A gastrointestinal issue can affect the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, and colon. All of these body parts and organs play a part in the digestive process. A gastroenterologist commonly referred to as a GI specialist is a physician you see when you have symptoms that point to a problem in the gastrointestinal tract. Some symptoms include a burning sensation in the chest, abdominal pain, and too frequent (or the absence of) bowel movements.
If you are wondering why you should see a GI specialist, here are some of the benefits:
Get A Comprehensive Evaluation
When it comes to GI health, it can be difficult to determine which specific issue may be causing your symptoms. As such, GI specialists perform comprehensive evaluations to get to the root cause of the problem. They use a variety of diagnostic and imaging tests to help determine the diagnosis. Examples of diagnostic tests used include endoscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and a computed tomography scan (CT scan). By the end of it, you will walk out with an accurate diagnosis based on test results, not simple guesses based on your symptoms.
Get Relief Quickly
By seeing a GI specialist, you will learn what is causing your symptoms quickly. With GI disorders and diseases, it’s always better to catch them early. In most cases, they can be treated without lasting or dangerous results. However, in some cases, GI conditions can get progressively worse or dangerous if left undiagnosed or untreated. Without seeing a specialist, you may live with a GI condition and uncomfortable symptoms for quite some time. Fortunately, you should see an improvement in your symptoms pretty quickly after getting a diagnosis and beginning a treatment plan.
Get Preventive Screenings
Another reason to see a GI specialist is to get preventive care. Many GI disorders develop gradually, and for the most part, a vast amount of conditions and illnesses affecting the GI tract are not life-threatening. However, there are some dangerous conditions that you should be aware of. Unfortunately, some of these conditions cause little to no symptoms in the beginning. A GI specialist will be able to pick up on the slightest of issues fairly quickly – even the ones you are completely unaware of. This is why it’s recommended that you see a GI specialist for preventive care for serious illnesses on a regular basis. An example is getting colorectal cancer screenings, which check for the formation of precancerous or cancerous growth in the colon.
GI Specialists in Westlake and Brooklyn, OH
The board-certified gastroenterologists at North Shore Gastroenterology are happy to diagnose your symptoms and begin treatment for your GI issue. Our highly-skilled and experienced specialists are able to administer nonsurgical and surgical treatments for any GI issue you may have. Our compassionate physicians will also work closely with your primary care physician to ensure you receive the best care possible for your GI issue.
To request an appointment with our GI specialists, call North Shore Gastroenterology at (440) 808-1212 or submit a request now. We look forward to serving you in our cutting-edge facilities in Brooklyn and Westlake.