What Do Gastroenterologists Treat?

4/29/2022

Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine devoted to the research, diagnosis, and treatment of the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Your GI tract includes significant gastric organs, such as your esophagus, stomach, small intestine, gallbladder, colon, liver, and pancreas. Any disturbance in this important system can have a seriously detrimental effect on your holistic wellness and needs to be apraised by an expert in the type. Experts in gastroenterology are called gastroenterologists. GastroArkansas is a doctor-led network of gastroenterologists (GI physicians), and we are committed to offering education and treatments that get our clients their best intestinal wellness. You can find a nearby gastroenterologist in Little Rock, AR by contacting our staff. What does a gastroenterologist achieve, and when should you visit one? Keep reading to learn.

Can we define a gastroenterologist?

Gastroenterologists need to perform about 5 – 6 years of specialty education in the field of gastroenterology after medical school. These gastroenterologists have extensively studied what healthy digestion and waste elimination resemble, in addition to the usual conditions and disorders that can hinder digestive function. A gastroenterologist obtains thorough practice on how to perform endoscopic tests, like an upper endoscopy and a colonoscopy, which can both be used to diagnose and handle different afflictions of the GI system.

What conditions does a gastroenterologist treat?

A GI doctor might handle a broad variety of GI afflictions and conditions. A few of the most commonly treated diseases include:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease: Ailments like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease cause persistent inflammation in the GI tract.

  • Pancreatitis: This ailment involves inflammation of the pancreas.

  • Cancer: A GI doctor will help care for cancers of the GI tract, including colorectal cancer and gastric cancer.

  • Gallbladder stones or cholelithiasis: When bile condenses into solid matter in the gallbladder, gallbladder stones are the result.

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD: This disease is marked by repeated and persistent acid reflux.

  • Celiac disease: The immune system responds negatively to the ingestion of gluten, which drives injury to the small intestines.

In addition to treating the listed afflictions, GI physicians regularly perform routine colonoscopies to recognize, address, and inhibit colon cancer, which is one of the leading causes of cancer fatalities in the country. You can find a colonoscopy specialist nearby through GastroArkansas. A physician in our system is available in Little Rock, AR.

When should you go see a gastroenterologist?

You need to see a gastroenterologist when you’re undergoing any indicators or evidence of intestinal ailments, such as:

  • Repetitive constipation

  • Severe or persistent heartburn

  • Rectal bleeding

  • Serious gas

  • White bowel movements

  • Repetitive diarrhea

  • Gut pain or discomfort

Even when you do not suffer from any of the listed signs, we advocate you visit a GI physician for regular colonoscopies. You should begin routine colon and rectal cancer tests about the age of 45 and then once every ten years if you are of average risk and your results come back normal. If you are at elevated danger, such as possessing a family history of colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, then it is normally recommended you undergo tests earlier and more frequently. You can discover a gastroenterologist nearby by contacting GastroArkansas.

Need to see a GI doctor in Little Rock, AR?

If you or a loved one is suffering worrying digestive signs, you can have confidence in the GI physicians at GastroArkansas to offer expert, patient-centric treatments. Our sympathetic GI doctors are amid the top professionals in the industry, and our aim is to achieve the highest clinical norms. Talk to our facility in Little Rock, AR to find out more.