Looking for a Gastroenterologist in the Long Island or Queens area? We Specialize in GI Issues, Liver Diseases, and Nutrition.

Whether you’ve just started experiencing acute pain and discomfort, or you’ve been dealing with your issues for some time, Bradley Rieders, MD, Gautam Reddy, MD and Brandon Rieders, MD are here to help you find relief.

Causes of Gastroenterological Issues

Our team at Gastro Care LI understands just how uncomfortable living with a GI condition is. Fulfilling work obligations and enjoying family time are made much more difficult, if not impossible, with the presence of persistent gastroenterological issues. It takes a great deal of mental and physical energy to cope with and accommodate health issues, which is why many of our patients come to us eager for answers. Our doctors focus on helping prevent, diagnose, and treat a range of conditions, with your health and quality of life being our top priority. While issues like occasional cramping, mild acid reflux, and indigestion are common enough, patients who experience persistent pain should seek the help of a doctor. A healthy GI tract does not cause continual discomfort. If this is your reality, our highly qualified team is ready to help you find solutions. The following symptoms are strong indications that it’s time to seek the help of a gastroenterologist as soon as possible:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Vomiting blood
• Bloody stools, which often appear maroon or black
• Severe constipation
• Swelling around an abdominal hernia site
• Unable to retain fluids or food

Because many people seeking help are already frustrated with their condition, we encourage them to be patient. GI issues can be caused by a complicated web of factors, and addressing the cause, problem, and treatment is a process. Some common causes of GI issues include:

• Lifestyle - A healthy diet, regular water intake, and consistent activity are three ways to ensure that your digestive system can thrive. Addressing potential allergens and avoiding foods that cause inflammation can also help encourage GI health.
• Allergens and irritants - As the body matures, food or nutrients that you may have been able to process previously may cause distress.
• Pharmaceuticals - Certain medications have been shown to have a severe negative impact on patients. An evaluation of your medical history will give our doctors a better idea if you may be suffering because of harmful medication.
• Unaddressed Illness - Underlying conditions like Celiac disease, Ulcerative Colitis. Crohn’s disease and a variety of other issues may be the source of your discomfort. Though being diagnosed with a condition can be scary for many patients, it is ultimately the first step in finding strategies to heal and live a healthier life.

The team at GastroCare LI use our knowledge and experience to help our patients get relief so that they can move forward and live the life they want to live.

What is Inflammation?

Many GI issues are exacerbated by inflammation, the body’s protective response to irritants or illnesses. For this reason, understanding inflammation and how it affects your body is incredibly important. In many cases, the inflammation process is the body’s first step toward healing itself. However, instances of chronic inflammation are often triggered by a condition or allergen that needs to be addressed. Chronic inflammation can worsen GI health and cause a variety of issues. The inflammation process has four main phases:

• Widening of blood vessels which enables increased blood flow
• Blood becomes more permeable, allowing fluids and proteins to easily travel to tissues
• Recruitment of white blood cells from circulation to the irritated tissue
• Metabolic adjustment

Inflammation occurring in the stomach lining is referred to as gastritis. When chronic gastritis is experienced over a long period of time it can cause severe damage to the lining of the stomach. Fortunately, when the cause of inflammation is addressed, the condition is treatable. Patients who suffer from chronic gastritis can display a variety of symptoms which include often include bloating, nausea, reduced appetite, vomiting, weight loss, upper abdominal pain, and indigestion. While many people may experience a bout of gastritis at some point or another, the following are some risk factors:

• Age - As the body matures, the stomach lining can thin, heightening the likelihood of gastritis.
• Pain relievers - Regular use or overuse of pain relievers like naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil), and aspirin can deplete a chemical that protects the stomach lining.
• Alcohol intake - Alcohol abuse has a variety of health drawbacks, one of which includes eroding the stomach lining. A thinned stomach lining can eliminate protections that your stomach lining needs to withstand digestive chemicals.
• Bacterial infection - Helicobacter pylori, commonly referred to as H. pylori, is a bacteria found in the stomach which can attack the stomach lining. Stomach disruption caused by H. pylori is common.

Dealing with persistent GI issues on a daily basis is difficult. If you are suffering, please reach out. Our team understands that a volatile GI tract can make being stuck in traffic, travel, and general spontaneity a heightened source of stress. Unfortunately, nerves and stress often only serve to worsen conditions. If you believe you are suffering from gastroenterological issues, we want to help you get your normal life back.

Preparing for Your Appointment

If you are planning on visiting one of our gastroenterologists, we are ready to help you. You can help us by being able to provide us with as much information as possible about your medical condition, including:

• Symptom List - Catalog the symptoms that you are experiencing. Writing down a full list of your symptoms beforehand will help ensure you don’t forget to report any symptoms. Even if it seems unrelated to your appointment, write down any symptoms you are displaying.
• Personal Information - Significant life changes and stressors that you’ve encountered lately will give your gastroenterologist a more complete portrait of your situation. GI issues can be exacerbated by stress and emotional hardship.
• Medication - If you are taking medication, vitamins, prebiotics, probiotics, etc., make sure you have all of this information prepared for your doctor.
• Support - Consider taking someone you trust with you to your appointment. Not only can having someone along make the process less stress-inducing, but they may also be able to provide the staff with any information you forgot.

Showing up prepared will help us help you get the most out of your appointment. We are happy to answer any and all of your questions.

Are you suffering from any of the following diseases?

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If so, we can help. When something is wrong within your body, it can really throw you off and lead to a wide variety of seemingly unrelated symptoms that can all be linked back to some form of internal disorder. At GastroCare LI, we’re here to help. Just contact us today at either our Glendale or Valley Stream location to schedule your appointment and begin the process of getting answers and relief for your issues. Call us today!