Page 3 - Trust Your Gut

ISJ Medical Guide – 9/21/2016

What it could mean: Diarrhea is frequently associated with stomach viruses or bacterial
infections. Food intolerances, certain medications, intestinal diseases, and parasites can also
cause diarrhea. Certain foods and drinks such as alcohol, caffeine and dairy products, and even
stress, produce diarrhea in some people. On the more serious side, inflammatory bowel disease,
colon cancer, or an intestinal blockage can trigger diarrhea and demand the immediate attention
of your doctor or an emergency room physician, Dr. Bilstrom says.

What you should do: It’s normal to experience diarrhea occasionally, but if you have loose bowel
movements for longer than two days, or if you have pain, fever, or blood in your stool, don’t wait
to call your doctor. Extended diarrhea can cause you to lose more fluids than you’re consuming.
Ensure you’re drinking enough clear fluids to stay hydrated.

Call your doctor: “If you’ve been experiencing diarrhea for more than a couple of days,” says
Dr. Bilstrom. “It’s time to seek help.”

Symptoms: Unknown
Often times the gut may be dysfunctional, but “gut symptoms” don’t exist. They could present as
many things though. “Symptoms of a dysfunctional gut may show up as an immune system
dysfunction, a hormone imbalance, or even a low attention span in a child, which could in turn
be diagnosed as ADD,” says Dr. Bilstrom. “Also, if the gut isn’t functioning properly, this could
affect someone’s memory and their concentration may not what it used to be. Again, our guts are
considered a second brain, and now I’m sure you can understand why.”

What can be done? There are some great tests that have been developed in the past few years that
can really help to pin-point what exactly is happening with someone’s good and bad bacteria.
These tests also look at nutrient absorption, inflammation, and many, many other things. There
are simple, advanced, life-changing tests and treatments now accessible to everyone.

Gut Check
David Bilstrom, MD, is the Director of the Bingham Memorial Center for Functional Medicine
& International Autoimmune Institute, which is the first medical center in the country to treat all
types of autoimmune diseases. It is also the first to use nature, and its ability to improve human
health and well-being, as an integral part of a wellness program.

Dr. Bilstrom works closely with experts in a number of medical specialties to evaluate, diagnose,
and treat chronic and autoimmune diseases. He is always welcoming new patients at his office
within the Bingham Specialty Plaza in Blackfoot. Appointments can be scheduled by calling
(208) 782-2444.

Taking the mind, body, and spirit into consideration, Dr. Bilstrom understands firsthand the
benefits integrated medicine can provide to patients. He is triple board certified in Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation, Functional and Regenerative Medicine, and Medical Acupuncture.
He has extensive experience in Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine, Acupuncture, Integrative
Medicine, and Complementary and Alternative Medicines.

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