Bacteria are microscopic organisms that can affect your health. Some are good for your body. Other germs can make you sick.

One much-talked about types of live bacteria is probiotics. These complex microbes have garnered a lot of positive press for their ability to make you healthier and even they affect your mood.

They live inside your digestive system and help it run smoothly by lending a hand to your gut. They do so by breaking down nutrients so that your body can use them. Generally considered safe, probiotics have many day-to-day benefits. They can also provide benefits after you have surgery.

Read on to learn more about what researchers know about probiotics and their ability to improve surgical outcomes.

Even though it’s a common cancer screening procedure, it’s completely normal to wonder about what will happen after you get a colonoscopy.

Most people between the ages of 50 and 75 will only need to get a colonoscopy once every five or ten years. Whether it’s your first time or it’s been a few years, here’s a primer on what to expect after a colonoscopy.

What is an endoscopy? In the most simple terms, an endoscopy is a test that helps your doctor learn more about what’s going on inside your body.

An upper endoscopy specifically is a highly-accurate, nonsurgical procedure used to investigate problems related to your digestive health that is used to identify the presence of polyps, cancerous tumors, ulcers, inflammation, and other damage to your stomach or digestive tract.

In some instances, the procedure is more effective for detecting abnormalities and problems in the upper digestive system than X-rays and other types of imaging.

Keep reading to learn more about what happens during an upper endoscopy and what the procedure can detect.

Having to have surgery, a medical procedure, or even diagnostic testing can be terrifying at any age, but it can be especially unnerving for children.

While it is entirely normal and reasonable for your child to get nervous, your presence, love, and support before and after the medical procedure will help them through their surgery and ensure they have a stronger recovery.

In addition to your support, the right type of anesthesia will prevent your child from feeling pain during the procedure and may also help make your child more comfortable and less anxious after surgery.

Keep reading to learn more about what to expect when your child gets pediatric anesthesia before a medical procedure.

Regular screenings, like colonoscopies, are key in preventing many colorectal cancers. Screenings can find diseases in people who show no symptoms, and may not even think they are sick at all. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women, and having a colonoscopy is your best form of prevention.