Digestive Health UK

Founder of Digestive Health UK, Dr Sarmed Sami, was interviewed on TalkTVUK

In the interview, Dr Sami discusses how amitriptyline, a common medication used for other conditions like migraine, may help alleviate irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. 💊

People “who took the pill amitriptyline were twice [as] likely to report an improvement in symptoms…it's certainly a medication that can improve the quality of life significantly for those patients.”

Watch the video to find out more.

Ever wondered how alcohol affects your bowel health? 🤔 The Daily Express asked Dr Sarmed Sami to share his knowledge in their article.

Dr Sami advises that alcohol can increase acid production, causing acid reflux. It can also cause inflammation in the lining of the small bowel and raises the risk of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or bowel cancer.

To discover how to protect your body when drinking, read their article: https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1707265/bowel-cancer-risk-one-alcohol-drink-day-raise-risk-symptoms

Founder of Digestive Health UK, Dr Sarmed Sami, was featured in an article by Daily Mail. 👨‍⚕️

In the article, Dr Sami shares five foods he avoids to maintain digestive and overall general health, including:

🔵 Processed meat
🔵 High-fat dairy products
🔵 Deep-fried foods
🔵 Sugary and fizzy drinks
🔵 Ready meals

Read the article now to learn more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12051607/Im-gastroenterologist-five-things-never-eat.html

📣 NEW BLOG 📣 Reasons to have a colonoscopy

If your specialist recommends a colonoscopy, you may wonder why.

Our latest blog explains some of the common reasons you might have a colonoscopy. For example, to look for signs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), bowel polyps, or bowel cancer.

We also discuss our results process at Digestive Health UK. Read the full blog now: https://digestivehealthuk.com/blog/reasons-to-have-a-colonoscopy/

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Some people experience temporary side effects after a colonoscopy, as explained in our video.

A colonoscopy is a highly safe and effective procedure, so complications are rare. However, it's good to be aware of the risks.

Rare complications include an infection, a perforated colon, and post-polypectomy electrocoagulation syndrome after removing a large polyp.

If you experience severe abdominal pain or a fever after your colonoscopy, seek medical advice immediately.

Have you had a colonoscopy? 🤔 Share your experience in the comments.

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⭐⭐⭐ PATIENT TESTIMONIAL ⭐⭐⭐

This patient was "extremely nervous" before their bowel cancer screening colonoscopy but said that Dr Sami and our team made them "feel at ease" and "supported".

We know how stressful the testing process can be when you are experiencing concerning symptoms. Our team aims to reassure you every step of the way. 😌

If you might need a colonoscopy to screen for bowel cancer, contact our clinic: https://digestivehealthuk.com/contact/

We provide private screening tests for bowel cancer and a range of other conditions.

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Some people wish to avoid having a test like a colonoscopy as they think it will be painful or embarrassing.

However, it's usually the most appropriate and accurate test to do. We also offer sedation to prevent pain.

Watch our video to discover the alternative tests we may recommend if you are unwilling to have a colonoscopy.

Our gastroenterologist can discuss the pros and cons in your specific case with you. Visit our website to book an appointment: https://digestivehealthuk.com/contact/

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Do you know the symptoms of bowel cancer? 🤔

The most common sign is blood in your poo. Iron deficiency anaemia is another early warning sign.

Symptoms include:
🔵 Abdominal pain
🔵 Bloating after eating
🔵 Unexplained weight loss
🔵 Runnier or loose poo, which may be narrow
🔵 Bowel changes, such as pooing more often

It usually affects people over 50, which is why the NHS is expanding its screening programme to include everyone between 50 and 74.

Learn more about bowel cancer, including how we diagnose and treat it on our website: https://digestivehealthuk.com/condition/bowel-cancer/

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Dr Sami was published in the Guardian recently alongside other digestive health experts. 👨‍⚕️

In the article - No, you don’t have to poo every day: eight things nutrition experts want you to know - he shares how exercise can benefit your gut health.

He recommends "non-strenuous exercises such as swimming, cycling, yoga and walking" if you’re just starting. 🏊 However, high-intensity exercises provide more benefits for your heart and lungs.

Additional reasons to exercise include:
💡 Reducing your risk of gut problems and conditions, such as liver disease and bowel cancer
💡 Reducing stress hormones and boosting "the hormones that improve mood"

Read it now: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/mar/20/no-you-dont-have-to-poo-every-day-eight-things-nutrition-experts-want-you-to-know

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⭐⭐⭐ PATIENT TESTIMONIAL ⭐⭐⭐

Dr Sami performed a colonoscopy to screen for bowel cancer after this patient experienced re**al bleeding.

He discovered the bleeding was caused by polyps, which he then removed.

The patient said the procedure was "very comfortable", and he found Dr Sami to be a "very confident and skillful doctor".

Get in touch to arrange private bowel cancer screening at Digestive Health UK: https://digestivehealthuk.com/contact/

You can also call our clinic on 0207 459 4918.

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We are often asked about how sedation works during a colonoscopy (lower endoscopy).

Dr Sami discusses conscious sedation in our short video.

He shares that some people need more sedation than expected or become very sleepy with only a little, but this is rare.

Generally, you will feel relaxed and sleepy if we sedate you, which increases your comfort during the procedure.

Read our blog to learn more: https://digestivehealthuk.com/blog/sedation-and-communication-during-an-endoscopy/

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For Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, we want to raise awareness of the benefits of bowel cancer screening. 💡

Your screening options may vary depending on whether you have a family history of bowel cancer, but it's usually available for people between 60 and 74 years old.

Screening involves using a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) kit, which looks for blood in your poo (a sign of cancer). 🩸

Private screening can include a colonoscopy, which is more effective at finding signs of cancer.

Visit our website to learn more about our bowel cancer screening services: https://digestivehealthuk.com/test/bowel-cancer-screening/

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📣 NEW BLOG 📣 How do I prepare for a colonoscopy?

If you need a colonoscopy, you may be nervous or stressed about the preparation process, and it may seem pretty complicated.

However, colonoscopy prep is quite straightforward if you follow your specialist's advice.

Our blog covers what you should do to prepare a week before, two days before, the day before, and the day of the procedure.

Read it now to learn how to prepare for a colonoscopy: https://digestivehealthuk.com/blog/preparing-for-a-colonoscopy/

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⭐⭐⭐ PATIENT TESTIMONIAL ⭐⭐⭐

Dr Sami saw this patient for persistent diarrhoea and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). He performed a colonoscopy to determine the cause of their symptoms.

This patient said Dr Sami made them feel "relaxed and not rushed despite him being a very busy consultant".

We love that they had such a positive experience at Digestive Health UK! 🤗

To hear more about the experience at our clinic, visit to read our patient reviews: https://www.doctify.com/uk/specialist/dr_sarmed_sami

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When you have a colonoscopy at our clinic, we send you an instruction leaflet to help you prepare before your procedure.

Dr Sami explains the dietary changes you may need to make in our short video. He also briefly discusses how bowel preparation works.

Visit our website to find out more about the colonoscopy procedure at our clinic.

You also book a private appointment or contact us to enquire further: https://digestivehealthuk.com/contact/

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A colonoscopy is useful for diagnosing, treating and monitoring your condition.

To check your condition, you may need a follow-up colonoscopy every few years.

We may recommend a follow-up colonoscopy if we diagnosed you with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or to look for polyps (tissue growths) if we have found some previously.

Have you had a colonoscopy? 🤔 Share your experience in the comments!

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Do you know what a colonoscopy can help us diagnose? 🤔

Once we have determined the cause of your symptoms, we can form a tailored treatment plan.

We may need to perform additional tests, such as a gastroscopy (upper endoscopy) and blood or stool tests before we can confirm your diagnosis.

Visit our website to discover the difference between a gastroscopy and a colonoscopy: https://digestivehealthuk.com/blog/gastroscopy-vs-colonoscopy-which-do-you-need/

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📣 NEW BLOG 📣 Severe acid reflux: Is it GORD?

Acid reflux refers to acid travelling from the stomach up your oesophagus (food pipe).

If you often experience reflux, you may have gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

GORD can cause swallowing problems, pain in your throat or chest, and a continuous cough - though this is often not due to GORD.

Other digestive problems can cause the same symptoms as this condition, such as achalasia, eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) and functional heartburn.

We explain this further in our blog. Read it now to learn more: https://digestivehealthuk.com/blog/severe-acid-reflux-is-it-gord/

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⭐⭐⭐ PATIENT TESTIMONIAL ⭐⭐⭐

This patient was experiencing re**al bleeding (bleeding from their bottom) and blood in their poo, which was "extremely" worrying.

Dr Sami performed a "painless" colonoscopy and discovered that a polyp was causing these problems. After he removed the polyp, the patient's bleeding stopped.

If you're experiencing concerning symptoms, get in touch! Dr Sami will recommend the most appropriate tests to figure out what's causing your symptoms.

You can contact us by calling our clinic on 0207 459 4918 or via our online form: https://digestivehealthuk.com/contact/

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A colonoscopy is a diagnostic test that allows us to check for problems with your bowel and lower digestive system.

To help us do this, we may also take a biopsy (small tissue sample). The colonoscopy should take around 15 to 30 minutes, depending on what we're doing.

Watch Dr Sami explain what we can detect with a colonoscopy in our video. 👀

We have more videos on colonoscopy on our website: https://digestivehealthuk.com/videos/answerpack/colonoscopy/

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Our latest post shares the signs you might need a colonoscopy. 💡

Additional symptoms include re**al bleeding (bleeding from your bottom) and sudden, unexplained weight loss or fatigue.

Visit our website to read more about who needs a colonoscopy. We also discuss what happens during and after a colonoscopy: https://digestivehealthuk.com/test/endoscopy-colonoscopy/

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📣 NEW BLOG 📣 What are my treatment options for GORD?

Our latest blog discusses GORD treatment options in depth, including the usual treating order: https://digestivehealthuk.com/blog/what-are-my-treatment-options-for-gord/

Read it now to find out more!

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Oesophageal cancer treatment options depend on the size, type, grade and stage of cancer as well as your general health.

In the early stages, we may be able to remove the abnormal tissue with an endoscopic procedure, such as endoscopic resection and HALO radiofrequency ablation.

Your cancer care team will explain the benefits and risks of each option and help you make an informed decision.

Have you had oesophageal cancer? Share your experience in the comments and empower others to learn more about this cancer.

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⭐⭐⭐ PATIENT TESTIMONIAL ⭐⭐⭐

This patient travelled all the way from Scotland for a second opinion from Dr Sami and our team.

Our clinic saw them for acid reflux and Barrett's oesophagus, and we're glad they felt "very well" looked after.

If you're considering visiting Digestive Health UK, read our reviews to learn more about our high-quality service: https://www.doctify.com/uk/specialist/dr-sarmed-sami

We're happy to answer any questions you have about how our clinic can help you. Call us today on 0207 459 4918 or submit our online form to get in touch: https://digestivehealthuk.com/contact/

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An endoscopy is one of the tests we use to diagnose oesophageal cancer.

During the endoscopy, we take a sample called a biopsy to look for signs of cancerous cells or abnormal cell changes.

Dr Sami explains the cost of a private endoscopy in the UK in our video.

Additional tests you may need include a CT scan, PET-CT, endoscopic ultrasound, barium swallow and laparoscopy. We may also recommend blood tests.

To learn more about oesophageal cancer diagnosis or how we treat it, visit our website: https://digestivehealthuk.com/condition/oesophageal-cancer-and-pre-cancerous-lesions-dysplasia/

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Our latest post for Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month highlights some things that increase your risk of this cancer. ⚠️

Additional risk factors include:
🟣 Over 60
🟣 Obesity
🟣 Smoking
🟣 Being male
🟣 Drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week

Swallowing freshly boiled or equally hot drinks may also increase your risk if the liquid damages your food pipe (oesophagus).

These factors do not mean that you will get oesophageal cancer. However, you should take any concerning symptoms seriously and speak to a medical professional.

If you want to discuss your symptoms with our gastroenterologist, call our clinic or complete our online form to book an appointment: https://digestivehealthuk.com/contact/

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Do you know what causes dysplasia? 🤔

Dysplasia refers to abnormal cell changes.

If you have minor cell changes, it's called low-grade dysplasia.

High-grade dysplasia (HGD) means your cells are severely abnormal.

Both are pre-cancerous stages, but HGD is sometimes known as stage 0 cancer, as there is a high risk of cancer developing.

Watch our video to learn what causes dysplasia. We have more dysplasia videos on our website: https://digestivehealthuk.com/videos/answerpack/dysplasia/

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⭐⭐⭐ PATIENT TESTIMONIAL ⭐⭐⭐

Dr Sami, our Consultant Gastroenterologist, saw this patient after they experienced swallowing problems (dysphagia).

They shared that they were "very grateful to Dr Sami", and we couldn't be happier to have "solved" their problems.

If you're having difficulty swallowing, visit our website to book an appointment with our specialist: https://digestivehealthuk.com/contact/

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Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) is one of the main symptoms of oesophageal cancer.

You may also feel as if food is stuck in your throat and experience acid reflux or heartburn.

Struggling to swallow can affect your life in multiple ways, as Professor Martin Birchall explains in our video.

Watch it now to discover some of the risks increased due to dysphagia.

To learn more about swallowing problems, visit our website: https://digestivehealthuk.com/symptom/swallowing-problems/

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