Patient Education Library
Welcome to the Gastro in Florida patient education library. These in-depth articles — written and reviewed for our patients over the years — explain digestive conditions organ by organ: what they are, how they are diagnosed, and how they are treated. Start with the section that matches your symptoms, or browse the full archive in each area.
Looking for a concise overview instead? Our Conditions We Treat pages summarize each condition and how Dr. Vikram Tarugu diagnoses and treats it in Okeechobee and Wellington.
Esophagus & Reflux
Swallowing problems, heartburn, reflux, and Barrett’s esophagus — how they are diagnosed and treated.
Start here: GERD & Acid Reflux — condition guide · Upper Endoscopy (EGD)
- Achalasia
- Barrett’s Esophagus
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Spastic Disorder
- Esophageal Varices
- Esophagitis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- GERD: A Common Acidic Condition
- Mallory-Weiss Tear
- Zenker’s Diverticulum
- GERD Diet Plan Recommendations
- GERD: How to Avoid GERD Symptoms
- Easy and Effective Acid Reflux Remedies
Browse the full Esophageal Disorder archive →
Stomach
Gastritis, ulcers, H. pylori, indigestion, and stomach pain — causes, testing, and treatment.
Start here: Gastritis — condition guide · Peptic Ulcer — condition guide · H. Pylori Infection — condition guide · Abdominal Pain — condition guide
- Dyspepsia (Indigestion)
- Gastritis
- What Is Gastritis? How to Diagnose Gastritis
- Gastritis: Understanding and Preventing
- A Few Words About Gastritis
- Peptic Ulcer Disease
- Gastric Cancer
- Hiatal Hernia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
- Diabetic Gastroparesis
- Heartburn and Acid Reflux Disease
Browse the full Stomach Disorder archive →
Colon & Rectum
Colon cancer screening, polyps, diverticular disease, bleeding, and bowel habit changes.
Start here: Colon Cancer Screening — condition guide · Colon Polyps — condition guide · Diverticulitis — condition guide · Rectal Bleeding — condition guide · Colonoscopy in Okeechobee
- Colorectal Cancer
- Colonic Polyps
- Diverticular Disease
- Rectal Bleeding: Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment
- The Early Stages of Colon Cancer
- Reducing the Risk of Colon Cancer
- Colon Cancer: What Can You Do to Reduce Your Risk?
- Colon Cancer Survival: Detecting Colon Cancer Symptoms
- Diabetes May Increase the Risk of Colon Cancer in Men
- Understanding Colonoscopies and Preparing for Yours
- What’s a Colonoscopy Like?
- What You Need to Know About Prepping for an Exam
- What Is the Purpose of a Colon Exam?
- One Man’s Colonoscopy Story
Browse the full Colon Disorder archive →
Small Bowel, Crohn’s & Colitis (IBD)
Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS, and celiac disease — living with and treating chronic bowel conditions.
Start here: Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis — condition guide · Irritable Bowel Syndrome — condition guide · Celiac Disease — condition guide · Capsule Endoscopy
- What Is Crohn’s Disease?
- Coping with Crohn’s Disease
- Crohn’s Disease: Do You Know the Current Treatments?
- Remicade: A Treatment for Crohn’s Disease
- How I’ve Learned to Live a Normal Life with Crohn’s Disease
- Blood in the Stool Is Not Uncommon for Crohn’s Patients
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Ulcerative Colitis: An Overview
- The Causes and Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis
- Ulcerative Colitis: What to Expect
- Colitis and Ulcerative Colitis: Symptoms, Causes and Help
- Antibiotic-Induced Colitis
- The Differences Between IBD and IBS
- Controlling Your Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Bad but Not Serious
- What Is Blind Loop Syndrome?
Browse the full Crohn’s Disease archive →
Liver, Gallbladder & Bile Ducts
Hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis, gallstones, and bile duct problems — including FibroScan liver testing.
Start here: Liver Disease — condition guide · Fatty Liver Disease — condition guide · Cirrhosis — condition guide · Hepatitis B & C — condition guide · Gallbladder Disease — condition guide · Bile Duct Stones — condition guide · FibroScan · Liver Ultrasound · ERCP
- Hepatitis
- Jaundice
- Hepatitis B: Risks, Treatment and Prevention
- About Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis C 101: Simple Answers to Basic Questions
- Hepatitis C Treatment and Management
- Hepatitis C and the Impact of Diet and Nutrition
- What Baby Boomers and Seniors Need to Know About Hepatitis C
- Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Liver Cancer)
- Gallstones (Cholelithiasis)
Browse the full Hepatitis C archive →
Pancreas & GI Cancers
Pancreatitis, pancreatic cysts and tumors, and gastrointestinal cancers — diagnosis, staging, and coordinated care.
Start here: Pancreatitis — condition guide · Pancreatic Cancer — condition guide · GI & Liver Cancers — condition guide · Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) · ERCP
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Pancreatic Cancer (Adenocarcinoma)
- Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor (PNET)
- Carcinoid Tumors
- What Is ERCP?
- Endoscopy: Purpose, Diagnosis, Treatment and Screening
Browse the full Pancreatic Disorder archive →
GI Bleeding & Warning Signs
Bleeding, anemia, and the symptoms that should never wait — know when to call a gastroenterologist.
Start here: Rectal Bleeding — condition guide · Conditions We Treat
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Iron Deficiency Anemia
- Top 15 Warning Signs That You Need to See a Gastroenterologist
- When to Seek the Help of a Gastroenterologist
Browse the full Gastrointestinal Bleeding archive →
Important note
These articles are educational and are not a substitute for medical advice. Digestive symptoms can have many causes — some serious — and only an examination can diagnose yours. If you are experiencing symptoms, Gastro in Florida is accepting new patients: call (863) 824-3447 (Okeechobee) or (561) 767-8342 (Wellington) for the earliest available appointment, Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.