Are you searching for a GI Doctor 77084? Dr. James Maher is a gastroenterologist you need. He has more than 30 years of experience in the field of gastroenterology. Gastroenterologists or GI doctors diagnose and treat conditions in the digestive system. The digestive system is also known as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
This area of the body has numerous organs associated with it. The stomach, liver, gallbladder, small intestine, colon, and rectum are just a few parts of the body associated with the GI tract. The GI tract performs three primary jobs: breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and removes waste from the body.
Dr. Maher can diagnose and treat patients with conditions in this area of the body. More importantly, he can educate patients on their condition. Educating patients about their condition is one of the most important aspects of Dr. Maher’s job. Furthermore, he helps treat patients with the best insight possible. When deciding a treatment option, he considers all options before moving forward.
Dr. Maher offers care for several different conditions. He offers patients education about each and will approach the treatment option in the best way possible. Below, you can find the list of conditions he can help you with.
- Hepatitis C
- Hemorrhoids
- Liver disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Colitis
- Ulcers
- Achalasia
- Gallstones
- Jaundice
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Acid reflux
- And more
More About Dr. Maher
Dr. Maher started his education career at the University of Michigan. After his time there, he moved to Virginia to attend the Medical University of Virginia. While in Virginia, he completed an accelerated program. After his program was over, he moved to California, where he had spent time before.
At the University of California-Irvine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency. The following year, he finished a fellowship in hepatology at the University of Southern California. Finally, he returned to the University of California-Irvine for a two-year fellowship in gastroenterology.
Once Dr. Maher’s education was over, he applied to become a board-certified gastroenterologist. He achieved his goal and has been in practice since. Dr. Maher’s interest in gastroenterology includes colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) biliary tract disease, and endoscopy.
Now, you can read more about a few of the conditions below.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum or around the anus. This condition is very common among American adults. In fact, three of four adults will experience hemorrhoids at least once in their life. That said, hemorrhoids are an extremely low-impact condition. They typically go away on their own, and many adults are unaware they have the condition, especially if they are internal hemorrhoids.
There are two types of hemorrhoids: internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids occur in the rectum, where there are few nerve endings. Pain and discomfort are rare with internal hemorrhoids. So, most will experience blood in their stool as a symptom. Of course, that is not always the case as it can vary. When it comes to external hemorrhoids, there are more symptoms. External hemorrhoids occur around the anus and present symptoms, including pain, bleeding, swelling, and itchiness or irritation.
As aforementioned, hemorrhoids usually go away on their own, but some can suffer from chronic hemorrhoids. Some are at more risk than others. For example, up to 50 percent of women experience hemorrhoids. Other causes of hemorrhoids include straining during bowel movements, anal intercourse, low-fiber foods, chronic diarrhea or constipation, and obesity.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that can lead to liver scarring and eventually, liver disease. This condition is also known as HCV, which is a virus that does not have a vaccine, unlike other types. HCV is spread through blood, so those who use needles for illicit drugs are the most at risk. Other ways of contracting hepatitis C include mother to child via birth, infected blood entering the bloodstream of uninfected blood, and unprotected sex.
HCV usually does not present symptoms early on, which means most have to wait several months before they appear. This causes the virus to spread fast and affects millions of Americans. HCV is curable, and some may even rid the virus from their body on their own. This is what is known as spontaneous viral clearance. Twenty-five percent of patients with HCV will go through this process.
Chron’s Disease
Chron’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the digestive system. Depending on the type of Crohn’s disease you have, you will experience different symptoms. The most common type of Chron’s disease is ileocolitis, which affects the last half of the small intestine and the colon. Common symptoms of ileocolitis include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and significant weight loss.
The other types of Chron’s disease include the following:
- ileitis
- gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease
- jejunoileitis
- Crohn’s colitis
Each type of Chron’s disease affects a different part of the body. In addition, it is possible to have two different types of Chron’s disease at the same time, and some patients do.
The cause of Chron’s disease is known, but we do know it is an autoimmune disease. This means the immune system malfunctions and attacks healthy tissues rather than bacteria or viruses.
There is no cure for Chron’s disease, so treatment is geared toward managing symptoms. Medication is effective in maintaining symptoms, but not all patients respond to treatment. For that reason, organizations are paving the way to more knowledge about the disease so we can effectively combat it.
GI Doctor 77084
When you need a GI doctor in Katy, Texas, visit Dr. James Maher’s clinic. He has more than 30 years of experience in the field of gastroenterology, which means he can help treat your condition with ease. You can reach his clinic today by calling (281) 945-5190. His team will help you schedule an appointment.
Dr. Maher is the Katy stomach doctor you need. He offers a variety of services to ensure the health of patients. Have you just turned 50? It is best to receive a colonoscopy to inspect your colon. The risk of colon cancer increases after the age of 50. So, contact Dr. Maher’s clinic if you are searching “GI Doctor 77084.”
Fun Facts about Katy
- Hundreds of geese and wild birds would migrate to Katy TX each year. There are many statues of geese around Katy.
- Katy first held its continuing annual Rice Festival in 1981.
- Katy was once known as the rice capital of the world. There is an annual rice festival every fall.
- Find more facts about Katy here.