7 Things Your Gastroenterologist Wants You to Know
Many of us take our digestive system for granted, not giving it much thought until there’s a problem, such as diarrhea, constipation, cramping, gas or nausea. When these issues become chronic, it’s time to see a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions of the digestive tract. Here’s what practicing GI specialists want you to know about their specialty and the types of patients they treat.
Real Talk From Practicing GI Doctors
1. Gastroenterology is a broad field
When specializing in gastroenterology, doctors get to treat patients with a much broader list of diseases affecting many organs, unlike a narrower field, such as cardiology or orthopedics, says Christopher E. Forsmark, MD, a gastroenterologist at the University of Florida. Gastroenterology is focused on the digestive organs in general, but that includes the esophagus, the liver, the pancreas, and the colon, he says adding that GI doctors get to see and treat a lot more of the patient than physicians in most other specialties.
2. Gastroenterology is a good mix of detective and hands-on work
For medical doctors, work is often investigative , asking questions and assessing lab results to reach a diagnosis. When it comes to surgeons, their focus is more procedural and operative . Gastroenterology combines both types of expertise- clinical and procedural- making it attractive to physicians like Patrick A. Hyatt , MD, a gastroenterologist at the Center for Heartburn and Reflux Disease in Baltimore. i had wanted to do the more medical approach, but i like doing procedures, and I was good at them.
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3. Gastroenterologists work with patients with long-term problems.
Patients who visit gastroenterologist offices or clinics can have any number of complaints, from constant diarrhea, severe constipation, gall bladder problems, or heartburn. Gastroenterologists may follow their patients for years. James Vecchio, MD, a gastroenterologist in Burlington, VT, says he sees patients who live with chronic, lifelong conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBD) , ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. In these cases, having a gastroenterologist you trust can help ensure consistent, effective treatment of your symptoms.
4. Gastroenterologists are also on call for emergencies
In the acute emergency setting , we’re called frequently for GI bleeds, Dr. Hyatt says. If you have a bleeding ulcer or if you’re a liver patient and you have bleeding esophageal varices (a complication of chronic liver disease), we need to come in and halt the bleeding using a therapeutic endoscopy. It’s somethings we specialize in. Other emergencies include removing a blockage that’s making someone choke or clearing a bowel obstruction, both of which can be life threatening.
5. Colon cancer prevention is a large part of gastroenterology
7 Things Your Gastroenterologist Wants You to Know: One of the most important roles in gastroenterology is cancer prevention, says Dr. Hyatt. Unlike cancers such as breast or prostate cancer, many GI cancer start as benign lesions such as polyps. Polyps are lesions that grow from the lining of the colon and can become cancerous . They can be seen during a colonoscopy and immediately removed in most cases. We’re able to prevent people from getting colon cancer and esophageal cancer, Dr. Hyatt says.
6. We can stop or detect other types of cancer, too.
People who have chronic heartburn may be risk for esophageal cancer , but if they’re followed regularly by a . There are mucosal changes that we can see when we look in someone’s esophagus that would tell us whether they’re at risk for esophageal cancer, Dr. Hyatt explains. Once we see those changes, we can identify which patients may be risk for cancer , and we can intervene before it becomes a problem.
7. The field of gastroenterology continues to advance – with more to come
Gastroenterology clinics may look very futuristic to some patients and that’s because the field is exploding with new advances. The field combines the latest advances in endoscopic technology with advanced medical therapies, says Dr. Vecchio . He says patients are often surprised when they see how much technology GI doctors use during their treatment. And there are more potential breakthroughs on the horizon, specifically in the research of gut bacteria.
There’s a whole new field of study that’s not studying the actual organs of the person, it’s studying the bacteria that co-habitat in the colon, says Dr. Forsmark. We’re discovering how, over millions of yours, bactaria and humans have evolved together and how important they are to us. Experts hope these findings can someday lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of digestive conditions-and possibly even cures.