1 Specialist in gastroenterology

A doctor who treats the stomach and intestines is called a gastroenterologist. In addition to the stomach and intestines, the gastroenterologist is engaged in the treatment of all organs of the gastrointestinal tract: liver, gall bladder, esophagus, etc.

Many diseases at the initial stage can be cured medically, without surgical intervention. However, if the disease was triggered, the operation is inevitable. It is performed by a surgeon.

To date, there are many diagnostic methods in gastroenterology, due to which to establish the correct diagnosis and its stage will not be for the specialist of labor.

Usually, the gastroenterologist starts working according to the general scheme. When complaining to the stomach, he will send you to take blood tests( general and biochemical) and will prescribe to go through fibrogastroscopy. Fibrogastroscopy will help to exclude or confirm the presence of ulcers, gastritis, erosion of the stomach and other pathologies. In the event that it is impossible to determine by your complaints which organ you are suffering from, the medic will direct you to an ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity. If more severe pathology is detected( cysts, tumors, adenomas), patients are referred to magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography.

If there is no need for surgery, the gastroenterologist treats the stomach by himself.

The intestines are also treated by a gastroenterologist. Patients are mistakenly directed to the proctologist, believing that it is he who is engaged in intestinal treatment. Gastroenterologist deals with treatment of both viral diseases of the intestine, and chronic. The exception is the Salmonella virus and other diseases that are infectious. The scheme of medical examination of the intestine is simple, it is very little different from the diagnosis of bowel diseases. As a study of the organ itself, the patient is asked to undergo a procedure of colonoscopy or irrography, which will most accurately show the state of the intestine.

2 Related diseases

Today the gastroenterologist is one of the most popular specialists. Because of the constant bustle, snacks, poor quality of foods, sedentary lifestyle and poor ecology, diseases of the digestive system are some of the most common.

Doctors-gastroenterologists treat such diseases as:

• hepatitis( A, B, C, E and D);
• glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, nephropathy, crystalluria;
• gastritis, peptic ulcer;
• Dispensiveness;
• infectious mononucleosis;
• infection, the lesion focus of which is the gastrointestinal tract;
• urolithic and cholelithiasis;
• toxoplasmosis;
• intestinal dysbiosis

Dysbacteriosis of the intestine is a violation of the natural organ microflora. Useful bacteria in the intestine not only affect the process of assimilation of nutrients, but also stimulate the immune system of the human body. At a dysbacteriosis useful bacteria of an intestine perish, that leads to development of a pathogenic microflora. The main symptoms of dysbiosis are diarrhea, constipation, flatulence. The causes of dysbacteriosis are many - allergies, antibiotics, chronic gastritis, etc.

The answer to the question, which doctor treats dysbacteriosis, is quite predictable: gastroenterologist. A highly specialized doctor deals with the intestines from and to. Even a number of infectious diseases the gastroenterologist can treat, but he has no right to be hospitalized with a similar diagnosis in the gastroenterology department. Hospitalization in this case is allowed only in the infectious department.

Usually dysbacteriosis is treated in several stages. At the first stage there is a complete cleansing of the intestine. Gastroenterologists prescribe cleansing of the intestines with the help of sorbents. It is extremely rare to prescribe laxatives and enemas, the effect of which is currently controversial. On the one hand, they help to remove the pathogenic environment from the body, on the other hand, they also destroy useful bifido- and lactobacilli.

After the intestinal cleansing, the gastroenterologist individually selects the medications. Here everything depends on the state of the intestines at the time of treatment. If the population of beneficial bacteria is not affected, the gastroenterologist will prescribe prebiotics - chemicals that are not digested during digestion. Getting into the intestines, they serve as a source of nutrition for bifido- and lactobacilli.

In cases where the strain of beneficial bacteria has been severely damaged, as happens in cases of taking antibiotics or enemas, it is necessary to replenish losses with the help of probiotics, which contain useful lacto- and bifidobacteria. Not splitting in gastric juice, they directly enter the intestine. Usually, two weeks after taking live bacteria, there is a significant improvement in the functioning of the intestine.

There are also complex drugs for the treatment of dysbiosis. The mechanism of action of such biologically active additives is concluded in the combined combination of bifido- and lactobacilli with useful enzymes.

The scheme of treatment of a dysbacteriosis is appointed individually by the doctor-gastroenterologist.

You should never engage in self-medication. When there are pains in the stomach and disruption of the bowel, be sure to sign up for an appointment with a gastroenterologist.

3 General recommendations of

doctors In addition to drug treatment, gastroenterologists often prescribe a diet. The essence of the diet in diseases of the stomach, intestines, liver and gallbladder is that it helps to avoid stress on the digestive organs, while ensuring the supply of useful vitamins and minerals. It is worth remembering that a diet prescribed by a gastroenterologist can differ significantly from the recommendations of an endocrinologist and a nutritionist.

Most of the diet is based on the exclusion from the diet of heavily digestible food products, such as: smoked products, sausages, fatty meat, mushrooms, flour products, etc. It is recommended to diversify the diet with foods enriched with dietary fiber. It should include dried fruits, fruits and vegetables, low-fat meat, coarse bread, cereals.

After the operation, the gastroenterologist will prescribe a sparing diet based on" light "foods: meat broth on the second water, chicken and rabbit meat, low fat cottage cheese, boiled vegetables and baked fruits( apples).

Quitting smoking and alcohol is a prerequisite even for the treatment of dysbiosis, not to mention serious illnesses and the postoperative period. Smooth smoke from tobacco enters the mouth, descending the mucous to the stomach, thereby irritating it. A smoker may not even feel the negative effects of tobacco smoke, while a poisonous substance adversely affects the digestion process. A large amount of alcohol in alcohol also irritates the walls of the stomach and intestines. Yeast in alcohol causes the fermentation process in the large intestine, destroying the useful microflora.

4 How do I prepare when I go to the reception?

If your ailment is associated with the stomach or intestines, you should definitely consult a gastroenterologist. Special preparation for the admission of a doctor is not necessary - he will not conduct any special examinations on the spot. It is advisable to go to a consultation on an empty stomach - in case you will be given blood surrender, fibrogastroscopy and ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs.

It is advisable to make a complete list of complaints before the consultation - it will help you to establish the diagnosis as nothing else. Pay attention to even the most minor symptoms - eructations after eating, feelings of bitterness in the mouth, frequent bowel movements, etc. In fact, even the most unimportant symptom in your opinion may indicate a certain disease.

Do not forget to provide information about your chronic illnesses and allergies to medicines. So, during the procedure of fibrogastroscopy, the patient is splashed into the larynx with a special solution that relaxes the smooth musculature of this area, as well as the esophagus and stomach, thereby facilitating the easy procedure. Special pain during it you will not feel. Be sure to bring a towel and sheet.

Unlike fibrogastroscopy, colonoscopy and irrography procedures require much longer preparation. One day before the procedure, arrange a day off. After a light breakfast, it is advisable not to eat anything. In order not to drop glucose, it is recommended to drink sweet tea during the day. It is desirable to completely clean the intestine by washing it with laxatives or enema.

Diseases of the digestive system - one of the most severe, they can lead to death. Pain in the stomach, disruption of the bowels and other symptoms require immediate medical intervention. For a timely diagnosis and follow-up care, consult a gastroenterologist. He will be able to provide medical assistance in a timely manner by conducting diagnostics and, if necessary, prescribing drug therapy.