Gastroenterologists are highly specialized doctors who provide care for conditions involving the gastrointestinal tract (GI). Gastroenterologists diagnose and treat digestive disorders including GERD, gastritis, Crohn’s Disease and more. If you have severe abdominal pain or other symptoms indicating a health problem with your gastrointestinal tract, seeing a gastroenterologist will get to the root of the problem and help find the best treatment option.

Experiencing Persistent Heartburn

If so, then you may be experiencing signs of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). This is an important condition that can increase your risk for esophageal cancer so it’s important to see a qualified GI doctor to discuss your options. If you are dealing with regular PEs and are using over-the-counter medications, surgery may be an option. A gastroenterologist can help!

Noticing Abnormal Bowel Issues

Dehydration due to diarrhea and constipation that lasts for more than a couple of days could warrant seeing a gastroenterologist. However, if you’re experiencing these side effects but haven’t visited a GI doctor yet, we should check in. Many times a primary care physician will refer you to a GI doctor if they suspect there may be something more serious going on; however, if it’s only been a few days since your symptoms started and they haven’t gone away — or if you can’t figure out what the problem is — see your primary care physician first before scheduling an appointment with another specialist.

Experience Rectal Bleeding

There are several types of hemorrhoids that can cause this kind of bleeding. Polyps are growths on the wall of the colon or rectum that change the way blood flows through it. They often cause bleeding, which may come and go on its own or be chronic. If you have constipation for weeks without any relief, you may have hemorrhoids . Hemorrhoids are swellings around your anus caused by fluid build-up in your veins. While they will usually only bleed when they get irritated (typically from straining to pass a bowel movement), some people have repeated episodes of bright red blood coming from their anus. If it persists for more than 3-5 days, get it checked out by your doctor as soon as possible.

You Turned 50 Years Old

Everyone should get a routine colonoscopy by age 45. A colonoscopy is one of the best ways to detect early signs of colorectal cancer (a gastroenterologist can even remove polyps during this standard procedure). If you have no risk factors for colorectal cancer and are under 50 years old, you don’t need to get a colonoscopy.

People may assume that the best gastroenterologist hospital in Mumbai is a specialist who specializes in digestive cancers, but this is not exactly true. A gastroenterologist might actually specialize in diseases of the entire digestive system. This includes diseases like Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis. If there is trouble with your digestion, a gastroenterologist may determine whether there is an underlying disorder behind why you are experiencing it and suggest the treatment you need.