Normalizing The Conversation

According to the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), 40% of Americans experience daily disruptions caused by digestive issues and bowel discomfort. GI issues can be awkward for patients to talk about, even with their primary care provider.

This hesitancy to speak to a medical provider is often an underlying factor in delayed diagnosis and treatment, resulting in the progression of symptoms. Many people would rather talk about politics or even disclose their weight than discuss bowel problems. It’s time we normalize the conversation. Our patient’s overall health and wellness depend on it.

Digestive Conditions Overview

Treatment for digestive conditions is vital to prevent severe complications like malnutrition and colon cancer. We are here to help improve digestion from the esophagus to the rectum. Some common GI conditions may affect your patient’s quality of life.

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  Chronic inflammation of the GI tract causes inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two types of IBD conditions. This bowel disease causes severe GI symptoms, especially during flare-ups. IBD can affect all parts of the digestive tract.

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  Irritable bowel syndrome is the most common type of digestive problem, causing abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea. Though the cause is not entirely understood, triggers can intensify symptoms. This GI issue is diagnosed by excluding other possible conditions.

• Chronic liver disease (CLD)
  Liver disease affects a patient’s ability to digest food, eliminate toxins, metabolize medications and alcohol, and produce proteins vital for blood clotting. Liver disruption often affects nutritional absorption. Cirrhosis is a late-stage CLD that causes irreversible scarring of the liver. Prompt diagnosis and treatment reduce complications and improve life.

• Celiac disease
  Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by the consumption of gluten. Mucosal inflammation in the small intestine arouses an overzealous immune response, causing severe abdominal discomfort.

Endoscopic Procedures

Endoscopy is a group of simple, nonsurgical procedures that help our providers diagnose and treat digestive issues. These procedures are some of our team’s best diagnostic tools.

Under sedation, our gastroenterology team uses a flexible catheter with a camera on the tip to visualize the GI tract. Our specialists can also take a tissue biopsy for closer evaluation during these procedures. Here are some of the endoscopic procedures we offer:

• Colonoscopy
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Upper endoscopy

Meet your gastroenterology team

Our gastroenterology team specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating liver and digestive disorders. Utilizing a compassionate approach, we encourage patients to speak up about GI problems.

With our progressive evaluation technology, our specialists address diseases from the esophagus to the rectum and everything along the tract. Our gastroenterologists are committed to your patients spending less time coping with uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms.