What Does a Gastroenterologist Do?

Overview

A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in the health of the gastrointestinal organs. This includes the esophagus, stomach and intestines. It includes the liver and pancreas. These are the organs involved in digestion. They move food through your body. They absorb nutrients and get rid of waste.

What do they treat?

Why would you need to see a gastroenterologist? They treat a wide range of conditions. They help you manage things like acid reflux, ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. They care for jaundice and anemia. They help you manage Crohn's disease. They treat diverticulitis and cancers of the digestive system. And they treat many other issues.

Diagnosing you

To find out what's wrong, your gastroenterologist looks at a range of factors. They talk with you about your symptoms. They study your health history. In many cases, they may view your GI tract with a camera device called an "endoscope." You can have other tests, too. They use all of this info to develop a care plan that's right for you.

Working with you

A big part of a gastroenterologist's job is sharing info with you. So they teach you about your condition. They make sure you know about all of your care options. They explain how these options can affect you. They help you during treatment, and give you the support you need as you recover. And they create a plan to help you live a healthy life.

Conclusion

Your gastroenterologist is a key part of your care team. For more info about the digestive system, talk to your doctor.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.