Health Expert Jennifer Rackley shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/70966/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/70966/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/70966/index http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/70966/149212/nsaids-increase-risk Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:34:00 -0500 Jennifer Rackley Many of us know that our prescription medications may have side effects and those things are generally tracked or discussed with our physician, but what about the over the counter medications?  According to Ashwin Ananthakrishnan, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, women who use NSAIDs are at up to a twofold increased risk in developing IBD (1).  While this still represents an overall low lifetime risk it is important to... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/70966/149212/nsaids-increase-risk http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/70966/149211/healthy-vegetables Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:07:00 -0500 Jennifer Rackley While you may have heard that cruciferous vegetables have cancer fighting properties you may not know that cruciferous vegetables may be key in keeping your gut healthy too.   According to an article in the journal Cell these vegetables have compounds that turn on a receptor which activates specialized immune cells in the GI tract.  When these specialized immune cells are not present the gut accumulated more bacteria and lymphocytes... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/70966/149211/healthy-vegetables http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/70966/149210/pulmonary-embolism Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:54:00 -0500 Jennifer Rackley There has been a lot of new research lately that further points to an increase in clots for people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).  One Swedish study noted that patients hospitalized with an autoimmune disease appeared to be at a 6 fold increase of PE (Pulmonary Embolism) in the first year after and a 50% increase two to five years after the initial admission (1).  Another study done in Boston showed IBD patients undergoing... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/70966/149210/pulmonary-embolism http://www.healthcentral.com/acid-reflux/c/70966/149209/increase-acid Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:15:00 -0500 Jennifer Rackley According to along term study done in Norway the incidence of acid reflux has increased by 50% in the last ten years (1).  The study authors showed that the use of anti-reflux medication as well as pregnancy did not account for these new numbers.  It was proposed that the increase in obesity may be to blame for these new numbers.  If you have acid reflux and are overweight or obese you may find significant improvement or... http://www.healthcentral.com/acid-reflux/c/70966/149209/increase-acid http://www.healthcentral.com/acid-reflux/c/70966/148136/benefits-side Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:21:00 -0500 Jennifer Rackley There has been a lot of talk in the media about the dangers of PPI medications and even more discussion on whether they are overused. While it is important to discuss the proper use of every medication it sometimes appears that the side effects are the focus to the exclusion of any benefit. Some patients I speak with refuse treatment even when a doctor has insisted that the benefit outweighs the risk.   Untreated acid reflux or GERD can... http://www.healthcentral.com/acid-reflux/c/70966/148136/benefits-side http://www.healthcentral.com/acid-reflux/c/70966/148138/lung-function Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:31:00 -0500 Jennifer Rackley As most of you know my little refluxer also has asthma. After talking with many parents it is very clear to me that we are not the only ones in that boat. We have seen anecdotally that when our daughter's reflux is under control she also tends to have better control of her asthma.   A recent article in the Archives of Surgery discusses the use of anti-reflux surgery to improve airway function in patients who had end stage pulmonary disease.... http://www.healthcentral.com/acid-reflux/c/70966/148138/lung-function http://www.healthcentral.com/acid-reflux/c/70966/148137/inhibitors Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:01:00 -0500 Jennifer Rackley All medications have side effects. The recent influx of information on the side effects of PPIs has made many scared to take them, even when they are needed. In contrast some patients are insisting on the medications, or purchasing them OTC when they may not be needed. There are several things we can do to help limit these issues. First, be sure to have an open discussion with your physician before beginning any treatment for acid reflux. They... http://www.healthcentral.com/acid-reflux/c/70966/148137/inhibitors http://www.healthcentral.com/acid-reflux/c/70966/148135/symptoms-acid Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:01:00 -0500 Jennifer Rackley Over the years of dealing with two children that had acid reflux and other GI issues it has become second nature to blame every additional issue on the reflux. Not sleeping well? It must be the reflux! Crabby kid? Reflux pain, of course. Puking again? Reflux flare up! Asthma aggravated? Well, you get the picture. Just this week we had a similar scenario play out. Ella accidentally got some tomato in her meal and the next day she was clutching... http://www.healthcentral.com/acid-reflux/c/70966/148135/symptoms-acid http://www.healthcentral.com/acid-reflux/c/70966/143612/parenting Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:10:00 -0500 Jennifer Rackley If you have an infant or child with reflux it can definitely take a toll on family dynamics.  This can apply to children with acid reflux, IBS, asthma, downs syndrome and a host of other conditions.   Every aspect of family life tends to change and these changes can be tough for caregivers.  Siblings also tend to be affected by the introduction of a child with "high needs" into the family dynamic.  There are several... http://www.healthcentral.com/acid-reflux/c/70966/143612/parenting http://www.healthcentral.com/acid-reflux/c/70966/146532/surviving Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:32:00 -0500 Jennifer Rackley Sometimes, as the mom to children with GERD and food allergies, I want to just close my eyes and fast forward through the holiday season.  Not because a am a furry green guy named "Grinch", it is quite the opposite in fact.  I love this time of year.  It's just that when you add GERD and food allergies to the mix, everything is just... well, HARD!Sometimes by the time I am done with the preparations required for my children to... http://www.healthcentral.com/acid-reflux/c/70966/146532/surviving