What Is Gastroenterology?

Gastrointestinal (GI) doctors, or gastroenterologists, care for your digestive system. That means they treat diseases and health problems in your:

• Bile ducts
• Esophagus
• Gallbladder
• Intestines
• Liver
• Pancreas
• Stomach

What Conditions Do Gastroenterologists Treat?

Some of the digestive system illnesses that GI doctors diagnose and treat include:

• Barrett’s esophagus
• Celiac disease
• Cirrhosis
• Colorectal cancer
• Constipation
• Crohn’s disease
• Difficulty swallowing
• Gallbladder disease
• GERD/acid reflux
• Hepatitis C
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Pancreatic disease
• Peptic ulcers
• Ulcerative colitis

Screening for Colon Cancer

Colorectal cancer screening tests help your gastrointestinal doctor check for signs of the illness before you experience symptoms. All healthy adults should get a colonoscopy screening test every 10 years after the age of 45. If your doctor says you have risk factors for colon cancer, you may need to get colonoscopy procedures earlier or more frequently.

Diagnosing Digestive Health Conditions

If your doctor suspects a problem in your digestive system, you may need one or more of these tests at OSF HealthCare:

• Bravo 24-hour PH study, which measures the PH level of your esophagus to detect acid reflux
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), an exam of your pancreas and bile ducts that uses X-rays and injectable dye
• Endoscopic ultrasound system (EUS), which shows images of your digestive tract using sound waves
• Esophageal manometry, a test that measures how well you can swallow
• FibroScan, a noninvasive test that measures signs of liver disease
• Patency capsule, which makes sure food moves through your digestive system well and helps your doctor determine if a capsule endoscopy may be a good option for you
• Pill capsule endoscopy, which uses a pill with a camera inside to let a doctor see your small intestine
• Upper endoscopy (EGD), an exam of your upper digestive tract

Gastroenterology Treatments

If a diagnostic test shows digestive health problems, your OSF HealthCare doctor will make a personal treatment plan for your specific health needs. After treatment, you can expect follow-up care and support. Some treatments your doctor may recommend include:

Ask for a Referral

Ask your primary care doctor for a referral to an OSF Medical Group gastroenterologist in central or northern Illinois. Need a primary care provider? Browse our directory.

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