Dr. Ronald J. Hapke M.D.

What is a persistent cough?It can be annoying to have a cough that lasts for more than a couple of weeks. A cough is considered chronic or persistent if it does not go away after four weeks in children and eight weeks in adults. However, most persistent coughs are due to colds, flu, infection, or...

Having to live with a condition that has no cure often leads to patients feeling hopeless and depressed about their current situation. Hence, it often worsens the onset of the disease and impact on their health due to a negative mind set. One of these diseases is celiac disease, a disorder that has...

"I still think of my Celiac Disease as a painful break-up that I have to endure for the rest of my life. It was tough being on the receiving end of this diagnosis at the age of 21, when I thought I had so many things going for me. Before I got the diagnosis and forced myself to understand what...

Papaya is one of the highly popular fruits available in all parts of world; it is equally liked by people of all age groups. The fruit is available in the market all year round. They are always in season, because the papaya plant's cultivation cycle is not an annual one. The ripened fruit is...

The Colon is the last organ of the digestive system. It can also be referred to as the large intestine, and it runs from the small intestine to the back passage. A colonoscopy is a procedure used to inspect the colon. The colon is a cancer prone area, and a colonoscopy is used to detect ulcers,...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a chronic digestive problem that affects the lower esophageal sphincter, resulting in the reflux of acid into the esophagus causing heartburn. It is also known as reflux esophagitis.Between the stomach and the esophagus is a ring of muscles that act as a sphincter,...