lactose intolerant, then for you, eating the wrong thing means consuming foods or beverages with lactose. So what are your options now?

Adjusting Your Diet

When it comes to dealing with lactose intolerance, the simple answer is to just not consume foods or drinks that have lactose in them. Lactose is a sugar that is made up of galactose and glucose and is found in milk. As such, it may be necessary to adjust your diet to exclude dairy products and other products that have dairy in them. Milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream are obvious. Less obvious foods to avoid may include bread, lunch meats, salad dressings, cereal, and baked good mixes.

Finding Good Sources of Calcium and Vitamin D

Part of the challenge of being lactose intolerant is that dairy products tend to be quality sources of both calcium and vitamin D. Cutting these foods out of your diet means you’ll need to find new sources. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to do that. You can find calcium in calcium-fortified beverages such as soy or almond milk, dark leafy greens like spinach and kale, and dried peas and beans. Oily fishes such as salmon and sardines, red meat, egg yolks, and fortified foods can be good sources of vitamin D.

Lactase Supplements

If the idea of no longer consuming foods or beverages that contain lactose is distasteful to you, the good news is that you don’t necessarily have to stop eating them, nor do you have to suffer the consequences of eating them as someone who is lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance generally occurs due to a lack of lactase in the body. Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose. It is available in an OTC supplement that can be taken with foods containing lactose to avoid the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

Consuming foods and beverages that contain lactose when you’re lactose intolerant isn’t likely to cause serious lasting harm, but it can make you extremely uncomfortable for a while, depending on how severe it is. Taking steps like adjusting your diet, finding other foods that are good sources of calcium and vitamin D, and taking lactase supplements are some of the things you can do to help you deal with being lactose intolerant. Remember, it’s up to you to decide what’s best for you.

Wondering if you’re lactose intolerant? Check out the different lactose intolerance tests you can take to find the answer.

Gluten Sensitivity: Should You Go Gluten-Free?

Posted on July 15, 2021 by Granite Peaks

Gluten Sensitivity: Should You Go Gluten-Free?

First Things First: What is Gluten?

The proteins found in wheat are collectively called “gluten”. Gluten is found in many foods to act as a binder, even in some unexpected foods. Foods such as soups, soy sauce, condiments, and prepared foods can contain gluten.

Why are there foods that are naturally gluten-free and still have to be labeled “gluten-free”? Those foods may not have been processed in a gluten-free manufacturing environment. This can be dangerous for those with celiac disease, an autoimmune system that causes severe damage to the small intestine and impacts the overall health of the individual.

What if you don’t have celiac disease, but you still have digestive symptoms when you eat products containing gluten?

A condition called Non-Celiac Gluten/Wheat Sensitivity (NCGWS) is suspected to create some similar symptoms (bloating, stomach pain, constipation, acid reflux, nausea, brain fog, fatigue, mouth ulcers,) to celiac disease. Researchers have found that some patients with these types of symptoms may also have an allergy to certain sugars and components in FODMAP (fermentable carbohydrates that are difficult to digest) foods.

So NCGWS won’t damage the gut like celiac disease, right? Until recently, that was the thought. Researchers are now finding that some cellular damage is still possible through a systemic immune reaction, even in those not diagnosed with celiac disease.

How Long Does It Take for Gluten to Leave Your System?

If an individual sticks to a strict gluten-free diet, their symptoms may begin to dissipate in just a few days, improving each day. It won’t take long before they begin to feel “normal” again. For some, eating very small amounts of gluten, on occasion, may be tolerable, but finding out the cause and effect of your specific issue is important.

Gluten-Free Foods:

Eating gluten-free is easier now than in past years. There are many clearly labeled gluten-free foods on the market today that may have traditionally contained gluten, but they are made with gluten-free products and grains. But be careful! If you are sensitive to wheat, specifically, gluten-free does not necessarily mean “wheat-free”.

You also won’t find gluten in most unprocessed foods, such as:

Fruits and Vegetables
Meat, poultry, fish
Dairy products
Beans, legumes, and nuts
Rice
Corn
Potato
Chia
Gluten-free oats
Nut flours
And more

For years, many people have believed that a gluten-free diet is healthy and effective for weight loss. About 75% of people eating gluten-free have chosen to do so for one of these reasons. A tiny percentage of people who eat gluten-free have been diagnosed with celiac disease, a serious autoimmune disorder that can cause irreversible damage to the small intestine, weak bones, neurological symptoms and skin disorders, along with considerable discomfort.

It’s Time to See a Doctor

If you are having consistent symptoms that don’t seem to completely go away, visit a gastroenterologist – they specialize in digestive health problems. Don’t just tough it out only to find your symptoms are causing damage to your body. Get the help that will have you feeling great again in no time.