Who is a gastroenterologist?
Gastroenterologists are specialists in the gastrointestinal (GI) or digestive tract. They can diagnose and treat diseases and conditions affecting the organs of the digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, and liver.
If your primary care doctor suspects a problem with your digestive system, they will refer you to a gastroenterologist for further assessment. The diagnostic procedures include:
- Conducting a thorough medical history review and performing a comprehensive physical examination.
- Recommending for lab tests.
- Performing endoscopies to view the digestive tract.
Some common digestive disorders that gastroenterologists treat include:
- Esophageal disorders — gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux, esophagitis, esophageal stricture, and achalasia.
- Stomach disorders — gastritis, stomach ulcers, and hiatal hernia.
- Intestine disorders — celiac disease, Crohn's disease, small bowel syndrome, bowel obstruction, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastroenteritis.
- Rectal problems — anal fissure, hemorrhoids, proctitis, rectal prolapse, colon polyps, and ulcerative colitis.
- Pancreatic disorders — pancreatitis and pancreatic pseudocyst.
- Liver problems — hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver failure, autoimmune and alcoholic hepatitis.
- Gallbladder problems — gallstones, inflammation, and the bile duct system.
- Gastrointestinal cancers — including esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and liver cancer.
- Other disorders include chronic constipation, diarrhea, and lactose intolerance.
Education and training of a gastroenterologist
Becoming a gastroenterologist entails a rigorous educational pathway spanning over a decade. Here's an overview of the typical academic requirements:
- Obtain a bachelor of science degree: Aspiring gastroenterologists begin their journey by earning a four-year undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree. This phase involves comprehensive physics, chemistry, biology, and organic chemistry coursework and supplementary studies in statistics, calculus, literature, and psychology. Additionally, students delve into anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry.
- Take the MCAT: The subsequent step involves taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), a computerized, multiple-choice exam necessary for admission to medical school.
- Complete medical school: Successful completion of the MCAT leads to enrollment in medical school, where students pursue a general medical degree (MD or DO). The curriculum typically encompasses two years of classroom-based learning covering medical ethics, pharmacology, pathology, and anatomy, followed by two years of clinical rotations providing practical experience across various medical specialties.
- Pass USMLE parts one and two: Following medical school, aspiring gastroenterologists must pass parts one and two of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), evaluating their ability to apply medical knowledge and skills in clinical scenarios.
- Complete residency and internship: Subsequently, candidates undergo a three-year residency program, followed by a one-year internship, focusing on specialized training in gastroenterology under the supervision of experienced physicians.
- Pass USMLE part three: Once the residency is complete, candidates sit for part three of the USMLE, marking the transition to independent practice as licensed physicians.
- Pursue fellowship training: Gastroenterology fellowship training is undertaken to acquire expertise in diagnosing and managing gastrointestinal disorders. This intensive program equips physicians with the proficiency to address common and complex gastrointestinal conditions.
- Obtain board certification: After completing fellowship training, physicians can obtain certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine, demonstrating their gastroenterology mastery after completing internal medicine certification. The certification signifies a high level of competence in the field, ensuring quality care for patients.
What causes gastrointestinal disorders?
The most common causes of gastrointestinal disorders include the following:
Low fiber diet
Fiber is a carbohydrate found in plants and is crucial to maintaining optimum digestive health. It helps your stomach feel full and aids in proper digestion. Fibers enhance the count of good bacteria in the intestines, keep the large and small intestines healthy, and ensure proper bowel movements. Fruits, green leafy vegetables, beans, legumes, and whole grains are the richest sources of fiber.
Genetics
A majority of autoimmune and immune gastrointestinal disorders are genetic or hereditary. Modified genetics can cause hereditary pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis. Some examples of genetic gastrointestinal disorders include Crohn's disease, liver disorder, celiac disease, and ulcerative colitis. However, lifestyle changes and medical interventions can help cope with these gastrointestinal disorders.
Stress and anxiety
Chronic stress causes havoc in your daily routine and eating patterns, affecting your gut health. Chronic stress and anxiety are also linked to various digestive issues like inflammation, appetite loss, bloating, cramping, and changes in the bacterial count in the gut.
The gut has more neurons than any other organ in the body. It helps develop direct and bidirectional communication with the brain. Therefore, a healthy mind is essential to keep the gut healthy and vice versa.
Not drinking water
Water is essential for the optimum functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. It helps digest the ingested food and assists the GI tract in absorbing the nutrients quickly and effectively. Water also cleanses the small and large intestines, softens stool, and prevents constipation. Most digestive problems occur due to a lack of water in the body. Drinking lots of water can help solve most of the digestive issues and help you keep your gut healthy.
Inactive lifestyle
A sedentary lifestyle or no physical exercise (activity) can impact the health of the GI tract. Also, eating foods that cause inflammation can affect the stomach. Therefore, gastroenterologists recommend diet changes and regular exercise to improve gut health and digestion.
What are the signs of seeing a gastroenterologist?
Your primary care physician may need a gastroenterologist intervention if you show the below-mentioned symptoms. Every symptom could indicate an underlying condition related to your digestive tract that could be complicated if left untreated.
- Chronic constipation — less than three weekly bowel movements and difficulty passing stool.
- Chronic diarrhea — three or more loose stools daily for four or more weeks.
- Recurrent or severe abdominal pain — painful cramping and discomfort in your stomach.
- Abdominal bloating — a condition with buildup and gas retention in the stomach and intestines that can make you feel full.
- Frequent heartburn — a burning pain in the middle of the chest that recurs for days.
- Difficulty swallowing — foods or liquids that do not go down the esophagus quickly. In extreme cases, swallowing could also be painful.
- Jaundice — is a disorder in which the skin and white part of the eyes turn yellow.
- Rectal bleeding — having blood in your stool.
- Pale stools — passing clay or light-colored stools.
- Unexplained weight loss — is defined as losing 10 pounds or 5% of body weight in 6 to 12 months or less without any known reason.
- Excessive gas — passing gas more than 20 times per day.
- Food comes back after you swallow.
- Nausea and vomiting
Secondly, people older than 50 are more likely to develop colorectal cancer. Hence, people 45 years and older should visit a gastroenterologist for regular screening tests to prevent this. These tests can detect precancerous polyps and abnormal growths in the colon or rectum. If found, the gastroenterologist can remove them before they become cancerous.
Regular screening also helps discover colorectal cancer early, when the treatment is the most effective. It drastically improves the chances of survival.
What to expect during a gastroenterologist appointment?
You can expect your first gastroenterologist appointment to be around an hour long. To be well prepared, ensure that you have noted down all your symptoms and medications and are carrying your past medical records. The following points could be part of your first examination.
The gastroenterologist will begin by asking questions about your medical history. Tell them about your symptoms in detail, any past diagnosis, and the medications you take. Take your past medical records, if any, to help better diagnose.
The gastroenterologist may want to check for any physical signs of digestive disorders. For that purpose, they will ask you to lie down and relax. They will inspect your stomach for abnormalities, listen to your bowel sounds, and do a rectal exam to check for abnormal growth.
The gastroenterologist may ask you to take lab tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and blood and stool tests to help diagnose the underlying cause of your symptoms.
Based on your symptoms, they may want to perform special non-surgical procedures, meaning endoscopies, to inspect your digestive tract. Gastroenterologists near you perform endoscopy using an endoscope. A tiny cylindrical tube with a camera and a light source is inserted into the body to check the internal organs. The various types of endoscopies include:
- Upper endoscopy helps diagnose esophagus, stomach, and minor intestine conditions.
- Endoscopic ultrasounds examine the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs.
- A colonoscopy helps detect colon polyps (abnormal growths) or colon cancer.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography examines the bile duct for gallstones or tumors.
- Sigmoidoscopy helps evaluate blood loss and bowel pain.
- A liver biopsy is for assessing inflammation and fibrosis in the liver.
- Capsule endoscopy and enteroscopy help examine the small intestine.
How to find a gastroenterologist in New Brunswick, New Jersey?
If your digestive system malfunctions, it can affect other body parts apart from causing gastrointestinal symptoms. Since the gut and the brain are directly connected through neurons, digestive disorders can impact mental health. Skin problems, joint issues, weakened immune systems, and fatigue can be side effects of digestive disorders.
Early intervention by a gastroenterologist, an expert in digestive health, can help avoid such complications. Most gastrointestinal diseases are treatable, so if you have any related symptoms, meet with a gastroenterologist near you. Also, individuals aged above 45 years should promptly initiate their routine colonoscopy screenings for colorectal cancer prevention since they are at high risk.
Gastroenterologist appointments are generally through referrals from your primary care physician. At Zocdoc, you can find the expert of your choice at your earliest convenience. To find gastroenterologists in New Brunswick, NJ, enter the details in the search box on Zocdoc. Insurance can cover your costs — to find in-network experts, add your health insurance plan details during your search. You can also use gender, available dates, languages, and more filters to narrow your search results.
Choosing the right gastroenterologists near you who can support your needs can be overwhelming. But Zocdoc has ensured your experience is convenient throughout. You can check the expert profiles that cover the doctor's education, training, board certification, languages, specifications, and patient reviews.
In-person and video visits are available, but not all experts offer both. If you want an online consultation, go to the video visits section. Once you find a suitable gastroenterologist, you can fill in the personal details prompted on Zocdoc and book your appointment. Booking with Zocdoc is easy, secure, and 100% free.
Digestive disorders and colorectal cancer statistics in New Jersey and the United States
In accordance with the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 60 to 70 million Americans are diagnosed with some form of digestive disorder yearly. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heartburn, chronic diarrhea, chronic constipation, gastroenteritis, ulcers, and hemorrhoids are some of the most common gastrointestinal disorders affecting Americans.
A 2022 study by the National Library of Medicine shows that about 18.1% to 27.8% of Americans experience gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The American Gastroenterological Association says that approximately 16 of every 100 adults and 33 of every 100 adults 60 and older experience symptoms of constipation.
Colorectal cancer is also concerning, as it is the third most common cancer nationwide and in New Jersey. This cancer causes the most cancer deaths after lung cancer. Data collected by a 2021 Colorectal Cancer in Screening Age New Jersey Adults report shows that between 2012 and 2017, around 91.1 men per 100,000 men and approximately 65.3 women per 100,000 women were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in New Jersey. Thus, in New Jersey, more men have colorectal cancer than women.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Statistics Center estimates that in 2024, there will be nearly 152,810 new cases and around 53,010 colorectal cancer deaths, making it the fourth most common cancer in America. New Jersey will witness about 4,240 new cases and nearly 1,330 colorectal cancer deaths in 2024.
Sources
Gastro MD[1]
Gastro MD[2]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
WebMD[3]
Healthline
Medical News Today
Bustle
Cancer Statistics Center
New Jersey Department of Health
National Library of Medicine
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
American Cancer Society[1]
American Cancer Society[2]
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