Dr Quan Wai Leong

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a common digestive condition. It has been gaining attention, especially among the younger generations.

GERD occurs when gastric content frequently flows back up into the oesophagus [1] resulting in a “burning” sensation behind the chest wall. It can also cause severe chest pain and throat discomfort [2].

Depending on the severity of GERD, it may have a big impact on your job and the way you live your life. It is important to find out the extent of injury caused by the acid burn during endoscopy. Your doctor will be able to exclude a premalignant condition known as Barrett’s oesophagus at the same setting [3].

There are a few options available to treat GERD. Patients may simply take over-the-counter remedies or take stronger medications prescribed by their doctor. In extreme cases, surgery may be required. For those diagnosed to have Barrett’s oesophagus, surveillance endoscopy is often recommended.

Your digestive system is complex and important for your health and biological stability. It is made up of various components, and movements that follow sophisticated natural processes. Sometimes, however, these processes can get compromised quite abruptly due to problems such as functional dyspepsia.

Dr Quan Wai Leong recently answered a DoctorxDentist reader question about functional dyspepsia and gastritis. Here are a few key takeaways about managing the condition in a safe and effective manner.

Constipation is such a common condition that to many people, it is a passing and temporary occurrence not to be worried about.

We know that diet is a major cause of constipation. By eating foods that aggravate the digestive system and compromise the digestion process, constipation is typically a symptom that follows.

However, many healthy eaters who pay attention to their daily diets have also experienced constipation.

A DoctorxDentist reader had constipation for two weeks in a row, despite taking a daily meal which includes green tea, low glycemic index bread, brown rice, and an assortment of fruits and vegetables to complement her lean food regimen.

Gastroenterologist Dr Quan Wai Leong discussed some possible causes of constipation people can have, even with a healthy diet. Here's what he had to share.

“Endoscopies are so comfortable,” said no one ever. For some reason, endoscopy gets such a bad rap! Many people believe that the endoscopic procedure is very painful and uncomfortable. 

In a bid to quell these misconceptions, Dr Quan Wai Leong, a veteran gastroenterologist was invited to host a DxD Session. 

He answered many questions reader questions and helped them gain a better understanding of endoscopy. Here's what you should know. 

Endoscopy is a procedure where your doctor inserts a narrow flexible tube equipped with a camera through your mouth to examine your digestive tract. 

New advances in medical technologies allow endoscopists to do not only diagnostic procedures (identification and confirmation of disease situations) but also therapeutic (treatment of disease conditions such as removal of bile duct stones) endoscopies that would be minimally invasive and hence promote faster healing.

Join Dr Quan as he hosts a QnA session where he answers all your questions on endoscopy and gallstones.