Gastroenterology – Saving Your Stomach

Stomach problems can be annoying and embarrassing. If you’ve suffered from frequent upset stomach in the form of heartburn, diarrhea, or nausea you might have tried everything. You’ve probably swallowed pill after pill, over the counter or some prescription to get the problems to subside. If they haven’t helped you might want to consider seeing a specialist. A doctor that specializes in gastroenterology might be the key to getting better fast.

Gastroenterology is the study of the digestive system and its disorders. The digestive system includes the gastrointestinal tract, which includes the organs from the mouth to anus. Doctors that have specialized in this field have had at least three years of internal medicine residence as well as two to three years in a fellowship in this field. This continued education is on top of their already extensive eight-year education and yearlong residency. A doctor in this field may also be specialized in Hepatology, which is the study of the liver, pancreas and biliary tree. Hepatology is considered a subspecialty so you will frequently find them together.

So why go see a doctor of gastroenterology? Well, as with any prolonged illness other problems can arise if you don’t treat them properly. If you have had frequent heartburn you might run the risk of damaging your esophagus. As the acid from your stomach comes up it can actually eat holes in the soft tissue of your esophagus. This can lead to other issues and infections if left untreated. Also if you have frequent diarrhea you could very well dehydrate. Both are issues that a trained specialist can help you avoid. Acid controllers and other medicines can help you get back to a normal life. The specialist can also help you plan out a better diet to help control some of the problems without having to resort to the constant use of pills.

A doctor specializing in gastroenterology will also be responsible for helping you to ensure the health of you colon. We’ve all heard after a certain age you really need to have a colonoscopy. While none of us look forward to the procedure it is in the best interest of our health with more and more cases of colon cancer being prevented by having this procedure performed.

Gastroenterology is an important field that will help you maintain your health. If you are tired of dealing with stomach issues that can be painful and embarrassing ask your general practitioner if you should be seeing a specialist.