What is a Gastroenterologist?
These specialists can treat everything from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to Hepatitis C. On the other hand, gastrology is an adopted word for gastroenterologists due to the latter being complicated to pronounce. However, as per definition, gastrology is the study of stomach and stomach-related problems, but it is essentially not a recognized medical specialty. Hence, patients who experience problems with the stomach or any part of the gastrointestinal tract must visit a Gastroenterologist.
Due to complicating medical terminologies, people often spring up alternative names of the complicated one. Such is the case of gastrologist and gastroenterologists. Gastroenterologists are specialists that treat diseases and problems related to the gastrointestinal tract (GI).
The gastrointestinal tract (GI), also commonly known as the digestive tract, alimentary canal, etc., is a combination of organs with the human body that consumes food, processes/digests it to extract and absorb the energy and nutrients from food. This system also is responsible for expelling the waste in the form of feces from the body. The method comprises a hollow muscular tube that starts from the oral cavity (where the food enters the mouth) and includes the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestines, and further till rectum and anus (from where the food is expelled from the body). The GI tract is supported by various organs such as the salivary glands, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder, which secrete enzymes that help in breaking and digesting food.
The GI tract is one of the most important human body organs. It is essential because it creates energy for the body from food and removes toxins and waste from the body in feces. Any gastrointestinal disorder or disease restricts the ideal functioning of the GI tract, which causes a lot of health problems. Hence, it is crucial to know who to visit in case of GI tract issues.
Who is a Gastroenterologist?
Gastroenterologists are specialists that treat digestive, gastrointestinal, and liver disorders and diseases in both men and women. These specialists have been specifically trained to diagnose and treat all concerns related to the following organs of the body:
Gastroenterologists also perform endoscopic procedures using specialized instruments to assess the GI tract and diagnose any problems.
Focus areas for Gastroenterologists include:
What conditions are treated by Gastroenterologists?
Gastroenterologists are trained with special education to treat all conditions affecting the GI system. Some of the common conditions treated by gastroenterologists include:
What procedures are performed by Gastroenterologists?
Gastroenterologists perform a variety of non-surgical procedures such as:
When should you visit a Gastroenterologist?
You would need to visit a Gastroenterologist if you experience the following symptoms:
Moreover, people over the age of 50, irrespective of gender, should visit a Gastroenterologist for regular monitoring and preventive care since they are at higher risk of colon cancer.
Who is a Gastrologist?
As per definition, a gastrologist is a person who specializes in gastrology. Gastrology involves the stomach and stomach-related issues. However, gastrology is not a recognized branch of study, and hence, gastrologist is just another term used for gastroenterologists since the latter is difficult to pronounce. Gastrology could have been used in the early 1900s but has been replaced by gastroenterologists today and is not treated separately.
What is the difference between gastrologist and gastroenterologist?
Practically, there is no difference between the two specialists since one (gastrologist) is only a commonly adapted word of a gastroenterologist. Contrary to the definition of gastrology, all stomach ailments are also covered in gastroenterology; hence, patients with any issues related to the GI tract, including the stomach, need to visit a gastroenterologist.
