Are you searching for Spring TX gastrointestinal specialists that can help you? Perhaps you’re wondering what part of the medical field we focus on. Or maybe you’re asking what the meaning of gastrointestinal is.
In Latin, “gastro” means stomach. So if you split the word apart, you get stomach and intestines. Therefore, gastrointestinal specialists, GI specialists for short, focus on the body’s digestive system.
What does the digestive system include? It includes your digestive tract and any supporting organs. The GI tract starts from the mouth through your esophagus and then to your stomach. Once it arrives at your stomach, it moves into your small intestines, colon (large intestine), and finally through your rectum.
However, the system also includes any supporting organs. These organs include your liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and biliary ducts. All of these organs together make up your digestive system.
These organs process and break down the food you eat into nutrients. So if you have a digestive disorder or issue, it usually means your body is handling food weirdly.
A GI specialist has a more profound knowledge about your digestive system than a typical doctor. Your primary care doctor may recommend you to one if you need more specialized knowledge. Or, in some cases, there are procedures and screenings only a GI specialist can do.
Why Spring TX Gastrointestinal Specialists are Reliable
So how do you know that a GI specialist can back up their expertise? They go through a long period of schooling and training. And at the end of it, they can take a certification exam to become board-certified.
After obtaining an undergraduate degree, GI specialists go to a four-year medical college. Once they finish their schooling, they enter a training program called a residency.
Most residencies last for two to three years. GI specialists’ residency period will focus on internal medicine. They work alongside doctors in this field, getting professional mentorship and experience.
But it doesn’t end with a residency. After a residency, GI specialists go through another training program called a fellowship. This program also lasts two to three years and focuses on more specialized training in their field. For GI specialists, it means they learn and gain experience with specific procedures, including various endoscopic procedures.
There are further training opportunities if they wish to pursue them after their fellowship. However, this is the minimum amount they need to take the board certification exam. Once they pass, they’ll be board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
With their expertise and experience, you know you’re in capable hands. They can diagnose and treat most of your digestive issues and prescribe you the best treatment plan.
At our clinic, Dr. James Maher is a board-certified gastroenterologist. He can answer any questions you may have about your digestive system. If you have any digestive issues, don’t hesitate to make a visit or call today.
What We Diagnose and Treat
Spring TX gastrointestinal specialists can diagnose and treat anything related to your digestive system. So what does that include? As you know, the digestive system is a collection of several vital organs. Even if it’s a minor issue, it can worsen and cause problems on a broader scale.
Some common symptoms you may experience are abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, swallowing issues, or hemorrhoids. Some uncommon issues may be jaundice, which is the yellowing of your skin, bloody stool, or frequent nausea or diarrhea.
All of these symptoms point to something wrong in your digestive system. And as mentioned earlier, it means your body isn’t receiving or breaking down your food well.
So what digestive diseases and disorders can occur? Some are minor, like lactose intolerance. Others are more serious, like cancer, liver diseases, or bowel diseases.
The cancers that can occur are stomach cancer, liver cancer, and colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer starts in your colon or rectum, so they’re more commonly known as colon and rectum cancer, respectively.
Liver diseases include hepatitis and cirrhosis. All hepatitis viruses affect the liver and cause inflammation. On the other hand, cirrhosis happens in the late stages of specific liver diseases. Your liver will have massive scarring since it’s trying to repair itself from sickness or severe alcohol habits.
Some common bowel diseases include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBD is an umbrella term for inflammation that happens in either intestine, including Crohn’s disease. IBS is a chronic illness that happens in your large intestine that causes cramping and pain.
Most of these have overlapping symptoms, so it may lead to something significant even if you experience something minor. If you experience any abnormal digestive symptoms, be sure to visit.
Possible Procedures and Treatments
Before a GI specialist can start you on a treatment plan, they need to diagnose you first. They can go about this in several different ways. Usually, they’ll start by asking for all your symptoms, regardless of it’s big or small.
Once they narrow down the scope, they may suggest a few procedures so that they can further narrow down the problem. These procedures can include endoscopic procedures, biopsies, and imaging tests.
What is an endoscopy? The doctor can view your organs through your mouth or rectum using a thin tube with a built-in camera. With the camera, they can directly see what’s causing any issues inside your digestive tract. And if they see any suspicious tissue or growths, they can remove them for samples.
Not to mention, GI specialists use endoscopic procedures as a way to screen for cancer. Most digestive cancers are preventable if the GI doctor can catch them in time. One of the highly recommended ones is a colonoscopy procedure.
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. for both genders. With a colonoscopy, a GI doctor can prevent or catch cancer in its early stages.
Visiting Our Medical Office
GI specialists study the processes and disorders of your digestive system. A lot can go wrong with it, and even the slightest issue can worsen if you don’t treat it. If you experience any symptoms or want to screen for cancer, don’t hesitate to visit our medical clinic.
At the office of Katy Stomach Doctor James Maher, we want to ensure and protect your digestive system’s health. Visit or call us to ask our Spring TX gastrointestinal specialists any questions.
Spring, Texas Fun Facts:
- The area used to be home to Orcoquiza Native Americans.
- Although “Spring” denotes the large area, the original city name was “Old Town Spring.”
- Spring originally started and grew as a farming town.
- For more facts, visit this page.