Digestive Care

Your gastrointestinal tract is a relatively large part of your body and is in charge of one of the most important systems for your health and wellness- your digestive system, which processes the food and drinks you consume.

That means the organs that make up your digestive tract are responsible for absorbing the nutrients from the foods and liquids you eat and drink and then expelling the waste. This process, among other things, is what gives you the energy you need to live your life.

However, because of how large your digestive system is and how many organs are involved, many symptoms and conditions can impact it.

Gastroenterology

The organs your gastroenterologist is concerned with include the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver.

However, unlike other specialties that may focus on the state and function of an organ, your gastroenterologist must also understand the movement of material, like food and fluids, and how it is then removed from your system as waste.

Some common symptoms that may indicate a gastrointestinal condition include:

Indigestion or heartburn
Blood in your stool
Abnormal abdominal or gas pain
Fatigue
Inexplicable weight loss or weight gain
Constipation or diarrhea
Unusual bloating and/or gas

These symptoms will often signify minor or even major conditions for which you'll need gastrointestinal treatment, which could range from dietary planning to surgery. To determine the cause of your symptoms, EvergreenHealth gastroenterologists have a number of techniques and tests to provide you with an accurate diagnosis, including:

Colon Cancer Screening: There are a number of tests EvergreenHealth gastroenterologists can utilize to screen for colon cancer, like stool tests to look for small trace amounts of blood in your stool.

Abnormal Liver Tests: These tests look at your blood to measure certain enzyme and protein levels. These levels help tell your gastroenterologist how well your liver is functioning and monitor liver disease and damage.

Advanced Endoscopy

An endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure that your EvergreenHealth gastroenterologist uses to examine the inside of your body.

During the procedure, your gastroenterologist uses an endoscope, a long flexible tube equipped with a small camera, and inserts it through your throat, normally looking at the upper lining of the gastrointestinal tract.

Endoscopy can be helpful in the evaluation or diagnosis of various problems, including:

Gastrointestinal bleeding
Ulcers
Tumors
Symptoms involving the gallbladder, pancreas and bile ducts

Additionally, an endoscopy helps to treat a variety of conditions including the management of liver disease, removal of cancers and superficial tumors, stent placement and drainage of your gall bladder.