Who is a gastroenterologist?
Medical specialists who treat gastrointestinal organs like the liver, gut, stomach, gallbladder, rectum, and small and large intestines are known as gastroenterologists. Taking care of gut health and the GI tract is extremely important. Various factors can affect and damage your GI tracts and gut health, from harmful lifestyle patterns to unhealthy diets. Regular visits to a gastroenterologist are essential to keep your GI tract healthy.
What kind of education and training do gastroenterologists receive?
Aspiring gastroenterologists must first gain a bachelor's degree in subjects preferred by their school choices, such as biology, chemistry, and mathematics. They must then enroll in a medical school where they study and train for four years. Students are taught and equipped with theoretical knowledge during the first two years. The following two years involve practical experience diagnosing and treating illnesses and conditions in medical settings such as clinics and hospitals. Experienced doctors and specialists guide them.
After completing medical school, students earn a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) degree. They must then complete a three-year internal medicine residency, followed by specialized training in the form of a fellowship in gastroenterology. A fellowship can take two to three years to complete.
During the three years of specialization, they learn about various health conditions related to the GI tract and different procedures like colonoscopy, endoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy. In addition, they also train in handling cameras and built-in illuminated tubes used in the in-depth study of the GI tract. They can diagnose and treat issues like constipation and colon cancers.
What can cause GI tract or gastrointestinal issues?
Many factors can cause GI tract or gastrointestinal issues. Some common risk factors for these issues are as follows:
- Decreased or low fiber intake in meals
- Overconsumption of dairy foods like cheese
- Lack of regular exercise
- Forcing bowel movements or resisting bowel movements
- Pregnancy
- Feeling stressed regularly
- Intake of medications like antidepressants or drugs that have high iron, calcium, or aluminum
- Changes in routine or excessive traveling
- Overuse of anti-diarrheal medications can weaken bowel muscle movements
What are the most common diseases treated by gastroenterologists?
When your bowel is abnormal or does not work correctly, the cause could be structural gastrointestinal disease. Examples of such conditions include hemorrhoids, diverticular disease, and colon cancer.
- Hemorrhoids: Hemorrhoids are one the most common gastrointestinal problems many people face at some point in their lives. A hemorrhoid is a structural condition that causes dilated veins in the anal canal to swell and cause pain. If left untreated, the swollen blood vessels that line the anal opening can sometimes bleed. Hemorrhoids ar eof two types: internal and external. Various factors can cause hemorrhoids, such as pregnancy, excess pressure exerted during bowel movements, and persistent diarrhea. Internal hemorrhoids damage and cause swelling to the blood vessels inside the anal opening. External hemorrhoids cause swelling of the veins outside the anus below the skin. Treatment can include healthy bowel habits, changes in diet, stool softener medication, and, in some cases, surgery.
- Diverticular disease: Diverticular disease is a digestive system disorder. It is due to bulging pouches in the lining of the digestive system called the diverticula. They are small pouches found in the lower part of the colon. People above 40 are much more likely to stumble across issues like diverticula. When the diverticula becomes inflamed or infected, this causes diverticulitis. It can cause severe nausea, high fever, intense abdominal pain, and bowel movement changes. A gastroenterologist may prescribe antibiotics initially, but some extreme and rare cases require surgery. Symptoms of diverticular disease include constant pain in the lower left side of the abdomen, vomiting, nausea, abdominal tenderness, diarrhea, fever, and sometimes constipation.
- Colon cancer: Colon cancer results from the growth of cancerous cells in the large intestine. Colon cancer can affect anyone from any age group, but older adults are at higher risk. Though initially, it begins as benign clumps of non-cancerous cells, it slowly progresses into cancerous cells. The benign clusters of non-cancerous cells are called polyps. It is essential to have regular screening tests so polyps that occur at the initial stage can be detected and removed at the earliest. Symptoms of colon cancer include bleeding, fatigue, weight loss, significant changes in bowel habits (often uncomfortable) like diarrhea or constipation, changes in the consistency of the stool, rectal bleeding, blood in your stool, and abdominal pain. Treatments for colon cancer include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy.
Constipation: symptoms in adults, causes, diagnosis, and treatment
The process of digestion involves the gradual absorption of nutrients from consumed food by the intestines. Partially digested food then transitions from the small intestine to the large intestine, ultimately becoming waste or stools, which are excreted out of the body. The colon is responsible for absorbing water from this waste, thus making it more solid. Constipation typically occurs when food moves slowly through the digestive tract. When the colon's muscle contractions are slow, the waste moves through the colon too slowly and, therefore, ends up absorbing more water from the waste, which results in dry, hard, and tough-to-excrete stools. Constipation is often characterized by fewer than three bowel movements in a week. However, it may differ in each individual since everyone's bowel movement patterns are different.
Common symptoms of constipation include:
- Lumpy, hard, and dry stool
- Painful bowel movements
- Fewer bowel movements than usual
- Sensation of incomplete emptying of the bowels
- Straining during bowel movements or resorting to manual methods to aid passage
- Sensation of rectal blockage
- Abdominal bloating or nausea
- Cramps or stomach ache
Constipation may also be a symptom of other severe medical conditions like multiple sclerosis, colorectal cancer, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, nerve damage, Parkinson's disease, eating disorders, or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
While mild cases of constipation can be managed at home, you must see a doctor or a gastroenterologist if you experience constipation along with unusual changes such as blood in the stools, changes in stool shape or color, constipation that lasts longer than three weeks, black stools, unexplainable weight loss, and intense stomach pain.
Several factors can contribute to constipation, including:
- Resisting the urge to defecate
- Inadequate fluid intake
- Lack of physical activity
- Age (especially in individuals aged 65 or older)
- Stress
- Overuse of laxatives
- Insufficient dietary fiber intake
- Pregnancy, which can alter hormones and lead to increased susceptibility to constipation due to fetal pressure on the intestines
- High dairy consumption
- Gender (women are more often affected)
- Certain medications, such as aluminum- or calcium-containing antacids
To diagnose constipation, your doctor may ask you about your symptoms and medical history first. They may also ask about your bowel movements, including frequency, characteristics, and any notable changes. They may also explore your lifestyle and dietary habits. In some cases, a rectal examination may be necessary. Depending on your symptoms, blood tests, urine tests, and a colonoscopy may be recommended.
To treat constipation, your physician will ask you to make diet and lifestyle changes such as drinking more water, being more active, and adding fiber-rich foods (e.g., vegetables and whole grains) to your diet. Your doctor may prescribe different medications such as Lubiprostone, Prucalopride, Plecanatide, and Lactulose. In cases of anal fissures or intestinal obstruction, surgery may be required.
Why should one visit a gastroenterologist?
Common digestive system conditions such as diarrhea, acidity, and constipation resolve after taking over-the-counter medications and home remedies. However, you must consult a gastroenterologist near you if you:
- Experience severe abdominal pain and gas.
- Notice inconsistent patterns in your bowel movements and find blood in your stool.
- Constantly find it challenging and painful to pass stools.
- Notice constant abdominal pain and bloating.
- Find it extremely difficult to urinate.
- Suffer from stomach ulcers.
- Notice that there is a sudden decrease in weight
- Are not able to eat certain foods like dairy and have developed a sudden allergic reaction due to lactose products
- Experience constant bad breath
- Are showing signs of jaundice.
- Have frequent heartburn, trouble swallowing, and other symptoms like dizziness and shortness of breath.
- Feel the veins around your rectum region are swollen and bleeding.
Ways to improve your gut health
Your gut (gastrointestinal tract) is a biome or a tiny ecosystem containing trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Most of these microbes are found in a pocket in your large intestine known as the cecum, while others are found in the small intestine or the stomach.
This microbiome is unique to each person and plays a crucial role in many necessary body functions, including keeping potentially harmful microbes in check. The gut bacteria help to break down specific complex carbohydrates and dietary fibers and provide enzymes that are required for processing vitamins B1, B9, B12, and K. The gut microbiome also controls how the immune system responds to infections, affects brain and nervous system health, and interacts with endocrine cells in the gut lining responsible for producing hormones that regulate blood sugar, hunger, and satiety. Therefore, maintaining good gut health will ultimately promote overall health and well-being.
Here are some ways you can take care of your gut health:
- Ensure you eat a varied range of foods: Eating a diverse and plant-rich diet can lead to a diverse gut microbiome. Incorporating whole grains, legumes, beans, and fruits into your diet not only offers dietary fiber and essential micronutrients for your body but also reduces inflammation in the gut as opposed to highly processed and convenience foods. Processed foods may contain emulsifiers (food additives) to extend the shelf life or improve the texture of the product. These emulsifiers have been found to negatively affect gut flora. Additionally, eating fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut can reduce the amount of disease-causing microorganisms in the gut as they contain healthy bacteria called lactobacilli.
- Take prebiotics and probiotics: Prebiotics are dietary fibers that increase the growth of helpful and beneficial bacteria in the gut, whereas probiotics are live, good bacteria that restore gut health after dysbiosis or gut imbalance. These can be taken as supplements. Your gastroenterologist can help determine which prebiotic or probiotic supplement is best for you. Some prebiotic-rich food sources include asparagus, oats, apples, artichokes, and bananas.
- Make sure you get any food allergies or intolerances checked: People with intolerance to certain foods may have symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, acid reflux, diarrhea, and gas. Understanding which foods trigger these symptoms and limiting or avoiding them entirely can improve your digestive health.
- Do not overuse antibiotics: Taking antibiotics when you don't necessarily need them may lead to antibiotic resistance. This means that bacteria change themselves so that antibiotic medication given to stop or kill them does not work against them. In this case, doctors will have to find other treatment options to treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Fewer treatments may also delay effective treatment. Antibiotics also kill good and bad bacteria in the gut, which can disrupt the gut microbiome. Therefore, it is vital that you consult your primary care physician or a gastroenterologist before taking any dosage of antibiotics.
- Manage your stress levels: The body releases certain hormones when it experiences high levels of stress. These hormones can compromise your gut health. Activities like meditating or yoga, limiting alcohol intake, spending time with a pet, and walking help you manage your stress and therefore improve gut health.
Find a gastroenterologist near you in Washington, DC
One can experience various issues like heartburn, gallstones, and lactose intolerance. At that point, finding a gastroenterologist at the earliest is essential. However, calling every hospital or clinic to check if they have a gastroenterologist available at your convenience can be one long task. In addition, one must find out if the clinical hospital will accept their insurance policy, which can take time and effort. This is where Zocdoc comes to your rescue.
Zocdoc has a curated library of expert healthcare specialists. Users can customize their search depending on various preferences. From booking appointments to finding the best gastroenterologist Washington, DC, has to offer, Zocdoc helps users in multiple ways. At Zocdoc, we value our users' safety and privacy. We only believe in providing them with the best healthcare facilities their cities offer.
Register on Zocdoc and enter your symptoms, location, and "gastroenterologist" in the search box. Then, Zocdoc will provide you with a list of the top gastroenterologists in your neighborhood. You will also find detailed profiles of each healthcare professional on the website, which will tell you about the gastroenterologist's education and training, experience, specialization, hospital affiliations, honors, licensure, and accreditations. You can also find out their gender, the languages they speak, and whether they treat children.
You can also easily find in-network providers on Zocdoc. To find your insurance plan, you can manually browse and select your insurance carrier and plan from the drop-down menu on the Zocdoc website. If you are not able to find your specific health plan listed, you can try uploading a photo of your insurance card. Once you upload a photo, Zocdoc will scan the image of your card and show you your likely plan. Note that this option is available only for medical insurance cards. Dental and vision are excluded. If you need assistance uploading your insurance card, contact Zocdoc's service team. You can also visit Zocdoc's patient help center for answers to other insurance-related queries.
On Zocdoc, you can read verified reviews and ratings by past patients to help you make an informed decision. Depending on the provider's availability, you can book appointments with a gastroenterologist near you during office hours, before 10 am, after 5 pm, or during weekends and holidays.
You can book regular or online appointments, depending on your need. Just look for the purple icon on the profiles of healthcare professionals who allow such video consultations.
Booking appointments on Zocdoc is safe, quick, and free!
Vital statistics for Washington DC
Underlying health issues like diabetes can cause various problems in the GI tract. A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that diabetes was the 6th leading cause of death in the District of Columbia.
According to a report by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases-
- About 75% of adults 45 and older suffer from Hemorrhoids.
- Approximately 63 million people suffer from Chronic Constipation.
- About 1 in 5 people had Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, which leads to them experiencing reflux symptoms every week.
According to a report by the CDC, about 70% of the U.S. adults who fell in the age group 50 to 75 were up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening.
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BestAccreditedColleges.org
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Johns Hopkins Medicine
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