Problems with the gut might not be as lethal as a tumor in the brain or cancer in the lung, but they’re extremely uncomfortable, and could potentially open the door to far more serious conditions. If you’re living in Dubai, you would know just how much junk food there’s out there for consumption, which triggers a host of stomach related issues. Any leading gastro in Dubai will advise you to adopt clean eating along with a workout routine to stay in top shape. With that said, let’s understand gastrointestinal conditions, their treatments, and when to seek help from a gastroenterologist.
Gastrointestinal Conditions: What are they?
These conditions mainly affect the stomach, the intestines and the surrounding regions that help in food digestion. Their scope also extends to your biliary system, which supplies bile and digestive enzymes to your intestines. These include your gallbladder, pancreas, liver and bile ducts. Qualified gastroenterologists in Dubai help treat the functions of these organs.
Here are the most common types of gastrointestinal disorders:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Celiac disease
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
Food allergies and intolerances
Stomach ulcers
Diverticulitis
Appendicitis
Colorectal polyps
Hemorrhoids
Fatty liver disease
Cirrhosis
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Rectal bleeding
Constipation
Heartburn
What to do if you Feel Any of the Above Symptoms?
You shouldn’t hold off seeing a gastroenterologist, since they specialize in conditions affecting your digestive system, similar to how a gynecologist Dubai is qualified to assess reproductive system risks and conditions.
Similarly, for treating digestive system disorders in children, there are pediatric gastroenterologists.
So, What Happens when you Swing by a Gastroenterologist?
The specialist may start by physically examining you. They may feel and listen to your abdominal organs from the outside, as well as introduce a finger into your rectum for observation. They may prescribe further testing, such as blood tests, stool tests, or imaging tests like GI X-rays, which take photos of your organs from the outside.
However, when more information is required than these tests can offer, gastroenterologists are uniquely qualified to undertake endoscopic operations. These tests use an endoscope, which is a small video camera attached to the end of a long, thin, flexible tube that is inserted into your body.
Endoscopy exams provide gastroenterologists with a more complete picture of your body, allowing them to determine how things are operating and what may be causing your symptoms. But that’s not all; gastroenterologists may also acquire tissue samples and do modest procedures using tiny instruments that pass through the endoscope.
This makes endoscopy an intermediate step before surgery that GI specialists can use to address your disease. And it’s frequently enough. Using an endoscope, gastroenterologists can ease blockages, unblock restricted channels, halt bleeding, and remove malignancies. They can also evaluate the biopsy findings.
Are Gastroenterologists Qualified to Treat Cancer?
A gastroenterologist is likely to be the first to detect cancer in any of your digestive organs. They use endoscopy and biopsy to discover, remove, and diagnose malignant lesions throughout the GI tract and biliary system.
If they identify cancer, they will most likely do more endoscopic operations to help stage it; meaning they will collect further tissue samples to see whether the malignancy has spread. In certain circumstances, gastroenterologists can treat specific tumors with an endoscope, either by dissecting them or treating them with lasers.
Key Differences between a Gastroenterologist and a Proctologist
The primary distinction between a colorectal surgeon, a proctologist, and a gastroenterologist is that they train as surgeons. Following medical school, students complete a five-year surgical residency in general surgery before pursuing additional training in colorectal treatments. They may treat you in other ways, such as doing an examination or providing medication, but they are specifically trained for operating operations.
A gastroenterologist may be able to tell you whether you require surgery, but they cannot conduct the procedure. Instead, they would probably recommend you to a colorectal surgeon.
Conclusion
Taking care of your digestive system is just as important as looking after other aspects of your body. Your gastrointestinal health directly impacts your immune system, your mental health, and your overall well-being. If you feel there’s something wrong with your digestive system, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with a GI specialist. They might detect and correct an anomaly at an early stage that could otherwise be harmful to your body in the long run.
Also Read: Will Your Stomach Expand After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
