Gastrointestinal

What are gastrointestinal problems?

Gastrointestinal diseases, disorders, and growths occur in the gastrointestinal (digestive) tract, which includes your mouth, esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines.

Whenever you eat or drink something, it passes through the whole digestive tract. But functional or structural problems anywhere in this tract can cause disruptive health concerns.

Functional diseases affect how your digestive tract works. Structural diseases occur when you have an abnormality in some part of your digestive tract.

What are the most common gastrointestinal problems?

There are many gastrointestinal diseases, with some of the most common including:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Diverticulitis
• Gallstones
• Hemorrhoids
• Gastric ulcers
• Pancreatitis
• Liver diseases like hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis, and liver failure
• Colon polyps
• Colon cancer

Digestive diseases can cause symptoms ranging from irritating to debilitating.

What are the symptoms of gastrointestinal problems?

Because digestive problems can show up anywhere from your mouth to your anus, symptoms vary widely. Some of the most common signs of gastrointestinal disease are:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Dysphagia: difficulty swallowing or food sticking in your throat or esophagus
• Rectal bleeding
• Excessive gas
• Bloating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Heartburn
• Acid reflux
• Weight changes

Some of these symptoms might seem mild and need no medical care. But if you ignore persistent or recurring digestive problems, you could experience a health crisis down the road.

How are gastrointestinal problems diagnosed?

At Gastro Doxs, Dr. Pothuri uses advanced techniques and tools to diagnose your specific health problem.

He regularly performs physical exams and minimally invasive diagnostic procedures like colonoscopy and upper endoscopy (EGD) to determine what’s causing your symptoms.

How are gastrointestinal problems treated?

Treatment is specific to your gastrointestinal disease, disorder, or growth. Dr. Pothuri could prescribe medication, lifestyle changes, dietary changes, or minimally invasive procedures to address your problem and relieve your symptoms.

Some severe gastrointestinal diseases, usually structural diseases, can require surgery. Should you need surgery, Dr. Pothuri performs it using advanced minimally invasive techniques, leading to the fastest recovery and lasting symptom relief.

If you’re having digestive problems like abdominal pain, acid reflux, or bowel habit changes, seek relief right away. Gastro Doxs is ready to help. Call the office now or click the online booking link to set up your appointment.