What do gastroenterologists do?

A gastroenterologist is a specialist with expertise in the disorders and diseases that affect the digestive system — which includes the gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus) as well as the pancreas, liver, bile ducts and gallbladder.

Gastroenterologists diagnose and treat digestive disorders including liver disease, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and cancers. Typically, the gastroenterologist starts by learning about your symptoms and doing an exam to find out if they can see, hear, or feel anything unusual.

Your doctor will press down on the skin around your belly. They’ll listen for odd bowel sounds and feel for any masses or tenderness. They may ask you to take deep breaths or cough during your exam. They might also put a finger into your rectum to feel for any bulges or masses, and to check the muscle tone.

Gastroenterology is the study of the normal function and diseases of the Esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver.

A gastroenterologist is a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) who specializes in gastroenterology. They also may be called GI doctors, short for gastrointestinal. After completing medical school, gastroenterologists must complete a three-year internal medicine residency.

The digestive disorders and issues that a gastroenterologist treats include: Unexplained changes in bowel habits, including diarrhea, constipation and blood in the stool. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Heartburn.

Your stomach must be empty. Do not eat or drink anything, including water, for approximately six hours before the procedure.

IBS Is the most common disease diagnosed by gastroenterologists and one of the most common disorders seen by primary care physicians.

Severe abdominal pain may be an emergency. If your pain is sudden and severe, or if it occurs with any of the following, you should seek immediate medical attention: Persistent vomiting and nausea. Constipation (especially with vomiting)

A Gastroenterologist Is a specialist in gastrointestinal diseases and has received special training in colonoscopy. Gastroenterologists perform more colonoscopies by far than any other specialty. Non-gastroenterologists are five times more likely to miss colorectal cancer during colonoscopy than Gastroenterologists ¹.

For better digestive health, follow these simple tips:

1. Eat a high-fiber diet. …
2. Be sure you’re getting both soluble and insoluble fiber. …
3. Minimize your intake of foods high in fat. …
4. Select lean meats. …
5. Add probiotics to your diet. …
6. Follow a regular eating schedule. …
7. Drink plenty of water.

You should see a gastroenterologist If you have any symptoms of a digestive health disorder or if you need a colon cancer screening. Often, seeing a gastroenterologist leads to more accurate detection of polyps and cancer, fewer complications from procedures and less time spent in the hospital.

Blood tests can show levels of specific substances in the blood. Digestive issues for which blood tests support a diagnosis include Celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), stomach ulcers, stomach cancer and food allergies.

Common digestive disorders include Gastroesophageal reflux disease, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance and hiatal hernia. The most common symptoms of digestive disorders include bleeding, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, pain, nausea and vomiting.

Doctors trained in digestive diseases (gastroenterologists) evaluate and treat people who have IBS at Mayo Clinic. Specialists in the Motility Clinic are frequently involved in care. These physicians have special training in disorders involving the movement of food through the digestive system (motility).

If your doctor suspects gastritis, you may be referred to a specialist in digestive disorders (gastroenterologist).