Introduction
Gastroenterologists study the physiopathology of the gastrointestinal organs. This includes how food is moving through the stomach and intestines and how nutrients are digested and absorbed. They also look at how waste is removed from the body and the normal function of the liver.
During your consultation, our specialist bowel and cut care consultants will discuss your concern and appropriate treatment with you.
Ready to book now? Get in touch to discuss your needs and decide on the best course of treatment for you.
Ready to book now? Get in touch to discuss your needs and decide on the best course of treatment for you.
What is gut health?
Gut is another word for the gastrointestinal or digestive tract, which starts at your mouth and ends at your rectum.
Gut health refers to the overall health of your digestive tract. It is a term that’s become widely used over the last couple of decades as more research has been done into what constitutes a healthy gut, and how the wellbeing of your gut affects your health overall.
The gut is very complex, and there are various scientific opinions on what the definition of gut health should be. However, in general parlance, gut health is used to refer to the balance of microorganisms that live in your digestive tract. This is also known as your gut microbiome.
How do I know if I have an unhealthy gut?
An unhealthy or unbalanced gut can show itself in many ways. If you have concerns, you should speak to your GP who will help to diagnose you, as well as giving tailored advice.
Some symptoms that can be a sign of poor gut health include:
- An upset stomach or changes in your bowel movements
- Gas or bloating
- Tiredness and problems sleeping
- Skin problems
- Food sensitivity
These things can all cause abdominal pain, dysphagia, chronic stomach ache, stomach ulcers, heartburn/acid reflux and polyps.
Common bowel and gut conditions
Abdominal pain
People with functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders can have a variety of symptoms that range from painless diarrhoea or constipation, to pain associated with diarrhoea and/or constipation (usually called irritable bowel syndrome).
Dysphagia
Dysphagia is the medical term used to describe difficulty swallowing. Dysphagia includes difficulty starting a swallow (called oropharyngeal dysphagia) and the sensation of food being stuck in the neck or chest (called oesophageal dysphagia).
Stomach ulcers
Most of the time when a gastroenterologist is referring to an ulcer, the doctor means a peptic ulcer. The two most common types of peptic ulcer are called gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers. These names refer to the location where the ulcer is found. Gastric ulcers are located in the stomach.
Heartburn/acid reflux
Acid reflux occurs when the sphincter muscle at the lower end of your oesophagus relaxes at the wrong time, allowing stomach acid to back up into your oesophagus. This can cause heartburn and other signs and symptoms. Frequent or constant reflux can lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
polyps
Polyps are benign growths (noncancerous tumours or neoplasms) involving the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. They can occur in several locations but are most common in the colon. They vary in size from less than a quarter of an inch to several inches in diameter.
How can I keep my gut healthy?
You can focus on making healthy lifestyle changes and eating healthy whole foods to improve your gut health – and in turn the wellbeing of your whole body. Healthy, whole foods feed the good bacteria in your gut. Most people eat too little fibre which can be found in wholegrains, nuts, pulses, fruit and vegetables.
How do I know if I have an unhealthy bowel?
Changes in your bowel habits can cause unintentional weight loss, blood in your stools and chronic diarrhoea. If you experience these symptoms, you should speak to your GP as soon as possible.
Inflammatory bowl disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel disease refers to inflammation of the gut. It includes the conditions Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease. Symptoms to be aware of are diarrhoea, abdominal pain and weight loss. Whilst anyone can be affected, it usually occurs between the ages of 15 to 40.
Crohn’s ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is an inflammation of the lower part of the gastrointestinal (digestive) tract, usually beginning in the rectum (where faeces are stored) and colon (large intestine). It’s one of the two main types of inflammatory bowel disease (the other is Crohn’s disease). Ulcerative colitis tends to start in young people and can lead to diarrhoea, stomach cramping and other symptoms.
Crohn’s disease
Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes inflammation of your digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhoea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. Inflammation caused by Crohn’s disease can involve different areas of the digestive tract in different people.
Haemorrhoids (piles)
Haemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lowest part of your bottom (rectum and anus). The walls of these blood vessels can stretch so thin that the veins can bulge and get irritated, especially under pressure, when you strain. Haemorrhoids are known to be one of the most common causes of rectal bleeding.
Internal haemorrhoids are routed well inside your bottom, above the dentate line, which anatomicaly means that they aren’t felt as acutely as there are less pain sensing nerves in that area.
Diagnosing and treating bowel and gut conditions
Endoscopy
Gastrointestinal issues can cause pain and discomfort, ranging from moderate to severe. To understand your specific condition, gastroenterologists can use a range of methods to examine your digestive tract including an endoscopy, gastroscopy and colonoscopy.
An endoscopy is a procedure examining the inside of your body using an instrument called an endoscope. An endoscope is a long, thin flexible tube with a light source and video camera at the end. An endoscopy can be used as a diagnostic procedure to investigate symptoms, take tissue samples or carry out various therapeutic procedures.
Depending on what type of procedure you’re having, the endoscope can be inserted into your body through your mouth or anus. The name of the procedure you have depends on which part of your body is examined.
We offer a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy procedures including gastroscopy and colonoscopy.
