Call us now

843-469-1001

Visit our office

250 Mathis Ferry Road, Suite 101
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Digestive Problems Treatment Service

Are You Bloated By The End Of The Day or Do You Burp After Meals?

At Merge Medical Center, we understand that digestive discomfort—whether it’s bloating by evening or persistent burping after meals—can significantly impact your daily life. These symptoms aren’t just annoyances; they’re your body’s way of signaling potential imbalances or underlying issues in your digestive system.

Our digestive system is an intricate network of organs, including the stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and esophagus, all working together to process nutrients and maintain health. Complicating this system is the presence of over 500 species of microorganisms that form your gut’s unique ecosystem. These microbes play a critical role in digestion, nutrient absorption, and even immune health.

However, when this finely tuned system is disrupted—whether by food allergies, imbalanced gut bacteria, or stress—it can trigger a cascade of symptoms, such as bloating, gas, and indigestion. At Merge Medical Center, we focus on identifying and addressing the root causes of these issues, helping you achieve long-lasting digestive health and overall well-being.

You Are What You Digest

Eating healthy is essential, but here’s the catch: even the most nutritious foods can fail to benefit you if they aren’t properly broken down and absorbed. When food isn’t fully digested, it can ferment in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to bloating, gas, and inflammation. At our practice, we take a comprehensive approach to understanding digestion. We use lab tests, dietary logs, and patient histories to assess how well your body processes food and identify potential causes of poor digestion. This allows us to craft a personalized plan to get your digestion back on track.

Common Symptoms of Digestive Problems

Digestive issues can manifest in ways you might not immediately associate with your gut. Unfortunately, these symptoms are often overlooked or dismissed. If you’ve experienced any of the following for more than two weeks, it may indicate an underlying issue:

  • Unexplained weight gain
  • Irregular stool patterns (loose, irregularly shaped, or discolored stools like gray or golden)
  • Abdominal cramping or bloating
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Unexplained fatigue
  • Indigestion
  • Brain fog
  • Burning or itching sensation in the anus
  • Frequent sore throat or chronic cough
  • Recurring infections (yeast, colds, UTIs, etc.)
  • Acne or skin issues
  • Foul-smelling gas

These signs could point to imbalances in your digestive health that need to be addressed.

Our Focus is getting to the root cause of symptoms and treating them with natural solutions before disease sets in.

Call us now!

or

Email us

Leaky Gut Syndrome: What You Need to Know

Have you ever wondered why certain foods that never bothered you before suddenly leave you feeling bloated, fatigued, or worse? It could be due to Leaky Gut Syndrome, a condition where the protective lining of your intestines becomes compromised, allowing larger food particles and bacteria to pass into your bloodstream. This “leak” activates your immune system, treating these particles as invaders. Over time, this can lead to food sensitivities, inflammation, and even chronic health issues.

How Leaky Gut Affects Your Health

When left unaddressed, a leaky gut can contribute to a variety of conditions, including:

Joint Pain Crohn's Disease Ulcerative Colitis Psoriasis
Food Intolerances Eczema Rheumatoid Arthritis Lupus
Depression & Anxiety ADHD/ADD Celiac Disease Chronic Fatigue

Healing your gut is not just about feeling better; it’s about addressing the root causes of these conditions to restore overall health.

Don’t Underestimate Gut Dysbiosis

Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria—nine times more than the total cells in your body. These microorganisms are crucial for digestion, immune support, and even mental health however, when there’s an imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria, a condition known as gut dysbiosis occurs.

Impact of Gut Dysbiosis on Health

Gut dysbiosis can lead to systemic issues, affecting not just the gut but also other parts of the body. Here’s how it manifests and the health concerns it’s linked to:

 

Area Affected

Associated Health Issues

Gut Health

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), weight gain, nutrient deficiencies (e.g., Vitamin B12)

Skin Health

Psoriasis, eczema, cystic acne

Immune System

Autoimmune diseases, allergies

Energy Levels

Chronic fatigue, sinusitis

Overall Inflammation

Joint pain, headaches, menstrual irregularities

Probiotics- Is Eating Yogurt Enough?

You might think adding a daily yogurt to your diet is enough to maintain a healthy gut, but achieving optimal gut health is a bit more complex. While yogurt and generic probiotics can be beneficial, they don’t always address the root issues of gut imbalance. To truly increase the number of beneficial bacteria in your gut, certain key factors need to align.

What Makes Probiotics Effective?

Probiotics must meet these five essential criteria to provide real benefits:

 

Requirement

Why It’s Important

Be alive when you ingest them

Dead bacteria cannot colonize your gut or promote health benefits.

Survive stomach acid

The stomach’s acidic environment can destroy many probiotics before they reach your intestines.

Adhere to the intestinal wall.

Probiotics must attach to your gut lining to thrive and interact with your microbiome.

Produce lactic acid

Lactic acid helps probiotics metabolize and contributes to gut health.

Colonize the gut permanently

Long-term colonization ensures lasting digestive and immune benefits.

Why You Need More Than Yogurt

Most store-bought yogurt contains limited strains of bacteria and lacks the strength to withstand stomach acid. Additionally, probiotics from yogurt may not adhere properly to the intestinal lining or colonize permanently. That’s why relying on yogurt alone is often insufficient to restore or maintain a healthy gut microbiome.

Merge Medical Center: Your Partner in Gut Health

At Merge Medical Center, we take a personalized approach to gut health. Using specialized and comprehensive lab testing, we evaluate:

  • Nutrient Absorption: Identifying how well nutrients are digested and absorbed.

  • Bacterial and Yeast Balance: Assessing the status of your gut’s microbiome.

  • Immune Function: Understanding how your gut interacts with your overall immune health.

  • Parasite Screening: Ruling out hidden infections that may contribute to digestive issues.

Based on your results, we create a tailored plan that includes:

  • Targeted probiotics for effective colonization.
  • Dietary changes to support gut health.
  • Herbal remedies and detoxification strategies.
  • Nutritional supplements to restore balance.

Ready to restore your gut health? Contact Merge Medical Center today and let us help you feel your best with a holistic, individualized plan for digestive wellness!

Conditions Treated

Allergies
Allergies Read more Merge Medical Center
Autoimmune
Autoimmune Read more Merge Medical Center
Brain and Emotional Health
Brain and Emotional Health Read more Merge Medical Center
Cancer
Cancer Read more Merge Medical Center
Diabetes
Diabetes Read more Merge Medical Center
Digestion
Digestion Read more Merge Medical Center
Fatigue
Fatigue Read more Merge Medical Center
Fertility
Fertility Read more Merge Medical Center
Heart Health
Heart Health Read more Merge Medical Center
Men & Women’s Health
Men & Women’s Health Read more Merge Medical Center
Pain
Pain Read more Merge Medical Center
Weight Loss
Weight Loss Read more Merge Medical Center
See all Conditions Treated

Site powered by Zeniark. All Rights Reserved 2025.