Blog Archive

Every year in the United States, about 10 million people seek medical treatment for painful hemorrhoids, which are swollen, irritated veins within or near the anus. In fact, hemorrhoids are so common, it can be tempting to treat them on your own at home. But should you? At his practice...

Every year, more than 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among American adults. While there’s no way to completely eliminate our risks of colorectal cancer, there are steps you can take to lower that risk substantially. In honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month,...

You wouldn't think twice about seeking medical treatment for a problem involving your mouth. But when it comes to the other end of your digestive system — your anus — many people shy away from talking to their doctor, even if they wind up developing symptoms. But the fact is,...

Anal fissures are a common problem that affects about a quarter million people every year. While anyone can develop an anal fissure, they tend to be more common among specific groups of people, including people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In fact, it’s estimated that up to a third of...

Pilonidal cysts may not get a lot of attention, but they’re not rare — and without proper diagnosis and treatment, they can cause serious infections. Located at the top of the tailbone (coccyx), pilonidal cysts can cause pain whether you’re moving around or sitting still, and if they get infected,...

Millions of Americans suffer from hemorrhoids, swollen blood vessels located in the lower rectum or anal area. Hemorrhoids can happen for lots of reasons, including chronic constipation or diarrhea, long periods of time on your feet, obesity, liver disease, rectal surgery, and anal intercourse. A family history of hemorrhoids also...

Your gut plays an integral role in your overall health and wellness, a connection that is only beginning to be fully understood and appreciated. Taking steps to improve your gut health could help you stay healthy in other ways, too.  At his practice in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Michael H. Tarlowe, MD, provides...

Most anal fistulas happen due to an infection in an anal gland that’s either untreated, improperly treated, or unresponsive to treatment. Without prompt medical attention, a fistula can lead to more serious complications, including widespread infection. At our practice in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Michael H. Tarlowe, MD, offers advanced treatments for anal...

Roughly 16% of Americans suffer from constipation, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). For people over age 60, that number doubles. Being constipated or having irregular bowel habits can result in lots of straining while you’re on the toilet, and over time, that means you...

Colorectal issues like cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and hemorrhoids affect millions of Americans, causing symptoms that can be serious and life-threatening. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to improve your digestive health and, ideally, decrease your risk of developing these and other problems involving your bowels. A...

If hernia surgery is in your future, you might be a little nervous about what to expect. The first thing you should know is that hernia surgery is very common, with more than 1.6 million procedures performed each year in the United States. Hernias are common, too; about 1 in 10 Americans develops a...

Hemorrhoids and anal fissures are both relatively common, and they can both cause similar symptoms. But that’s pretty much where the similarities end. Each of these concerns occurs differently, and each requires different strategies for treatment and prevention. At his practice in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Michael H. Tarlowe, MD, provides advanced, patient-centered care for...

When you find a lump on your skin, it’s natural to be worried about cancer. But while cancerous tumors can cause some lumps, other lumps — called lipomas — are completely benign. Lipomas are fatty growths (sometimes called soft tissue tumors) that typically form just under the surface of your skin, although some...

According to the American Cancer Society and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, more than 150,000 people will be diagnosed with new cases of colorectal cancer this year, and more than 50,000 people will die as a result of the disease. The good news: Cancer screening can help catch cancer in its early...

Hemorrhoids are, quite literally, a pain in the behind, affecting as many as half of Americans over age 50 and leading to millions of emergency room visits each year. Most people think all hemorrhoids are the same, but they can be very different. That means your treatment can vary, too,...

Discovering a lump or bump under your skin can set off alarm bells, and for most of us, the first thing we think of is cancer. The good news is that most of those lumps are harmless. The not-so-good news: There’s no real way to tell which type of lump...

An anal fistula is an infected tunnel that forms between a gland in your anus and your external skin. The anus is at the end of your digestive tract, where solid waste exits your body.  Several glands that create mucus are located inside your anus. Healthy glands drain to the...

Colonoscopy often gets a bad rap for its prep process, but preparation is actually a lot simpler than you might think. Getting ready ahead of time is a good way to stay comfortable and relaxed. As a top-rated proctologist in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Michael H. Tarlowe, MD, performs colonoscopies using the most advanced techniques...

If you have anal warts, you might be too embarrassed to talk about them. But guess what? Ignoring them could put you at increased risk for certain cancers — and it can certainly increase the risk that you’ll pass them on to someone else. There’s something else you should know...

Every cell of your body depends on a steady supply of nutrients to maintain normal function. Considering that all those nutrients pass through your digestive system, it makes sense that having a healthy gut is critically important for your overall health. At his practice in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Michael H. Tarlowe,...

Eat more fiber: You’ve probably heard that bit of dietary advice at least once. But why is fiber so important? And how can it help you manage common bowel problems, like constipation and painful hemorrhoids? Bowel problems like hemorrhoids and constipation are pretty common: About 16 out of every 100 Americans suffer...

Hernias are pretty common — in fact, roughly 10% of Americans will have some type of hernia at some point during their lifetimes. Hernias happen when an organ “pokes” through a weak area in the muscle wall that surrounds it, causing symptoms like pain, burning, and a characteristic bulge. You’re more likely...

Everyone knows that a high-fiber diet is important for maintaining good bowel health. But what a lot of people don’t know is that it’s also essential to drink plenty of fluids — ideally, water or other unsweetened, caffeine-free beverages. As a leading proctologist in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Michael H. Tarlowe,...

Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening, using a minimally invasive technique aimed at locating even small intestinal growths (called polyps) so they can be removed and evaluated.  At our practice in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Michael Tarlowe, MD, uses advanced colonoscopy techniques for the highest degree of diagnostic accuracy. If a...

If you’ve ever had a hemorrhoid, you know how uncomfortable they can be. And if you’ve never had one, well, there’s a good chance you’ll experience that discomfort at some point in your future.  That’s because although hemorrhoids affect about 1 out of every 20 Americans on average, they also...

As a major part of your digestive system, your colon (large intestine) is directly affected by the foods you eat. That probably doesn’t come as a big surprise: Most of us have eaten something that didn’t “agree” with us, resulting in an unwelcome change in bowel habits. By watching which...

It’s easy to feel embarrassed (and even concerned) if you have anal warts, but the fact is, these small, fleshy growths are really common. Like genital warts, anal warts are caused by the humanpapillomavirus (HPV), a common family of viruses that infects millions of people every year. At our practice...

Mild pain or discomfort following a bout of constipation or a particularly hard bowel movement is fairly common. But if you have chronic, ongoing pain — especially if it’s accompanied by bleeding — you might have a tiny cut called an anal fissure. Anal fissures are experienced by many people,...

It’s not uncommon to get a painful pimple on your buttocks. But if you have a tender lump that forms at the very top of your buttock crease, it might not be a zit — it could be an infected pilonidal cyst. At our practice in Coral Springs, Florida, Michael...

About 1 out of every 20 Americans suffers from hemorrhoids, with symptoms like pain, itching, and bleeding when they move their bowels. While some mild hemorrhoids go away on their own, many people only find relief with medical treatments from their doctor. At his practice in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Michael...

On any given day, about 1 out of every 100 sexually active American adults has active genital warts caused by the extremely common human papillomavirus (HPV). While most people think of genital warts affecting only their genitals, warts also can form around or inside the anus too. Like other warts...

Colonoscopy is the gold standard for detecting colon cancer in its early stages, yet about a third of older American adults don’t bother to get screened. Some of that reluctance is undoubtedly due to a little anxiety about what happens during a colonoscopy and what to expect after the procedure....

They may not get as much attention of hemorrhoids, but in the United States, anal fissures are common, affecting nearly a quarter million people every year. The key to healing an anal fissure is to get treatment as early as possible — and that starts with learning what signs to...

About 1 out of every 20 Americans — roughly 5% — suffers from the pain and discomfort of hemorrhoids. If you’re over 50, that number is about 10 times as high — closer to 50%. While chronic symptomatic hemorrhoids may need surgery, many people can relieve their symptoms with some...

Anal abscesses can be incredibly painful, typically occurring when an infection in an anal gland goes untreated or isn’t treated aggressively enough. Over time, a pus-filled abscess may cause changes in the skin around the anus, eventually leading to an even more painful problem called an anal fistula. Michael H....

Hemorrhoids are, unfortunately, very common among both women and men, and they tend to become more common with age. In fact, the National Institutes of Health says if you’re over age 50, you’ve got about a 50% chance of developing these painful, enlarged veins. With offices in White Plains, New...

Pilonidal cysts are cysts that form at the top crease of the buttocks, just below the base of your tailbone. Although many people have never heard of them, they’re actually pretty common: Every year in the United States, about 70,000 pilonidal cysts are treated. Pilonidal cysts can be quite painful,...

Colonoscopy remains the gold standard for detecting colorectal cancer in its early stages for two important reasons: It’s reliable and accurate It can allow the doctor to visualize the colon and remove suspicious tissue in one procedure In fact, colonoscopy plays such an important role in detecting cancer, the American...

When most people hear the words “soft tissue tumor,” they think of malignant cancers that can spread to other parts of the body. But not all soft tissue tumors are malignant; in fact, two of the more common types — lipomas and skin cysts — are benign and almost never...

Almost 80 million Americans are infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV), making HPV the most common sexually-transmitted disease (STD) in the United States. Many people with HPV suffer from a relatively common “side effect” of the infection — anal warts.  Like genital warts (which are also caused by HPV), anal...

Most of us have some type of temporary rectal pain from time to time. Often, painful symptoms are caused by passing a large or very dry stool that stretches the anal sphincter beyond its normal limits. Other times, pain is due to hemorrhoids either inside or outside the rectum.  But...

Do you have hemorrhoids? You’re not alone. Statistics show about one out of every 20 Americans suffer from hemorrhoids, and that number is even greater among older men and women.  Also called piles, hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels located inside the rectum or around the anus.  If you have hemorrhoids,...

Hernias occur when a weak spot in your muscle wall allows an organ or other tissue to protrude beyond its normal boundaries. The most common types of hernias are those that occur in the belly or groin area. Hernias don’t heal on their own, but not all hernias cause symptoms....

Every year, about 250,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with anal fissures, making them a relatively common problem among people of all ages. It may be difficult to know when to get treatment — and how to avoid developing a fissure in the first place. Michael H Tarlowe,...

Turning 45? Then it’s time for cake, presents — and your first colorectal cancer screening.That’s right — the American Cancer Society recommends screening beginning at age 45 for most people. And for many men and women, that means having their first colonoscopy. While there are different methods for colorectal cancer...

Hemorrhoids can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable condition. Luckily, there are effective treatments for hemorrhoids, so it’s easier than you think to get rid of this fairly common problem.  Michael Tarlowe, MD, PC is a proctologist and general surgeon at our offices in White Plains, New York, and Manhattan in...