How TidalHealth is Tackling Crohn’s & Colitis

BERLIN, Md. – In this week’s Health Beat, brought to you by TidalHealth, WMDT spoke with Dr. Mehak Bassi, a gastroenterologist actively involved in teaching medical residents and fellows.

Dr. Bassi performs endoscopies to examine various common digestive issues, including acid reflux, heartburn, stomach ulcers, and blood in the stool. Additionally, they examine conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and colon cancer.

“Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic conditions that affect inflammation in the gut. Patients will usually present with symptoms such as blood in the stools, nausea, vomiting,” Dr. Bassi explained. “Longstanding inflammation in the digestive tract can lead to [the] development of abnormal cells in the body, sometimes also called as dysplasia, and that can lead to colon cancer over time.”

Dr. Bassi says that in order to diagnose conditions like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, providers must combine clinical symptoms of the patient with imaging and, in some cases, biopsies. Subsequent treatment involves medications that help suppress the immune system and calm the gut.

“The whole treatment actually focuses on gut healing and also improving quality of life,” Dr. Bassi says. “Almost one third of our patients with Crohn’s and colitis [display] symptoms of anxiety and depression. Treating symptoms of anxiety and depression can improve overall emotional well-being and digestive symptoms.”

She tells us that some other surefire ways to reduce colon cancer include quitting smoking, limiting alcohol and processed foods, and staying active for at least 30 minutes a day.

If you are experiencing symptoms and would like an appointment at the TidalHealth gastroenterology office, you can seek a referral from your primary care provider, or call (410) 912-6021.