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Huh? Halitosis can also be caused by gastric issues? Thanks for the info! I thought it was purely a dental / oral issue and have been trying to tackle it like t

Huh? Halitosis can also be caused by gastric issues? Thanks for the info! I thought it was purely a dental / oral issue and have been trying to tackle it like that. Perhaps I should pay a visit to a general physician.

mikewave 4y ago
Yes, if you have H.Pylori it can cause all sorts of problems, acid reflux, bad breath, gastritis, ulcers, etc. I'm no doctor but I have been tested for this in the past; I think it was just a blood test, nothing invasive, and it's curable. Better to get it sorted sooner than later. That GP visit can also be a good time to ask about all sorts of other small issues, and a blood test is a good idea at least every year or two. Ask about hormone levels, iron, vitamins, everything; for you it's just a lab visit. I can't wait until it's possible to get these tests a few times a year and have all the values charted somewhere tied into the personal health ecosystem. Ironically, as someone interested in online privacy, I find the medical data the least concerning; I'm willing to let all of that go if it means I can get back some good answers or better healthcare. I can understand why some people aren't, of course, and they should always have the right to it; and it's good that this medical industry privacy situation is influencing other industries as well. But still! Imagine if some ML system with access to the data of a million people like me could show me exactly what I should stop eating, or exactly what supplement I need more of....
- chihuahua 4y ago
  Please don't take this as criticism, but your last paragraph sounds similar to the initial vision behind Theranos. That's not meant to imply that it's a bad idea. I'm referring to the "testing several times a year, and using ML on the aggregated data"
- webmobdev 4y ago
  Yeah, I do an annual health checkup every year. (Healthcare is thankfully cheap for me in India). > ...I have been tested for this in the past; I think it was just a blood test... Since you are interested in this subject - Have been reading on this and apparently a blood test for H.Pylori is no longer suggested as it only tests for anti-bodies which can be still be present after the infection is over. So a stool test is now the recommended way to find if you still have that particular germ inside you.

mikewave 4y ago

Yes, if you have H.Pylori it can cause all sorts of problems, acid reflux, bad breath, gastritis, ulcers, etc. I'm no doctor but I have been tested for this in the past; I think it was just a blood test, nothing invasive, and it's curable. Better to get it sorted sooner than later. That GP visit can also be a good time to ask about all sorts of other small issues, and a blood test is a good idea at least every year or two. Ask about hormone levels, iron, vitamins, everything; for you it's just a lab visit. I can't wait until it's possible to get these tests a few times a year and have all the values charted somewhere tied into the personal health ecosystem. Ironically, as someone interested in online privacy, I find the medical data the least concerning; I'm willing to let all of that go if it means I can get back some good answers or better healthcare. I can understand why some people aren't, of course, and they should always have the right to it; and it's good that this medical industry privacy situation is influencing other industries as well. But still! Imagine if some ML system with access to the data of a million people like me could show me exactly what I should stop eating, or exactly what supplement I need more of....

chihuahua 4y ago
Please don't take this as criticism, but your last paragraph sounds similar to the initial vision behind Theranos. That's not meant to imply that it's a bad idea. I'm referring to the "testing several times a year, and using ML on the aggregated data"
webmobdev 4y ago
Yeah, I do an annual health checkup every year. (Healthcare is thankfully cheap for me in India). > ...I have been tested for this in the past; I think it was just a blood test... Since you are interested in this subject - Have been reading on this and apparently a blood test for H.Pylori is no longer suggested as it only tests for anti-bodies which can be still be present after the infection is over. So a stool test is now the recommended way to find if you still have that particular germ inside you.