A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in the medical treatment of diseases and conditions regarding the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. Gastroenterologists will typically provide diagnostic procedures such as endoscopies and colonoscopies to diagnose the patient. They will typically monitor patients under treatment for conditions such as IBD, IBS, liver diseases, gallstones, etc. The specialization of gastroenterology is an important one in the medical world because digestive problems are widespread among adults. Dr. Bharat Pothuri, an experienced gastroenterologist based in Cypress, can address these issues. They may range from minor ones that do not require much intervention to serious ones that can be life-threatening if not attended to properly.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that affects the large intestine (colon). IBS can cause abdominal discomfort and pain and changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, and both). People who have IBS are typically diagnosed based on their symptoms. It used to be thought that the colon (large intestine) was responsible for the symptoms of IBS. We know now that it is a disorder of the gut, and there may be several different types of IBS with a range of symptoms, including diarrhea, constipation, or both.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease, also known as regional enteritis, is an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the digestive tract from mouth to anus. The most common symptoms are abdominal pain, recurring diarrhea (can be bloody), and weight loss. It also can affect other parts of the body outside the gastrointestinal tract, such as the skin, joints, liver, and eyes. Symptoms usually come on gradually and may vary over time. The typical age of diagnosis is between 13 and 30.
Gallstones
Common symptoms of gallstones include pain in the upper abdomen (often described as “pressure” or “fullness”), which usually comes on gradually and may worsen with eating fatty foods. However, sometimes there may be no symptoms at all (asymptomatic). Gallstones are more likely to cause problems if they are significant. In these cases, the gallbladder may not contract properly, and pain can continue.
Dysphagia
Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty in swallowing. It may occur with or without pain. The cause can be a problem with any of the stages involved in swallowing, from perceiving that food and drink are in the mouth ( tasting, smelling, and touching) to preparing food and drink for swallowing (mastication), initiating and guiding the food or liquid to the back of the throat (deglutition), pushing food down the esophagus into the stomach (and against gravity) and closing off the breathing tube (trachea) during swallowing.
The most common symptoms are feeling like a lump in your throat, coughing, regurgitating (bringing up old food), choking, and losing sensation when eating or drinking hot liquids. Dysphagia is common in chronic diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, etc.
In summary, a gastroenterologist is a medical doctor who specializes in conditions that affect the digestive tract. They can help treat conditions such as IBS, dysphagia, gallstones, and Crohn’s disease.
