It may surprise you to know that there is a system in your body so complex that it contains almost 500 million neurons, linked to your brain. Would you ever guess that it is your gastrointestinal (GI) system, otherwise known as your gut? To help shed some light on the importance of gut health for the whole body, we talked to Jagrati Mathur, MD, a gastroenterologist with Dignity Health Medical Group — Saint Francis/St. Mary’s.

Colorectal cancer (combined colon and rectal cancer) is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the United States. Most colorectal cancer cases happen in people over the age of 50, but according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), cases in adults younger than 50 are on the rise.

Talking about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be as uncomfortable as its symptoms. However, IBS is a relatively common condition affecting about 20 percent of the U.S. population, according to Dr. Kuldip Sandhu, an expert gastroenterologist with Mercy Medical Group. Dr. Sandhu answers important questions about IBS below.

If you have ulcerative colitis (UC), a type of inflammatory bowel disease, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UC affects as many as 246 of every 100,000 Americans. But what is UC and what can be done about it?

A laparoscopic colectomy provides qualified patients a less invasive, and has a faster recovery than traditional surgery.