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Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month is April! SIU Medicine has a team of experienced providers helping men, women and children of all ages manage this disease and maintain the highest quality of living possible. Five things to know about IBS: What is irritable bowel syndrome? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the intestines. It involves long-term or recurring issues within the digestive system. The most commonly affected organs include the large intestine, small intestine and colon. With IBS, people develop issues with how the intestines move, feel and function. Because the

As an academic medical institution, SIU School of Medicine has been sharing information for National Birth Defects Awareness Month within our community. Here are some helpful things to know about birth defects and how our providers can assist you and your family. 1. Birth defects are surprisingly common. Birth defects are structural changes that are present at birth and can affect one or many parts of the body, including the heart, spine, brain and mouth. The most common types of birth defects include spina bifida, cleft lip and palate, and congenital heart defects. According to the U.S

What if medication and therapy don't work for depression and suicidal thoughts? Next step treatments are available. Learn about 4 advanced treatments for treatment-resistant mood disorders available at SIU Medicine.

SIU surgeon Melanie Barnard, MD, was part of an international team of clinicians who won the $700,000 grand prize to design low-cost simulation surgical training in the Global Surgical Training Challenge.

Much of Shipra Somani’s life has been guided by the personal adage she quotes often: “If someone has good health and a good mind, they have a moral obligation to give back to people who are less fortunate.” Mrs. Somani has embodied these words by dedicating her work to being an agent of change, striving for advancements in health care while aiding and advocating for those in vulnerable situations. She accomplished this not only through her exceptional gifts as a social worker, but also through her generosity as a donor. A native of India, Mrs. Somani began her education in social work at the

When a migraine comes on, just getting out of bed can be difficult. Reading this blog would be a struggle. What is a migraine headache, what causes one and what can migraine sufferers do to get relief? Our staff at SIU Medicine can help you learn more about this condition and provide you with effective and innovative migraine treatments. Migraine headaches are more common than you think A migraine is an intense headache that typically emanates from one side of the brain, usually presenting with additional symptoms. It is considered a neurological disorder. This means it affects the brain and

Female Treatment Options Female Anatomy Problems Problems with the fallopian tubes, uterus or cervix require immediate attention. After diagnosing the problem by using hysteroscopy ( a close visual examination of the uterus) or imaging procedures including ultrasound (the use of sound waves to see the ovaries and uterus) and hysterosalpingogram (HSG, an x-ray technique which uses dye injected into the uterus to see if it is normal and if the tubes are open), fertility specialists may perform a laparoscopy (minimally invasive surgery) to correct the anatomic problems, or robotic surgery for

Gastroparesis isn't one of the most common health conditions around—about 10 men and 40 women out of 100,000 people have it. But it can be life-altering to anyone who has it. The gastroenterology team at SIU Medicine encourages you to spend a little time learning about gastroparesis, so you can talk to a doctor if you have concerns about this or any digestive health problems. A brief overview of gastroparesis The word gastroparesis comes from "gastro," meaning stomach, and "paresis," meaning weakness. Gastroparesis is also called delayed gastric emptying. It happens when a person's stomach

When you catch a cold or cut your finger, the immune system begins the healing process by clearing damaged cells. As we age, that process weakens. Health problems linger as immune systems aren’t quite as robust as they once were, whether it’s fighting bacteria, viruses, or cancer cells. Alzheimer’s researchers are now exploring a process called senescent cell accumulation to see if it could be detrimental.

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a $1.5 million grant to SIU Medicine scientist Brandon Cox, PhD, to test compounds that are predicted to stimulate regeneration of hair cells used for hearing. The process could illuminate a path to restore human hearing loss.