DrCarney.com Blog

Hemorrhoids — although more than 75% of Americans are affected at some point in their lives, hemorrhoids aren't exactly a topic that everyone enjoys discussing. If you're looking for relief, you'll be glad to know that eating a diet rich in fiber can help prevent, treat, and stop the progression of this bothersome condition. A hemorrhoid...

Enlarged varicose veins are not only a cosmetic matter, they can cause aching pain, ulcers, burning, and cramping to varying degrees, and in some cases, more serious complications. The etiology of varicose veins can be multifactorial, says the scientific medical community — listing pregnancy, standing for long periods of time, a sedentary lifestyle, age, obesity, and family...

Half of the adults living in America who consume the rich Western diet have permanently stretched the diaphragm that separates the abdominal cavity from the thoracic cavity. Many patients are unaware that they have stretched their diaphragm; some experience symtoms when others do not. This condition is commonly seen in adults over the age of...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a painful, chronic digestive disorder affecting millions of Americans every year. GERD occurs when the muscular valve between the esophagus and stomach is weakened or fails to close properly, which causes the contents in the stomach (including stomach acid) to travel up the esophagus. Constant irritation of the delicate lining...

If you've been searching the Internet for relief from hemorrhoids, GERD, constipation, or other gastrointestinal disorder, you may be interested in viewing the below 15-minute session featuring Neal Barnard, MD. Dr. Barnard gives a general overview of how eating a diet based on a wide variety of whole grains, beans, fruits, vegetables, and some nuts/seeds...

As an emergency physician for 19 years, I certainly saw my share of patients come in with symptoms of diverticulitis. Severe abdominal pain, cramping, and bloating were among the classic symptoms that pointed toward a diverticulitis diagnosis. Sometimes I could give these patients pain relievers and antibiotics and refer them to their primary physician or...

According to Dr. John McDougall, dairy protein paralyzes the bowel. In his article, In Search of the Perfect Bowel Movement, "Dairy protein (not the fat or sugar) causes severe constipation in many people. This was clearly demonstrated in a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1998, of 65 severely constipated children. They complained...

We're sure you will agree that colon polyps aren't exactly a popular topic of conversation. However, because they increase our risk of colon cancer (and over 35% of those eating the typical American diet have polyps) it's important for us to discuss them. Notice in the above graph from Dr. T. Colin Campbell's China Study,...

Colon cancer, is the second most deadly cancer. Approximately 180,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States and Europe. Dr. John McDougall says that colon cancer "is a disease primarily of people consuming a diet high in meats (including poultry and fish), dairy products, and fats; and low in fruits and vegetables."...

Constipation and hemorrhoids are embarrassing topics to discuss, yet both are very common problems, especially for those who eat the rich Western diet. Dr. John McDougall speaks frankly about what causes hemorrhoids, how eating a starch-based diet prevents them and offers relief to those that already have them. You will enjoy Dr. McDougall's two minute video on this "moving" topic! To view Dr. McDougall's video on constipation, click here.

For more information read the article, "Constipation, Hemorrhoids, Varicose Veins" by John McDougall MD here or purchase his book, Dr. McDougall's Digestive Tune-Up.