Gastroenterology: Looking Into The Digestive Tract

 By: Dhyan Patel

Gastroenterology

Note: This article is part of a student-run educational series on medical specialties, based on research and/or shadowing (in person or virtual), in order to educate other students who are interested in healthcare careers and may lack the ability to shadow specialists in their areas.

Background

Everyone knows the discomfort that we feel after eating too much, but very few people take the time to realize why we feel this way. Most people don’t realize how truly complex and vital the digestive system truly is. After each meal that we eat, our bodies perform a series of chemical and physical processes in order to absorb nutrients and keep ourselves alive. The doctors who study this, as well as diagnose and treat disorders of this digestive system are known as gastroenterologists. 


Gastroenterology is a type of medical specialty which focuses on the digestive tract. This includes the stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. Although these organs might seem separated, they work together in order to break down food, fight infections, and process nutrients for the body. Whenever something goes wrong in this system, it can severely affect a person’s health. Gastroenterologists step in to help deal with this problem.

So, what do they do?

Gastroenterologists diagnose and treat conditions that involve the organs from the digestive tract. Their work involves everything from the typical routine screenings to complex disease management procedures.


One of their most common procedures is known as colonoscopy. This is used to detect colon cancer early and removes potentially dangerous polyps before they become life threatening. They can also perform endoscopies. This is where a flexible camera is inserted through the mouth in order to examine the esophagus and stomach for ulcers, bleeding, or even inflammation. 


Gastroenterologists don’t only just look inside the body, but they also manage chronic conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, and hepatitis. They also interpret lab tests, imaging results, and biopsies in order to understand what is causing a patient's symptoms in order to develop a treatment plan.


Their typical days can vary widely. In the morning, they may see a patient in the clinic to discuss digestive symptoms, and later they might spend several hours performing procedures in an endoscopy suite looking for ulcers. 


Gastroenterologists typically collaborate with nutritionists, surgeons, and pathologists to ensure patients receive the best care. 

Additional Information

The digestive tract doesn’t only just break down food, but it also plays a crucial role in immunity and metabolism. Research has revealed that the gut microbiome, a community of trillions of bacteria that live in the intestines, affects not only digestion, but also mental health, immune system functions, and even mood regulation. This reveals the deep connection between the gut and other parts of the digestive system to other parts of the body.

Required education and training

Similarly to other medical roles, gastroenterologists must earn a bachelor's degree typically through a science related field. After that they must go through four years of medical school. After that they must enter a three-year residency in internal medicine. After that, they pursue a two-to-three-year fellowship in gastroenterology. This is where they gain specialized experience in diagnosing and treating digestive disorders, as well as performing procedures like colonoscopies and endoscopies. Some gastroenterologists may even go on to subspecialize in areas such as hepatology (liver disease), advanced endoscopy, or pediatric endoscopy.

Importance

Digestive diseases are quite common and affect millions of people around the world. This can include minor discomforts such as acid reflux to serious conditions such as cancer. By having gastroenterologists, they can significantly improve the quality of life for patients by diagnosing and treating the patients, as well as playing a key role in the overall prevention. 

References

Cleveland Clinic. (2023, August 22). What is a Gastroenterologist? When to See One & What They Treat. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24198-gastroenterologist

Cristol, H. (2017, April 11). What Does a Gastroenterologist Do? WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/ibs/what-gastroenterologists-do

Friedberg, S. R., & Lachter, J. (2017). Endoscopic ultrasound: Current roles and future directions. World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 9(10), 499–505. https://doi.org/10.4253/wjge.v9.i10.499

Gastroscholar. (2023, September 20). What Tools do Gastroenterologists Use? - GastroScholar. GastroScholar. https://gastroscholar.com/what-tools-do-gastroenterologist-use/

ILS Hospitals. (2020, October 13). Blog - ILS-Hospital. ILS-Hospitals - ILS Hospitals Is the Multispecialty Hospital in Kolkata Which Is Providing Proper Treatment with All Healthcare Services at an Affordable Price. https://ilshospitals.com/blog/gastroenterology/

Med Residency. (2024). Gastroenterology Residency & Fellowship Programs - Page 2 - MedResidency. MedResidency. https://medresidency.com/gastroenterology/page/2

Medschoolcoach. (2021, April 7). Gastroenterology with Dr. Iman Andalib - Virtual Pre-Med Education by MedSchoolCoach. Virtual Pre-Med Education by MedSchoolCoach. https://shadowing.medschoolcoach.com/lessons/gastroenterology-with-dr-iman-andalib/

Popular posts from this blog

Anesthesiology: The Heroes Who Keep Patients Alive

Image
By: Dhyan Patel Anesthesiology Note : This article is part of a student-run educational series on medical specialties, based on research and/or shadowing (in person or virtual), in order to educate other students who are interested in healthcare careers and may lack the ability to shadow specialists in their areas. Background When most people think about surgery, they usually think about surgeons standing over their bodies and performing various procedures in order to save someone. Now although that is true, there’s a hidden figure behind every successful surgery that most people tend to overlook: the anesthesiologist. Anesthesiologists are responsible for managing pain levels, monitoring patients' vital signs, and making sure that their patients not only remain safe, but also stable throughout their surgery. Without these professionals, mortality rates would increase and the surgical process that we have today wouldn’t exist at all. So, what do they do? Anesthesiologists are docto...
Read more

Neurosurgery: The Surgeons of The Most Complex Systems In The Body

Image
  By: Dhyan Patel Neurosurgery Note : This article is part of a student-run educational series on medical specialties, based on research and/or shadowing (in person or virtual), in order to educate other students who are interested in healthcare careers and may lack the ability to shadow specialists in their areas. Background One of the most demanding and precision requiring medical specialties is neurosurgery. Neurosurgeons are doctors who operate on the brain, spinal cord, and the nervous system. They perform some of the most complex and precise procedures in all of the medical field. Whether they are removing brain tumors, repairing spinal injuries, or stopping seizures, neurosurgeons are one of the most important types of doctors. As neurosurgery isn’t just simply cutting and stitching within the body, it is about navigating and working with the body's most important and delicate system: the nervous system. The system controls an individual's every thought, movement, and he...
Read more

Urology: Treating The Overlooked System of the Body

Image
  By: Dhyan Patel Urology Note : This article is part of a student-run educational series on medical specialties, based on research and/or shadowing (in person or virtual), in order to educate other students who are interested in healthcare careers and may lack the ability to shadow specialists in their areas. Background Every time we drink a glass of water or some other liquid, our bodies rely on a complex system of organs in order to filter out waste, produce urine, and maintain our internal balance. However, when this system fails, it requires a special type of doctor in order to restore it. That doctor is a urologist. Urology is the branch of medicine that focuses on the urinary tract in both men and women, and the male reproductive system. It is a specialty that combines surgery and internal medicine. This allows urologists to treat a wide range of conditions from kidney stones and bladder infections to prostate cancer. So, what do they do? Urologists are physicians who are tr...
Read more