What is gastroenterology?
Gastroenterology focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, or digestive system, which includes the:
- Mouth
- Salivary glands
- Tongue
- Pharynx
- Epiglottis (leaf-shaped flap in the throat)
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Large intestine
- Liver
- Gallbladder
- Rectum
- Anus
Gastroenterologists see patients with digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to liver failure.
Which conditions do gastroenterologists treat?
Since gastroenterologists manage health problems that affect any part of the GI tract, they treat a wide range of conditions, including:
- IBS
- Liver disease
- Pancreatitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Colitis
- Precancerous and cancerous polyps
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Barrett’s esophagus
- Swallowing disorders
- Hemorrhoids
- Celiac disease
- Gallstones
- Gastrointestinal cancer
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Biliary tract disease
While you can develop a gastrointestinal disorder at any age, they're more prevalent in older adults. Some exceptions include IBS and chronic liver disease, which gastroenterologists commonly see in middle-aged and younger adults.
Who needs to see a gastroenterologist?
Talk to your primary care doctor about referring you to a gastroenterologist if you’ve recently started experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:
- Severe diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Persistent abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Unexplained weight loss
- Excessive gas
- Bloody stools
- Difficulty swallowing
- Light-colored or thin stools
- Bowel leakage
- Esophageal pain
- Ulcers
- Heartburn/indigestion
- Extreme bloating or cramping
- Fatigue
Beginning at age 50 — or at age 45 if you’re African American — you should see a gastroenterologist every 10 years for a colon cancer screening.
How are gastrointestinal disorders diagnosed?
The first step in diagnosing a gastrointestinal disorder is reviewing your medical history and learning more about your symptoms — when they started, how severe they are, what has helped relieve them, etc.
After asking you a series of questions, your doctor may perform a full physical exam to gather additional information about your health. If they suspect you have a gastrointestinal disorder, your physician may order one or more of the following diagnostic tests:
- Blood work
- Upper endoscopy
- Diagnostic colonoscopy
- Deep enteroscopy
- Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)
- Capsule endoscopy
Once you have a proper diagnosis, your gastroenterologist can create your personalized treatment plant.
The dedicated gastroenterologists at Physicians Medical Group of San Jose can help you find relief from your digestive disorder with their expertise. To learn more, call your Physicians Medical Group of San Jose physician today.
