MASH Explained: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Testing, and What Patients Need to Know
The Gastro Girl Podcast
01/14/26
•33m
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MASH—metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (formerly known as NASH)—is a progressive form of fatty liver disease that often develops silently, without obvious symptoms. Many people don't realize their liver is being damaged until the disease has already advanced.
In this episode of the Gastro Girl Podcast, host Jacqueline Gaulin is joined by Dr. Pooja Singhal, a board-certified gastroenterologist, hepatologist, obesity medicine specialist, and founder of the Oklahoma Gastro Health and Wellness Center.
Dr. Singhal explains:
- The difference between MASLD and MASH
- Why MASH is frequently missed or diagnosed late
- Why testing—not symptoms—is the only reliable way to assess liver health
- Who is at risk for developing MASH
- How MASH is diagnosed and what liver testing involves
- Why fibrosis (liver scarring) matters
- Current treatment, prevention, and long-term management strategies
- How early identification can help reduce the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer
This episode focuses specifically on MASH, the progressive form of fatty liver disease. MASLD is discussed only to help listeners understand how MASH develops and why timely testing matters.
Designed to reduce confusion, raise awareness, and empower patients, this conversation equips listeners with the knowledge they need to have informed discussions with their healthcare providers.
Thank you to Madrigal Pharmaceuticals for supporting this episode.
Previous Episode
Fecal Incontinence: What's Really Going On—and What Helps
December 16, 2025
•43m
Fecal incontinence (FI) affects nearly 8% of adults worldwide, yet many people suffer in silence due to embarrassment, confusion, or the belief that nothing can be done. This episode is here to change that.
We're joined by Dr. John William Blackett, gastroenterologist and lead author of "Fecal Incontinence in Adults: New Therapies," published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. Dr. Blackett offers a compassionate, patient-centered overview of FI, including common causes, diagnostic testing, and the full range of treatment options available today—highlighting newer and emerging therapies.
If you've experienced unexpected leakage, urgency, staining, or difficulty controlling bowel movements—or if you support someone who has—this conversation provides clarity, reassurance, and practical guidance. Effective treatments exist, and help is available.
This episode is produced in collaboration with the American College of Gastroenterology Patient Care Committee.
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Chronic heartburn and GERD are often brushed off as everyday issues—but for some patients, long-term reflux can quietly progress to Barrett's esophagus, the only known precursor to esophageal cancer.
In Part 1 of this 4-part U.S.-focused patient education series, foregut surgeon Dr. Dan Lister, Founder of the Arkansas Heartburn Treatment Center, explains how reflux disease can evolve over time and why early recognition matters.
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- Key warning signs patients should never ignore
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- Treatment approaches that may help reduce cancer risk
Whether you've lived with reflux for years or are newly diagnosed, this episode provides clear, evidence-based guidance to help you take reflux seriously—and take action.
This episode is part of a 4-part patient education series sponsored by Castle Biosciences and produced in collaboration with leading U.S. clinicians dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with Barrett's esophagus.
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