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Conditions Treated

Gastrointestinal Conditions Treated

At Austin Gastroenterology, our board-certified gastroenterologists treat all GI and liver disorders, from the most common to the most complex. Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are those that involve the gastrointestinal tract, which consists of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum, as well as the organs that aid in digestion: the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

Within the GI tract, conditions are often referred to according to the part of the tract in which they occur: upper or lower. The upper GI tract includes the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (first part of the small intestine), while the lower GI tract includes the small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum, and anus.

Many gastrointestinal conditions may also be classified as a functional disorder, or those that occur due to abnormal functioning of the GI tract rather than a structural problem such as a tumor or mass. Finally, two very serious GI disorders – ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease – are classified as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

To understand the nature of GI disorders, it is helpful to know how the digestive system works. Learn about this process, as well as GI conditions and liver disease below.

 
How the Digestive System Works

Upper GI Tract: The upper GI tract includes the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (first part of the small intestine).

When you swallow food, the esophagus moves food from your throat to your stomach. A ring of muscles called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is located at the bottom of the esophagus. The LES closes tightly after food enters the stomach, which prevents the contents of the stomach and acids from backing up into the esophagus.

The stomach secretes mucus to protect the lining of the stomach from the acids it produces to break down food for digestion. Your stomach processes the food you eat into a liquid form. The processed liquid then travels from your stomach to your small intestine, a tube that is about 20 feet long and 1 ½ to 2 inches in diameter.

The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine. It is a short C-shaped structure that extends off of the stomach. Your gallbladder works with your liver and pancreas to send bile and digestive enzymes to the first part of your small intestine, which breaks down the liquid from your stomach even further so your body can absorb the nutrients from the food that you ate.

Lower GI Tract: The lower GI tract includes the jejunum and the ileum (the middle and latter sections of the small intestine), the large intestine (colon), rectum, and anus.

After digested food is further broken down in the duodenum, it moves into the jejunum, where most of its nutrients are absorbed. Vitamin B12 is absorbed in the ileum. The remaining waste products from the small intestine travel to the large intestine. Also called the bowel or colon, the large intestine is a tube that is about 5 feet long and 3 or 4 inches in diameter. The parts of the colon include the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum, anal canal, and anus. 

The first part of the colon absorbs water and nutrients from the waste products that come from the small intestine. As the product becomes more solid it forms a stool. The large intestine moves the stool into the sigmoid colon, where it may be stored before being traveling to the rectum. 

The rectum is the final 6-inch section of your digestive tract. Here the stool moves through the anal canal and passes out of your body through your anus when you have a bowel movement.

Upper GI Disorders

Symptoms that may occur in upper GI disorders include:

  • Heartburn
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Problems in the passage of food
Lower GI Disorders

Symptoms that may occur in lower GI disorders include:

  • Abdominal pain or discomfort
  • Bloating
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Accidental stool leakage or incontinence
  • Problems in the passage of food or stool
Functional GI Disorders

Symptoms that may occur in functional GI disorders include:

  • Abdominal pain or discomfort
  • Bloating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Functional gastrointestinal disorders are those that occur due to abnormal functioning of the GI tract rather than a structural problem such as a tumor or mass. They are characterized by persistent and recurring GI symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, or nausea.

Functional GI disorders affect approximately 25 million Americans, most of which do not see a doctor for their symptoms. Instead, they may take over-the-counter medications and miss more days of work or school than their peers.

Functional GI conditions are characterized by one or more of the following:

  • A problem with the muscular contractions of the intestines (motility)
  • Overly sensitive nerves within the intestines (sensation)
  • Impaired communication between the brain and GI system (brain-gut dysfunction)

Because these disorders cannot be attributed to an underlying cause within the GI tract, they can be difficult to diagnose (which is often done subjectively based on symptoms and their duration) and frustrating for patients desperate for a solution.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is the general name for diseases that cause inflammation in the small intestine and colon. There are two main types of IBD: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Both are considered an autoimmune disorder, in which the body’s immune system overreacts to normal bacteria in the intestine and attacks the cells of the GI tract, causing chronic inflammation and pain.

Ulcerative colitis occurs only within the lining of the colon and rectum, causing ulcers to develop, whereas Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the GI tract and causes inflammation deeper within the intestinal wall.

Symptoms of IBD may include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Bloating
  • Constipation
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Anemia
  • Weight loss
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fever
  • Skin rashes
  • Joint pain and arthritis
  • Growth failure (specifically in children)
Liver Disease

The liver is the largest internal organ and it is responsible for a number of metabolic, functional, and detoxification processes, including the production of bile. Bile is then stored in your gallbladder. After you eat, bile travels to the duodenum where it helps break down food for digestion.

Another important function of your liver is to metabolize any toxins, alcohol, nutrients, and medications it receives from your digestive tract. The liver also kills germs that enter your body through your intestines.

Hepatitis, fatty liver disease (NASH/NAFLD), and cirrhosis are the most common conditions that affect the liver. There are several types of hepatitis, which causes liver inflammation and is usually the result of a viral infection. Fatty liver disease is a condition in which fat builds up in your liver. Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver becomes scarred and malfunctions over time due to repeated injury.

Symptoms of liver diseases include:

  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Yellow discoloration of the skin (jaundice)

If you have a GI or liver disorder, call Austin Gastro today. Our gastroenterologists and GI providers see patients from 16 offices throughout the greater Austin area. To schedule an appointment, call the number associated with the office you’d like to visit or you can use our online appointment request form.

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