Evidence-Based Medical Treatments
Dr. Shafqat Rasool provides evidence-based, patient-centered treatment plans for a wide range of gastroenterology and hepatology conditions. Every treatment plan is built around the patient.
Conditions We Treat
Click any condition below to explore detailed treatment information, or scroll to read comprehensive care protocols.
Acid Reflux & GERD
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Overview
GERD happens when stomach acid keeps moving back up into the food pipe, causing burning, irritation, and discomfort. Dr. Shafqat Rasool looks beyond just prescribing antacids. He checks how well the valve between your stomach and food pipe is working, identifies your personal triggers, and builds an acid control plan that actually gives the food pipe a chance to heal.
Signs & Symptoms
- Persistent heartburn or burning in the chest
- Throat irritation or hoarseness
- Discomfort or pain when swallowing
- A sour or bitter taste coming back up
- Symptoms getting worse when lying down
- A nagging cough, especially at night
Diagnostic Methods
- Upper GI endoscopy to check for damage to the food pipe
- Esophageal manometry to test how well the valve is working
- 24 hour pH monitoring to measure acid exposure
- Barium swallow study when a structural problem is suspected
Treatment Options
Acid Control Medication
PPIs or H2 blockers are chosen based on how severe your symptoms are, with the dose adjusted over time to the lowest amount that still keeps things under control.
Trigger and Lifestyle Changes
Working out which foods, habits, or meal timings are setting off your symptoms, and building a realistic plan to avoid them.
Checking the Valve Function
If symptoms keep coming back despite medication, manometry helps figure out whether the valve itself needs further attention.
Procedural Options When Needed
For cases that do not settle with medication, procedural or surgical options can be discussed to reinforce the valve.
Lifestyle & Diet
- Avoid eating within 3 hours of bedtime
- Raise the head of your bed by 6 to 8 inches
- Identify and cut back on your personal trigger foods
- Maintain a healthy weight to ease pressure on the stomach
- Eat smaller meals more often instead of large heavy meals
- Avoid lying down right after eating
Why Choose Dr. Shafqat Rasool
- A proper check on how the food pipe valve is functioning, not just symptom relief
- Treatment plans that go beyond antacids to actually heal the tissue
- A step by step approach, increasing or reducing medication based on your response
- Access to advanced procedures if medication alone is not enough
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1.Can GERD be completely cured?
GERD is usually a long term condition, but most patients reach long term relief with the right treatment plan. In some cases where there is a clear structural issue, a procedure can offer a more permanent fix.
Q2.How long does the food pipe take to heal?
With the right acid suppressing medication, mild irritation usually heals within 4 to 8 weeks. Progress can be checked again with an endoscopy if needed.
Q3.Is it safe to take this medication long term?
When it is genuinely needed, long term use is generally safe and is monitored along the way, including periodic checks on bone health and vitamin levels, always aiming for the lowest dose that works.
Fatty Liver Disease
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)
Overview
Fat builds up inside the liver cells, and over time this can quietly cause inflammation that damages healthy liver tissue if nothing changes. With the right mix of metabolic management, dietary changes, and regular monitoring of liver enzymes, early stage fatty liver can often be reversed before any permanent scarring sets in.
Signs & Symptoms
- Often no symptoms at all in the early stages
- Ongoing tiredness or low energy
- Mild discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen
- Raised liver enzymes picked up on a routine blood test
- Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight
Diagnostic Methods
- Liver function tests (AST, ALT, GGT)
- Abdominal ultrasound to check for fat in the liver
- FibroScan (transient elastography) to check liver stiffness
- MRI based fat measurement for a more precise reading
- Ruling out other causes of liver disease such as viral or alcohol related damage
Treatment Options
Metabolic Risk Management
Addressing the root causes such as insulin resistance, raised cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome that are usually driving the fat buildup.
Structured Dietary Changes
Practical, evidence based eating changes aimed at reducing liver fat while still protecting muscle mass and energy levels.
Regular Enzyme and FibroScan Monitoring
Tracking liver enzymes and liver stiffness over time to confirm things are genuinely improving and not silently progressing.
Medication Support Where Needed
In select cases, medication may be added alongside lifestyle changes to support liver recovery.
Lifestyle & Diet
- Aim for gradual weight loss of around 5 to 10 percent of body weight
- Cut back on refined carbohydrates and added sugar
- Build in at least 150 minutes of activity a week
- Limit sugary drinks, especially those high in fructose
- Focus on whole foods with adequate protein
- Keep up with regular follow up to track your enzyme trends
Why Choose Dr. Shafqat Rasool
- A metabolic approach, not just a liver focused one
- Close, regular tracking of liver enzyme trends over time
- Practical dietary guidance with measurable goals
- Catching the condition early, before any permanent scarring develops
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1.Can fatty liver actually be reversed?
Yes. Early stage fatty liver disease can often be fully reversed with sustained weight loss and better metabolic control. Even more advanced cases with some scarring can improve significantly with dedicated treatment.
Q2.Is this any different from just losing weight on my own?
Fatty liver needs a more targeted approach than general weight loss. Addressing insulin resistance, specific dietary patterns, and liver specific markers helps make sure the liver itself is actually recovering.
Q3.How often will I need to be monitored?
Usually every 3 to 6 months at first, with liver enzymes and a FibroScan. Once things stabilize, yearly checks are often enough unless something changes.
Peptic Ulcer Disease
H. Pylori & Stomach Ulcers
Overview
Peptic ulcers are painful sores that form in the lining of the stomach, often caused by a stubborn bacterial infection called H. pylori. With a proper course of treatment to clear the bacteria, combined with the right acid reducing medication, the stomach lining is given the chance to heal properly.
Signs & Symptoms
- Burning stomach pain, often worse between meals or at night
- Nausea or vomiting
- Bloating and feeling full quickly
- Unexplained weight loss
- Dark or tar coloured stools
- Vomiting that looks like coffee grounds
Diagnostic Methods
- Upper GI endoscopy with a biopsy
- Rapid test for H. pylori taken during endoscopy
- Stool test to check for H. pylori
- Breath test to confirm an active infection
- Lab examination of the biopsy sample
Treatment Options
Proper Eradication Treatment
A short combination course of antibiotics and acid reducing medication, chosen based on what works best given current resistance patterns, followed by a test to confirm the infection is gone.
Acid Suppression for Healing
Strong acid reduces medication to create the right conditions for the stomach lining to repair itself while the antibiotics do their job.
Management for Medication Related Ulcers
For ulcers caused by long term painkiller use rather than infection, a tailored plan is built around healing and reducing future risk.
Treating Bleeding Ulcers
If an ulcer is actively bleeding, this can usually be controlled directly during endoscopy using clips, heat treatment, or injection therapy.
Lifestyle & Diet
- Make sure H. pylori treatment is properly completed and confirmed
- Avoid painkillers like NSAIDs unless absolutely necessary
- Cut back on alcohol and quit smoking
- Keep regular meal timings and avoid long gaps without eating
- Find practical ways to manage stress
- Attend follow up endoscopy if advised, to confirm the ulcer has healed
Why Choose Dr. Shafqat Rasool
- A proper, complete course to clear H. pylori, not a partial fix
- Confirmation testing to make sure the infection is actually gone
- Endoscopy available for both diagnosis and treating active bleeding
- Structured follow up to confirm the ulcer has fully healed
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1.How do I know if the H. pylori infection is really gone?
This is confirmed with a breath test or stool test, usually done at least 4 weeks after finishing antibiotics and 2 weeks after stopping acid reducing medication.
Q2.Can ulcers come back after treatment?
If the infection is properly cleared and painkiller use is avoided, the chances of it coming back are low. Any ongoing risk factors are addressed as part of the treatment plan.
Q3.Will I always need an endoscopy?
If there are warning signs such as bleeding, weight loss, or persistent vomiting, or if you are over 60 with new symptoms, endoscopy is important. Younger patients with typical symptoms may first be tested without it.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis
Overview
IBD causes ongoing inflammation in the digestive tract that can lead to severe cramping, frequent diarrhea, and trouble absorbing nutrients properly. With a structured long term treatment plan using anti-inflammatory and immune balancing medication, most patients are able to get their digestion back to a more reliable, manageable rhythm.
Signs & Symptoms
- Intense cramping or pain in the abdomen
- Frequent diarrhea, sometimes with blood
- A sudden, urgent need to use the bathroom
- Constant tiredness or low energy
- Unintended weight loss
- Poor nutrient absorption leading to anemia
Diagnostic Methods
- Colonoscopy with biopsies, including a look at the lower small intestine
- Fecal calprotectin test to tell IBD apart from IBS
- CT or MRI scan of the small bowel when needed
- Blood tests to check for inflammation and anemia
- Ruling out infections or other conditions like celiac disease
Treatment Options
Anti-Inflammatory Medication
Medication suited to how active and how severe the disease is, with steroids used short term during flares and then tapered down.
Immune Balancing Treatment
For moderate to severe cases, or when steroids alone are not enough, stronger immune modulating medication is added to keep things under control.
Long Term Maintenance Planning
A structured plan with regular monitoring to keep the disease in remission and reduce the chances of future flares.
Nutritional Support
Correcting deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, or vitamin D, along with dietary guidance suited to your specific triggers.
Lifestyle & Diet
- Stick to your medication plan even when you are feeling well
- Identify and avoid your personal food triggers
- Maintain good nutrition and stay hydrated
- Stay physically active within what feels comfortable
- Manage stress and prioritise good sleep
- Keep up with surveillance colonoscopy as advised
Why Choose Dr. Shafqat Rasool
- A long term maintenance approach, not just flare control
- Treatment matched to how active and severe the disease is
- Regular monitoring using both endoscopy and blood markers
- Nutritional support alongside the medical treatment plan
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1.Can IBD be cured completely?
There is currently no permanent cure for IBD, but with the right maintenance treatment, most patients reach long term remission and lead a normal, active life.
Q2.Will I definitely need strong immune suppressing medication?
Not necessarily. Treatment usually starts with the least intensive option that is likely to work, and is only stepped up based on how severe the disease is and how you respond.
Q3.How often will I need a colonoscopy?
During an active flare, more often, to check how well things are healing. Once you are in remission, this is usually spaced out, often every 1 to 3 years depending on your specific history.
Ready to Take Control of
Your Digestive Health?
Dr. Shafqat Rasool is widely respected for his clinical excellence, academic contributions, and commitment to comprehensive, patient-centered care. Schedule your appointment today.
Practice Locations
Hameed Latif Hospital /Mid City Hospital / National Hospital
National Hospital & Medical Center
Experience
20+ Years Clinical Practice
Associate Professor of Gastroenterology
Location
Lahore, Pakistan
Serving patients nationwide