Digestive Health Explained with Dr. Lim Lee Guan

Hello, I’m Dr. Lim Lee Guan, a gastroenterologist at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Orchard Road. I treat conditions of the digestive tract — including the stomach, colon, pancreas, gallbladder, and liver. I also perform procedures such as gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and endoscopic ultrasound (a test that combines endoscopy with ultrasound to check the pancreas and deeper layers of the digestive tract).

Helicobacter Pylori and Stomach Cancer

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that raises the risk of stomach cancer. Doctors can detect it through:

Non-endoscopic tests: urea breath test, stool antigen test, and blood test (less accurate)
Endoscopic tests: rapid urease test, tissue biopsy (histology), and culture in difficult cases

Treatment usually involves 10–14 days of antibiotics with acid-suppressing medicine. This cures the infection in about 70–90% of patients.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B spreads through body fluids. In Asia, the most common way is from mother to child at birth. It can also spread through:

blood transfusions
unsterile needles
tattooing

Possible complications include liver scarring (fibrosis), cirrhosis, bleeding veins (varices), fluid buildup (ascites), brain effects (encephalopathy), and liver cancer.

Not everyone needs medication, but all patients should have regular blood tests and ultrasound scans. Some require antiviral drugs under specialist care.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

GERD can raise the risk of esophageal cancer through a condition called Barrett’s esophagus, although the risk is low.

Lifestyle changes help manage GERD:

Avoid trigger foods (spicy food, coffee, alcohol, citrus fruits, tomato, chocolate)
Do not eat heavy meals near bedtime
Sleep on the left side or elevate the upper body

Medications include antacids, alginates, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors, and newer acid blockers.

Colon Polyps and Cancer Risk

Some colon polyps may develop into cancer if not removed. During a colonoscopy, doctors remove polyps and send them for testing. The follow-up interval depends on the size and type of polyp.

Screening recommendations:

Start at age 50 (or 45 in some countries)
Options include stool tests or colonoscopy

Regular screening and timely removal of polyps lower the risk of colorectal cancer.

Key Takeaway

Digestive health plays a major role in overall wellbeing. With early detection, lifestyle changes, regular screening, and proper treatment, many complications can be prevented — improving long-term health and quality of life.

Author

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