Inflammatory Bowel Disease Expert Tracy Davenport shares Inflammatory Bowel Disease management news and commentary at MyIBDCentral.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.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/ibd/c/17824 http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824 http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/57321/green-tea-ibd Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:55:00 -0500 Tracy Davenport Drinking green tea is not a new past time. In fact, individuals have enjoyed drinking green tea for over 5,000 years. However, in the past several years, green tea is increasingly being studied as an agent with the potential to reduce inflammation, especially in the gastrointestinal tract.   Green tea is made from the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis, a perennial evergreen shrub, and is rich in polyphenolic compounds, with catechins... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/57321/green-tea-ibd http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/56524/complementary Thu, 22 Jan 2009 08:49:00 -0500 Tracy Davenport About half of patients who live with IBD use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and that number is on the rise. Even though the use of alternative therapies is becoming more popular, there are still more questions than answers about the effectiveness on bowel disease. However, there are some things we do know about complementary and alternative treatments:   1) Those with IBD mostly choose from one of the... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/56524/complementary http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/55655/preventative-important Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:34:00 -0500 Tracy Davenport I completely understand how hard it can be to keep up with all of the recommended preventative screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies. For the most part, the LAST thing I want to do is schedule another doctor's appointment for me or my family, especially if no one is in immediate pain. If you are living with or caring for someone with a chronic digestive disorder, I know you can relate. There are already so many tests that come with... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/55655/preventative-important http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/54881/pregnancy-ibd Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:52:00 -0500 Tracy Davenport In the past, women with IBD were counseled against pregnancy. These days however, a healthy pregnancy and baby are both possible for couples living with IBD. If you and your partner are planning for a new family member in 2009, this SharePost is written for you, and includes answers to some frequently asked questions.   Will becoming pregnant be a problem? While active Crohn's disease can reduce fertility in several ways, fertility... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/54881/pregnancy-ibd http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/54507/year-wishes Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:26:00 -0500 Tracy Davenport I wish for you a good Doctor... That you will not dread your appointments.   I wish for you great Friends and Family... The kind that understand that sometimes you have to cancel your plans at the last minute, even if they saw you the day before and you seemed just fine.   I wish for you a Restaurant... A favorite place where you feel safe to eat.   I wish for you to be able Travel when you want... Knowing that it... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/54507/year-wishes http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/53941/medical-home Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:34:00 -0500 Tracy Davenport The concept of "medical home" is something you will be hearing more and more about in the New Year. At this point, different players in the health care system are defining it in different ways, but in general, a medical home refers to a primary health care setting that would be a starting place for you and your family to obtain all of the medical care you and your family need. The medical home would maintain a centralized, comprehensive record... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/53941/medical-home http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/52408/flu-shot Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:30:00 -0500 Tracy Davenport Influenza, "the flu," is caused by a virus that infects the respiratory tract and is spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the flu can cause serious problems for some, including anyone taking immunosuppressive drugs such as Imuran, Neoral, Purinethol, and Prednisone   In a recent study conducted in an IBD specialty clinic, it was found that 86 percent of the patients... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/52408/flu-shot http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/50176/hot-ideas-cool-gifts Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:32:00 -0500 Tracy Davenport With "Black Friday" fast approaching, I thought I should provide you with some hot gift ideas to choose from if someone on your shopping list has IBD.   1) Life and IBD Guides - This cool "European gift" is a series of guides developed by European patients, nurses, and consultants to help an individual better manage their disease. The guides are free to download and print at www.LifeAndIBD.org.   2) Take Out Dinner and a Movie... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/50176/hot-ideas-cool-gifts http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/49400/families-community Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:24:00 -0500 Tracy Davenport It's very possible that once the new administration takes over in January we will all experience changes in our healthcare system. One of the changes we might see is more community based programs to help educate and heal those living with a chronic illness. One such model of care has already been tested in the diabetes community, and is known as Partners in Diabetes.   The program began in a Minnesota community, where patients, known as... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/49400/families-community http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/48467/friend Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:43:00 -0500 Tracy Davenport A friend of mine called last week to find out what she could do to support someone she cares about who has just been diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Her friend lives 3000 miles away and is getting ready to undergo more tests to verify the diagnosis.   Here is my advice to her, and to any of you who may have someone you care about just diagnosed with IBD.   First, I am going to give you one of the theories on what... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/17824/48467/friend