Dr. Howard Hack
Gastroenterology
Lafayette, IN
35 years experience male
Locations
Office
Lafayette, IN
Office
Costa Mesa, CA
About
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Gastroenterology
Internal Medicine
Licenses
United States: Arizona, California, Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, Wisconsin
Doctor Q&A
188 Answers
78 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 57-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
No: I am not aware of any data to suggest this.
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5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
No: Imodium (loperamide) will not cure diarrhea. It should be used with caution as it can be dangerous with certain infections.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Not with certainty: Viruses tend to be very short lived and mild infections in the GI tract. Food poisoning can vary in the length and severity of the process depending o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Need more info: Its hard to assess this without more history. If the answer is not obvious, further investigation with labs etc. May be appropriate. I have a low thre... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
No: Humira (adalimumab) is a biologic? Infliximab is more expensive. Other medications may be an option, but this should be discussed with ourngastroenter... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
No: Remicade (infliximab) as well as other similar medications, called biologics, are used to attain and maintain remission in crohns. The use of remicade... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Food poisoning!: I would be careful about eating any food which has not been stored properly. This can allow bacteria and other organisms to grow and multiply. Some m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Maybe: Abdominal pain after eating may be your body telling you to wait a bit. However, there are more serious conditions involving a diversion of blood flow... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Trial and error: There are no magical answers to this. I don't see consistent patterns with my patients with adhesions. Without further specifics, i would look at your... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Pain : Anal abscess or fistula typically cause pain near the rectum. The fistulae moreso during bowel movements. Both are important to diagnose and treat, es... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
No: Hepatitis c is difficult to transmit sexually. I don't suggest long term monogamous partners change their sexual habits give this low risk of transmis... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Unknown: The traditional research in IBS has not definitively identified connections between foods or food allergies and ibs. This is actually one of the defin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Gastroenterologist: Swallowing disorders may involve the muscles of the swallowing mechanism itself and/or the muscles of the esophagus (swallowing tube). The former are ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Different responses: Relapse refers to when a process such as a hepatitis infection responds to treatment initially, but is followed by recurrence of the process/disease. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Not cooked properly: Salmonella in foods may be present from the farm or be introduced in food preparation. It will cause symptoms if the affected food is not cooked adequ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Endoscopy: Acid reflux can lead to damage of the esophagus (swallowing tube) including strictures or even pre-cancerous changes. These changes are frequently onl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Endoscopy: Esophageal strictures are a common complication of acid reflux. These can frequently be treated by stretching open the scar tissue during endoscopy. F... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Yes: There is nothing in barley per se which should be problematic for acid reflux as a general rule. I would guide my patients to watch what and how much ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Many contributors: There are many factors which can lead to heartburn. Problems with swallowing from medical conditions, diet (fatty, spicy, greasy foods, caffeine, toma... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Several: Incontinence may be treated by your primary doctor, a gastroenterologist, colorectal surgeon or some combination. This would depend on the severity of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Sweetners: The original diet sodas were flavored with cyclamates and saccharin. There are newer and presumably safer sweetners now, mincluding aspartame and stev... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
See your physician.: This could be a benign process or something serious. It would not be possible to make an accurate assessment based on this information. It would be pr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
The recent bowel movemment that have a watery, loose texture/ consistency have been a recent onset.?
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Observe: Loose bowel movements may be related to to infection or occasionally chronic colitis. You should see your medical doctor if the symptoms persist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Need more feedback: It is not uncommon to get abdominal cramping with bowel movements. This may represent some internal muscular cramping which is typically benign. Such ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Perhaps: Dehydration may be reflected in the skin. There are a variety of measurable clinical factors we look at such as blood pressure changes between sitting... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Perhaps an ulcer: Although it is hard to make an accurate assessment based on a short description, i would seek medical attention if you are having difficulty eating be... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Somewhat: An ultrasound can visualize changes consistent with cirrhosis. A liver biopsy remains the gold standard.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Yes: Yes, Ibuprofen does not interfere per se with helidac (bismuth subsalicylate metronidazole and tetracycline).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
3 days: It typically takes a few days to become active. Full effects usually longer, on the order of 2-4 weeks.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Annual visits: Colon cancer survivors should have regular visits as dictated by their doctors. Initially a colonoscopy should be performed at 1 year and then at leas... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
No: There are no clear dietary factors to trigger or protect against diverticulitis.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 16-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
No: Hemorrhoids are the result of abdominal pressure. This occurs with straining, constipation and pregnancy/childbirth. Anal sex may result in trauma and... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
No worries: This sounds like mild acid reflux. If this occurs only when bending over, i would just be more cautious with the bending. If you are having other symp... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Probably: Everyones response to foods is different. There is nothing intrinsic in the foods which make them prohibited. I would use your body as a guide to if a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Yes: Eating late can be problematic if you are going to sleep after your meals. Eating triggers our stomachs to make acid and this then can lead to acid re... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Many: Esophagitis can lead to ulcers with pain and bleeding, strictures which can result in serious swallowing problems and lead to an increased risk of can... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Depends: Acid reflux tends to be a chronic recurrent problem. Each persons treatment varies on the frequency and severity of their symptoms. I do warn my patie... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Multiple ways: Bacteria may be introduced to food anywhere from the farm, to any processing or from contamination at the final food preparation at the kitchen.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Levsin, (hyoscyamine) bentyl: The most common prescription medications for IBS are Levsin (hyoscamine), Bentyl and to a lesser extent librax (clinidium and chlordiazepoxide). Amitz... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
2-10%: The average rate of seroconversion is 2%. The actual probability involves other factors affecting the exposure. Exposed individuals should be tested a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
No: Gastroparesis is a common condition where the stomach empties more slowly than normal. There is a wide range of diversity of this delay and symptoms. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Uninvited guests: Some bacteria when present in eaten food will result in irritation to the intestinal tract. This irritation then results in abdominal pain, cramping a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Not directly: Hepatitis, as any chronic illness, may result in depressive symptoms. Hepatitis does not directly cause depression per se.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Caution: Hepatitis b is readily spread with bodily fluids. Care should be taken with open sores or wounds. Intercourse should involve barrier protection such a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Yes: Heartburn is referred to by different names including acid indigestion or heartburn. There are other symptoms of the condition know as gerd which can ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Maybe: Snoring is more associated with the airway and may be reflective of sleep apnea. Hiccups are non-specific and reflect irritation to the diaphragm. Hic... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
This is a cunundrum: It is difficult to find food per se to relieve gerd as eating stimulates more acid secretion and adds to stomach volume. Small amounts of water or whi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Colonoscopy: One has to know more about what is being evaluated. I use flexible sigmoidoscopy to evaluate known issues in the distal colon and rectum, frequently a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Yes: Any exercise can be associated with acid reflux. Sex can be a vigorous exercise activity and further involve different positions which can also predis... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Howard Hackanswered
Gastroenterology 35 years experience
Its stressful: Airline travel is both physically and psychologically stressful. There are potential for delays, dehydration, etc. I would check with your primary ph... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
5
Recommendations
432
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Hack is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Hack is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Dec 2, 2014
Very nice doc, I sent my mom to him.
HealthTap member
Your answer was very helpful! Thanks :) OK, thank you. I think I should make an Appt with my Dr soon.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful! Specially your tips on OTC meds that can help ease.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Really thanks for a helpfull explaination
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis
Graduated 1988MD
Medical/Graduate school
University of Pennsylvania
Graduated 1984MD
Medical/Graduate school
Washington University School of Medicine, MO
Graduated 1988MD
Awards
HealthTap Founding Doctor
Affiliations
Stanford Hospital
Stanford University
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