Why do humans have an appendix? New research is reshaping our understanding of this overlooked organ and its antiquated role ...

DEAR DOCTOR K: Why do doctors remove the appendix when someone has appendicitis? Don't we need this organ? DEAR READER: Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. This small, fingerlike tube ...

You don’t need it – and if it bursts, you need surgery fast. That basic story traces back at least to Charles Darwin, the ...

Most people are pretty familiar with run-of-the-mill tummy troubles like constipation and diarrhea. You've probably also had the displeasure of experiencing food poisoning or a stomach virus at least ...

The GI tract is a complex group of organs, each of which helps your body digest and absorb food. Your upper GI tract includes your esophagus, stomach, and the first section of your small intestine, ...

Removing a healthy appendix may be more harmful than many have thought, requiring longer hospitals stays and an increased rate of side effects, according to a new University of Washington study ...

It was the first day of spring break in 1992 in Phoenix, and 12-year-old Heather Smith was excited for her family's upcoming ski trip. But before Smith and her family had even packed their snow pants, ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. If you've had stomach pain recently, you might have wondered how to check if you have appendicitis at home. Appendicitis is the ...

Two new epidemiologic studies have suggested an important role for the appendix in the origin of Parkinson's disease. One large study, which involved the whole population of Sweden and had a 50-year ...

If you've had stomach pain recently, you might have wondered how to check if you have appendicitis at home. Appendicitis is the most common cause of abdominal pain that results in surgery in the ...