EP29: Midlife Gut Health Check-In Talk with Gastroenterologist, Dr. John Abdulian

Your gut is telling you something, and most men aren't listening.

On Scott Asmar: The Man and Everything in Between, host Scott Asmar brings in his brother-in-law Dr. John Abdulian, a gastroenterologist with over 30 years in private practice, for a conversation that is long overdue. This is the kind of straight talk you wish you had gotten years ago, delivered by someone who has seen the consequences when men ignore the signs.

Dr. Abdulian breaks down why bloating, acid reflux, and digestive discomfort are so common in men, and what gastroesophageal reflux symptoms actually mean for your long-term health. He also explains the brain-gut connection in plain language, including why stress and mood have a direct and measurable impact on your GI tract, and why so many digestive complaints have no visible structural cause at all.

Colorectal cancer prevention is a big part of this conversation. Dr. Abdulian shares why colonoscopy screening should start at 45 for most people with no family history, and at 40 or ten years before the age a family member developed colon cancer, whichever is earlier, and why men have a 30 percent higher incidence of colorectal cancer than women. He also touches on inflammatory bowel disease and mental health, reflecting on what gastroenterologists are increasingly recognizing about the psychological burden of chronic GI conditions.

The conversation also gets into food, specifically what the latest research is saying about processed foods, additives, and what to actually put on your plate if you want your gut to cooperate.

If you have been putting off a screening or ignoring symptoms, this episode gives you the information and the nudge you need.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Meet Dr. John Abdulian, Gastroenterologist

02:25 Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms in Men Over 50

05:00 Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Mental Health

07:06 The Brain-Gut Connection and Functional Bowel Disorders

09:44 AI in Gastroenterology and the Future of Endoscopy

13:29 Why Colonoscopy Screening for Men Starts at 45

14:33 Colorectal Cancer Prevention and Risk Factors to Know

17:09 Processed Foods, Additives, and What to Cut From Your Diet

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Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm