Who is a gastroenterologist?
Gastroenterology is a medical branch that studies normal functioning and disorders of the digestive system, gastrointestinal tract, liver, bile duct, and pancreas. The gastrointestinal system digests foods, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates wastes from the body. A gastroenterologist is a certified physician with training to diagnose and treat problems in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, bile duct, and pancreas.
Due to difficulty in pronunciation, people often pronounce gastroenterologists as gastrologists. Although gastrology has a medical definition, i.e., the study of stomach illnesses, it is not a medical specialty in the U.S.
Education and training of gastroenterologists
After completing a three-year Internal Medicine residency, a gastroenterologist is eligible for a two—to three-year fellowship in gastroenterology.
During the fellowship training, gastroenterologists learn from nationally recognized experts to develop a detailed understanding of the regular functions of the gastrointestinal tract and its related disorders. In addition, they receive dedicated training in endoscopy, including upper
endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy.
Some common diseases and symptoms that gastroenterologists treat include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), gastroesophageal reflux (heartburn), peptic ulcers, hepatitis, jaundice, inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal cancer, polyps, gallbladder and biliary tract diseases, nutritional issues, hemorrhoids, bloody stool, bloating, and cramping.
What services does a gastroenterologist provide?
During your visit, a gastroenterologist begins with a physical exam. This can involve pressing on your abdomen to assess internal organs or performing a rectal exam to check for abnormalities. Based on the findings, they may suggest additional tests, including blood tests, stool tests, or imaging scans like GI X-rays, which offer an external view of your digestive organs.
For more detailed assessment, gastroenterologists are trained to perform endoscopic procedures. These minimally invasive exams use a long, flexible tube with a small camera to examine the digestive tract from within.
Some of the most common endoscopic procedures include:
- Upper endoscopy: Examines the upper GI tract, including the throat, stomach, and upper small intestine.
- Enteroscopy: Focuses on the small intestine.
- Colonoscopy: Allows examination of the large intestine or colon.
- Endoscopic ultrasound: Combines endoscopy with ultrasound to capture images of the biliary system.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: A specialized procedure to explore the bile ducts and obtain X-rays of the biliary system.
- Polypectomy: Removes polyps found during endoscopy in the stomach or intestines.
These procedures provide a thorough internal view, enabling gastroenterologists to diagnose and treat various digestive conditions. They can also collect tissue samples, remove polyps, unblock channels, stop bleeding, and even extract small tumors. By combining diagnosis and treatment, these procedures often eliminate the need for invasive surgeries, making care both comprehensive and efficient.
Five reasons you need to see a gastroenterologist near you
Any symptom indicating an upset stomach, such as bloating, pain in the abdominal area, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, needs special attention as such minor symptoms may indicate a significant condition. Your primary care doctor will recommend you a gastroenterologist if he diagnoses any of the following conditions:
- Blood in your stool
- Extreme abdominal pain
- Digestion issues, including constipation or diarrhea
- Unexplainable difficulty in swallowing food
- Unusual bloating
Constipation: causes and treatment
Dry stools that are difficult to pass characterize constipation, with individuals experiencing fewer than three bowel movements per week. It results from excessive water absorption in the colon, causing slowed digestion.
Common causes include insufficient fiber intake, dehydration, lack of exercise, changes in routine, stress, and certain medications. Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, colorectal cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and neurological disorders can also contribute to this condition.
Constipation is a prevalent gastrointestinal issue, affecting at least 2.5 million people annually in the United States. Symptoms include pain, difficulty passing stools, and a sensation of incomplete bowel emptying.
A GI specialist near you can help combat constipation by suggesting lifestyle changes or prescribing medicines. Frequent constipation can be a symptom of an underlying gastrointestinal problem that might require immediate attention.
Understanding ulcerative colitis and its symptoms
Ulcerative colitis, often abbreviated as UC, is inflammation of the large intestine's lining, encompassing the colon and rectum. UC usually involves the rectum; however, in some cases, the inflammation extends to the entire colon. UC is a part of inflammatory bowel diseases, with Crohn's disease (CD) being another primary condition in this category. While historically distinct, up to 10% of patients exhibit features of both, leading to a classification termed IBD-U (Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Unclassified).
Ulcerative colitis symptoms can vary in severity, manifesting gradually or abruptly. About half of individuals experience mild symptoms, while others contend with more frequent and severe attacks. Multiple factors contribute to the onset of these episodes.
Common symptoms seen in UC patients include abdominal pain and cramping, accompanied by audible gurgling or splashing sounds in the intestine. Stools may contain blood and, at times, pus and diarrhea, ranging from occasional episodes to frequent occurrences. Fever, the sensation of needing to pass stools even with empty bowels (tenesmus), and associated straining and cramping are also prevalent symptoms. Weight loss is also evident, and growth may slow in children.
Additional symptoms associated with ulcerative colitis are joint pain and swelling, mouth ulcers, and feelings of nausea and vomiting. Some individuals may develop skin lumps or ulcers. The diverse nature of symptoms underscores the complexity of ulcerative colitis, with variations in severity and presentation among affected individuals.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should consult a GI specialist near you for proper evaluation and management.
Diagnosis of ulcerative colitis
Diagnosis of ulcerative colitis involves a combination of symptom evaluation and diagnostic tests. While your doctor may suspect UC based on the observed symptoms, a definitive diagnosis necessitates specific tests.
Blood work is a common initial step in assessing markers of inflammation or anemia. Your doctor may examine stool samples for blood, rash, or infections. Although medical professionals do not always prescribe it, they may conduct special X-rays and CT scans for additional diagnostic insight. A comprehensive approach to clinical assessment and diagnostic tests ensures a thorough and accurate diagnosis of UC.
Causes of bad gut health
An unhealthy gut cannot digest food properly and absorb nutrients, leading to various problems, including malnutrition, weight loss, and diarrhea. There are many different causes of an unhealthy gut, including infection, inflammation, and damage to the gut lining. Here are some common reasons that result in bad gut health:
- One of the most common reasons is processed foods and a low-fiber diet; this can lead to problems like constipation, diarrhea, and bloating.
- Another cause of an unhealthy gut is a lack of good bacteria; this can be due to taking antibiotics or other medications that kill off the good bacteria in your gut. Another reason is a diet high in sugar and refined carbs, which feed the harmful bacteria in your stomach and allow them to thrive.
- Having a history of antibiotic use
- Suffering from stress or anxiety
- Having a sedentary lifestyle
How do you heal an unhealthy gut?
The first step to having a healthy gut is to determine the underlying cause or causes of your gut problems. Once you know what is causing your gut issues, you can change your diet and lifestyle to help heal your gut and improve your overall health. Here are a few ways to heal an unhealthy gut:
- The stomach is home to many of our immune systems, so eating foods that promote a healthy gut will also help boost immunity.
- The stomach also works to break down and absorb nutrients from food, so it is important to eat nutrient-rich foods that support a healthy gut.
- The gut microbiome consists of beneficial bacteria that help us digest food and fight against harmful bacteria. Consuming probiotic foods or prescription probiotic supplements can also help keep the gut healthy.
- Stay hydrated and get enough sleep.
What happens at a gastroenterologist appointment?
Your first appointment with a GI specialist near you will take approximately 30 to 60 minutes. To prepare for your first appointment, record your symptoms, when they started, and their severity. After your symptoms, your doctor will ask about your health history. Details of your personal health history include:
- Any medications you are taking
- Recent lifestyle changes
- Other diagnosed conditions
- Family history of IBS or colon cancer
If this is not your first appointment, take all the previous reports. It would be best if you asked questions to understand your condition clearly. Here are a few questions you might consider asking your doctor:
- What is the cause of my symptoms?
- Are there any lifestyle changes I could make to reduce the symptoms?
- Are there any medications for instant relief?
- Is the condition curable?
- Can this condition be managed along with my other problems?
Your gastroenterologist may send you for an X-ray, CT scan, or blood and stool tests. They will schedule further procedures and tests for later and guide you in preparing for them.
Best gastroenterologists near you in Atlanta, Georgia
If you are having an upset stomach and looking for the best GI specialist near you in Atlanta, log on to the Zocdoc website or mobile app. Selecting the best gastroenterologist is simple with Zocdoc. Enter your symptoms or conditions, location, preferred date, and insurance carrier, and Zocdoc will direct you to the top-rated gastroenterologists near you. You can customize your search by using numerous filters on Zocdoc, and if you are unsure about your insurance plan, you can use Zocdoc's insurance checker.
If you have more than one insurance plan, you can add your medical, dental, and vision insurance details to your Zocdoc account. However, when searching for and booking an appointment, you'll only be able to use one insurance plan at a time. To include secondary insurance, you can mention your additional coverage in the notes section during the final step of booking. Additionally, if your provider uses Zocdoc's Intake forms, you'll have the option to add secondary insurance information while completing your forms online. For more insurance-related queries, you can visit Zocdoc's patient help center.
Zocdoc lets you book an appointment according to your schedule. It shows the available time slots along with the names and details of the doctors. Moreover, all doctors on Zocdoc have a dedicated profile containing information about their education, experience, training, specialty, location, and affiliations, among other things. In addition, you can refer to verified patient reviews before booking appointments.
Depending on the doctor's availability, you can also book appointments on weekends and after 5 pm with the best gastroenterologist near you. With Zocdoc, you can book both in-person and online consultations. Doctors who offer video visits will have a purple icon next to their profiles.
All appointment bookings on Zocdoc are fast, free, and secure!
Gastroenterologists statistics in Georgia
Approximately 1.5% of all new cancers that are diagnosed in the U.S. yearly are stomach cancers. In terms of discomfort and anguish, personal expenditures for treatment, lost working hours, mortality, and digestive illnesses are among the nation's most significant health problems.
Colorectal cancer is the second highest reason for cancer-related deaths in men and women in the U.S., accounting for about 51,000 fatalities annually. Almost 20 million Americans suffer from chronic digestive diseases.
The National Cancer Institute published the incidence rates for gastrointestinal cancers in Georgia between 2017 and 2021. During this period, the incidence rates were 39.4 for colorectal cancer, 4.3 for esophageal cancer, 8.4 for hepatic (liver) cancer, 13.7 for pancreatic cancer, and 6.6 for stomach cancer.
According to a report published by the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, the rate of gastroenterologists for every 100,000 people in Georgia was 3.8 in 2020, a marginal increase from the earlier rate of 3.6 in 2010. The report also stated that in 2020, there were 403 gastroenterologists legally practicing in the state. The percentage of board-certified gastroenterologists has also shown a higher trend from 2010 (91.2%) to 2020 (97.1%).
While the percentage of female gastroenterologists has grown almost one-half times from 1996 (7.7%) to 2020 (19.4%), the number of these specialists in non-metropolitan regions of the state has shown a decreasing trend, falling from 9.1% in 2010 to 5.5% in 2020.
Sources
Healthline[1]
Healthline[2]
American Cancer Society
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Healthline[3]
Penn Medicine
American College of Gastroenterology
Cleveland Clinic[2]
Cleveland Clinic[3]
National Cancer Institute
Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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