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Who is a gastroenterologist?

A gastroenterologist specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases related to the esophagus, gallbladder, bile duct, stomach, liver, small intestine, colon, and rectum. These professionals have an in-depth understanding of the normal physiology of the gastrointestinal organs.

In the United States, a healthcare professional who wants to practice as a gastroenterologist must first complete medical school and a three-year internship in internal medicine. After completing their medical education, doctors undergo specialized and intense training or fellowship in gastroenterology, which lasts about two to three years.

During the fellowship or the intense specialized training, gastroenterologists gain a detailed understanding of various gastrointestinal diseases and receive dedicated training in procedures like colonoscopy, endoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy. The technical training also includes the proper knowledge of using flexible, lighted tubes with inbuilt video cameras and an in-depth understanding of every organ, including the lining of the stomach, pancreas, liver, etc.

Four common diseases that gastroenterologists can treat

Gastroenterologists treat various problems related to the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Some of the most common issues they provide medical services for are elaborated as follows:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): IBS, also known as nervous stomach, spastic colon, or irritable colon, is a condition that causes discomfort in everyday bowel movements. The disease happens due to the abnormal contraction of the colon muscle—the colon muscle contracts more or less than usual due to triggers like specific medication or foods. 

IBS can sometimes also happen due to factors like emotional stress. The symptoms include intense abdominal pain and cramps, constant bloating, significant change in bowel movements such as harder or looser stools, excess gas, constipation or diarrhea, etc. 

• Anal fissures: Anal fissures are structural illnesses caused by splits and cracks in the lining of the anal orifice. The damage or split in the anal lining discloses the underlying muscles that control the passage of stools. One of the most common triggers of this structural disease is the passage of very watery or tough stools. 

Anal fissures can become very painful due to irritating the muscles exposed to stool and air. One can feel an intense burning sensation whenever stool or air passes through the exposed muscle, making simple activities like sitting extremely difficult. Treatment includes painkillers, increased dietary fiber intake to smoothen stools' flow, and surgery.

• Hemorrhoids: Put internal or external hemorrhoids are bulged veins or swollen blood vessels in the anal canal region. Hemorrhoids can result from various factors like persistent diarrhea, pregnancy, or chronic excess pressure during a bowel movement. Swollen blood vessels on the inside of the anal opening trigger internal hemorrhoids. These blood vessels on the inside sometimes fall into the anus due to straining, which further results in irritation and bleeding. Improving bowel habits, using ligating bands to remove the vessels, or even getting surgery can treat internal hemorrhoids. External hemorrhoids occur under the skin on the outside of the anus. External hemorrhoids can be very painful and can also require surgery.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Commonly known as heartburn or acid reflux, GERD refers to chronic acid reflux in the esophagus. It occurs when the stomach's acid flows back upwards (reflux) from the stomach into the esophagus or throat and causes symptoms like a burning feeling, chest pain (not related to the heart), nausea, sore throat, and backwash (the regurgitation of acidic food in the mouth which may have a sour taste). 

GERD may also cause asthma-like symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. These symptoms typically feel worse when an individual lies down, has a big meal high in fats, and has smoked or consumed alcohol. 

What is constipation, and what causes it? 

Typically, when a person consumes a food or beverage, it moves through the digestive tract, and the intestines gradually absorb nutrients present in the food. Partially digested food typically passes from the small intestine to the large intestine, where it is expelled as waste or stool. The colon is responsible for absorbing water from this waste, thus making it more solid. 

Constipation occurs when food moves very slowly through the digestive tract. This takes your colon more time to absorb water from the waste, which becomes dry, hard, and challenging to push out. You may have constipation if you experience fewer than three bowel movements weekly. However, it may differ from person to person since some individuals pass stools several times a day while others only pass stools once or twice a week. 

Some of the defining characteristics of constipation include: 

• dry and hard stools
• painful bowel movements
• feeling like you have not emptied your bowels

You need to visit a gastroenterologist if you experience constipation along with unusual changes in the shape or color of stools, bleeding from the rectum, constipation that lasts longer than three weeks, black stools, blood in the stools, unexplainable weight loss, and stomach pain.

In some cases, constipation may also be a symptom of serious underlying health issues like irritable bowel syndrome, multiple sclerosis, colorectal cancer, diabetes, nerve damage, Parkinson's disease, eating disorders, or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). 

Constipation may occur due to eating high amounts of dairy, being physically inactive, lacking fiber in the diet, dehydration, consuming large quantities of milk, or changes in your routine, such as eating, traveling, or going to bed at different times. People aged 65 or older may be at higher risk of having constipation as they may have less muscle contraction strength along their digestive tract. Pregnant women or new mothers who have just given birth, taking specific medications, and having certain neurological conditions may also make you more prone to constipation. 

Constipation can be treated at home. Try warm liquids, drink 2 to 4 glasses of water daily, avoid refined carbs, and include bran cereal and other high-fiber fruits like oranges, pineapples, and papaya. If you visit a gastroenterologist, they may recommend medication such as lubiprostone (Amitiza®), prucalopride (Prudac®, Motegrity®), plecanatide (Trulance®), or lactulose (Cephulac®, Kristalose®). In extremely rare or severe cases, surgery may be recommended. 

When should you see a gastroenterologist?

Minor discomforts could end up being extremely dangerous. If you notice any of these, do visit a gastroenterologist near you:

• If you are experiencing pain in your bowel movements.
• When you have substances like blood and mucus in your stool.
• If you have digestive problems. 
• If you have constant diarrhea or constipation.
• If you experience severe abdominal discomfort, cramps, or excess gas.
• If you constantly feel bloated after small meals every day. 
• If you are experiencing internal or external hemorrhoids even after taking over-the-counter medication. 
• If you have anemia and constant fatigue because of your eating patterns or digestive issues.

What to expect at a gastroenterologist appointment?

The appointment will last approximately 30 to 60 minutes. Before your appointment, you may note down your symptoms, when they began, and how severe they were. After your symptoms, your doctor will ask about your personal health history. Your individual health history includes the following:

• Whether you are taking any medications
• Recent changes in lifestyle
• Other diagnosed conditions
• Family history of colon cancer or IBS

To better understand your condition, you should ask questions to your doctor. You can ask your doctor:

• What are the causes of my symptoms?
• Are there any lifestyle changes I could make to reduce the symptoms?
• Are there any medications for relief?
• Is this condition curable? 
• Can this condition be managed along with my other problems?

In addition to an X-ray, CT scan, and blood and stool tests, your gastroenterologist will schedule further procedures and tests for later and guide you on preparing for those.

Which procedures are carried out by gastroenterologists?

Gastroenterologists are capable of performing procedures that diagnose, treat, and manage conditions related to the digestive system. These include:

• Colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy: Gastroenterologists insert a tube through the rectum during these procedures, similar to an endoscopy. A colonoscopy allows them to view the entire colon and rectum, while a sigmoidoscopy focuses on the rectum and lower colon. These procedures help detect early signs of colon or rectal cancer, investigate changes in bowel habits, and explore symptoms like abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, or unexplained weight loss.
• Endoscopy: In this procedure, gastroenterologists use a camera attached to a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) to examine the inside of the digestive tract. The endoscope is inserted through the mouth and guided down the esophagus to capture images of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Gastroenterologists often use endoscopy to investigate persistent heartburn, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, difficulty swallowing, stomach pain, or unexplained weight loss.
• Esophageal dilation: In this procedure, gastroenterologists widen a narrowed esophagus, addressing issues caused by scarring from acid reflux, cancer, or radiation therapy. They stretch the esophagus using a plastic dilator or inflate a balloon. Esophageal dilation is usually carried out during an endoscopy. The gastroenterologist may sedate the patient or use a local anesthetic for comfort.
• Polypectomy: During a colonoscopy, gastroenterologists may remove one or more polyps, which are noncancerous growths in the colon. These polyps are common, especially in individuals over 50 years of age. Gastroenterologists use wire loop forceps or apply electric current to remove the polyps.

Foods for gastrointestinal health

The digestive tract is vital for your health, absorbing nutrients and eliminating waste. Digestion problems include bloating, cramping, gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. Here are the best foods to improve your digestion.

• Yogurt: Yogurt is made from fermented milk. It contains probiotics, good bacteria that reside in your digestive system and help improve digestion, keeping your gut healthy.
• Fennel: The bulb of the fennel has a pale color and long green stalks. Its fiber content prevents constipation and improves regularity. This herb also comprises an antispasmodic agent that soothes the smooth muscles in your digestive tract. It can reduce unpleasant digestive symptoms such as flatulence, bloating, and cramping.
• Chia Seeds: Once consumed, chia seeds form a gelatinous substance in your stomach due to their high fiber content. Fiber content also promotes bowel regularity and healthy stools. Chia seeds function similarly to probiotics, promoting the growth of good bacteria in your stomach and assisting with proper digestion.

Finding a gastroenterologist near you

Taking care of your gastrointestinal health is necessary. A timely diagnosis of certain gastrointestinal conditions is essential; delayed diagnosis can cause further problems and discomfort. Finding the right gastroenterologist in Houston can be challenging. With Zocdoc, finding the right gastroenterologist can be quick and straightforward.

On the Zocdoc website, type in your condition, location, time, and insurance carrier. Zocdoc will direct you to a list of top-rated gastroenterologists near you. You can also use the in-built filters to refine your search. 

You can find your insurance plan by manually browsing and selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu. If you need help discovering your exact plan, you could upload a snapshot of your insurance card. This option is helpful if you are still looking for your specific plan. Once you upload a photo, Zocdoc will scan the image of your card and provide your likely plan. Note that this option is only available for medical insurance cards. If you need help uploading your insurance card, please get in touch with Zocdoc’s customer service team. You can also visit Zocdoc's patient help center to get answers to additional insurance-related questions.

All practitioners on Zocdoc have detailed profiles with information about their education, training, specialty, and affiliations, among other things. Moreover, you can also refer to the verified patient reviews to make the best decision for your medical needs.

Zocdoc also helps you book appointments on weekends and after 5 pm, depending on the doctor's availability. All appointment bookings are fast, free, and secure!

Statistics on gastrointestinal diseases in Houston

Obesity causes multiple gastrointestinal problems. According to the Houston State of Health, about 64% of adults in the Houston area are obese or overweight. Men are likely to be overweight compared to women, but women are more likely to be obese than men. 

Another report by the Houston State of Health stated that about 29% of adults in the Houston area reported having no leisure-time physical activities every week. Less than 15% of adults in the greater Houston area consumed the recommended diet with the right servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

Sources 

Cleveland Clinic[1]

Mayo Clinic[1]

Mayo Clinic[2]

Houston State of Health

Healthline[1]

WebMD[1]

Cleveland Clinic[2]

Cleveland Clinic[3]

Mayo Clinic[3]

WebMD[3]

Medical News Today

Johns Hopkins Medicine

National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.