Many of us have suffered from a digestive issue at least once in our life. While gas or indigestion after a heavy meal is common, there are some less common symptoms concerning the digestive system that shouldn’t be ignored. Consulting with a gastroenterologist will help in identifying the issue and getting the proper treatment before your health condition worsens. So in this blog, we will learn more about gastrology and seven obvious signs that tell you to see a gastroenterologist in Dubai.
Understanding Gastroenterology
Although the term is a mouthful, gastroenterology is nothing but a subspecialty covering issues related to the entire digestive process. The field of gastroenterology primarily concerns the digestive tract starting from the esophagus or food pipe, stomach, small and large intestine, and rectum. A gastroenterologist also deals with problems involving the liver, gall-bladder, pancreas, and common bile duct as they all play a part in the digestive process.
A digestive tract issue can cause various signs and symptoms that people tend to overlook. While the symptoms themselves seem manageable, the underlying cause could be a serious issue. This is why we recommend paying a visit to our gastroenterology hospital in Dubai if you have one or more of the symptoms described below-
- Difficulty in swallowing
Although not common, we see many patients with digestive tract conditions complain of difficulty in swallowing. The patient feels like something is stuck in their throat or chest that makes swallowing very difficult or painful.
This could be due to problems like reflux esophagitis, structure (narrowing of the esophagus), or the presence of tumors in the esophagus. An endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract will reveal the exact issue, after which our gastroenterologist will recommend a possible treatment plan.
- Digestion issues and acidity
Indigestion and acidity are symptoms of an underlying digestive issue rather than conditions of their own. Patients with long-lasting symptoms of acidity or indigestion issues shouldn’t always depend on over-the-counter medication for relief. Indigestion and acidity accompanied by weight loss, persistent vomiting or bleeding problems may indicate ulcer, tumor, or dilated veins in the stomach region, which needs immediate medical attention. Our advice is to consult with our gastroenterologist to identify the cause and start with treatments.
- Heartburn
Heartburn is an intense burning sensation in your chest just behind the breastbone. The pain worsens right after meals, in the evening, or when lying or bending over. Although occasional heartburn is common and is no cause for alarm, it could be an indication of Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD if it lasts for weeks. By screening your gastrointestinal tract, our specialist can confirm the diagnosis and recommend medications to block acid production in the stomach and heal the esophagus lining.
- Chronic diarrhea
Sometimes, you may consume contaminated food and drinks containing agents like viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which leads to food poisoning. In such cases, vomiting and diarrhea are your body’s natural mechanisms to expel foreign bodies and fight infection.
However, diarrhea that lasts more than a month can result in weight loss, malnutrition, and reduced quality of life. More often than not, chronic diarrhea could be due to food allergy, gluten sensitivity, inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis or intestinal Tuberculosis.
With the help of an endoscopic evaluation, our specialists can make a sound diagnosis and provide a systemic treatment for your condition.
- Constipation
Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions and comes with a number of symptoms of its own, like abdominal pain or incomplete and painful evacuation. However, long-term constipation could be due to diseases like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), colonic tumors or polyps, inflamed rectum, and rectal ulcer. Therefore, identifying the reason for your constipation is a must.
With the help of laboratory investigation and colonoscopy, our gastroenterologists can identify the reason for your constipation and treat it accordingly.
- Blood in stool
An injury of your gastrointestinal tract, ulcer in the internal lining of the small or large intestine, tumor, or polyp may cause the appearance of blood in the stool. Although it may be alarming, small amounts of blood can be managed on an outpatient basis. However large amounts of blood in your stool requires immediate medical attention. Either way, blood in stools is a condition that has to be diagnosed at the earliest to avoid unwanted complications. If you see blood in your stools, consult with our gastroenterologist at the earliest.
- Bloating
Have you ever experienced a sudden change in the fit of your clothes? More often than not, this could be due to bloating. Bloating is described as a feeling of fullness, tight or swollen abdomen that is hard and painful. While pain due to bloating is usually not very intense, the reason for it must be diagnosed and treated. Bloating is a common symptom of food allergies, reflux, or stones in the gallbladder. So it is important to get it checked by a specialist to identify the exact cause and rule out potentially dangerous medical conditions.
Diagnosis and treatment
Our board-certified gastroenterologists consider numerous factors before diagnosing a possible digestive issue. As there are many symptoms that overlap with other conditions, identifying a gastric issue requires clinical examination, blood tests, imaging, and even an endoscopy (a procedure in which an instrument called an endoscope is inserted into the patient’s body to get a view of his/her digestive tract). If you have a family history of gastric issues, that is also taken into consideration before making a final call regarding the treatment plan. In short, our specialists do not leave any stone unturned when it comes to making a meticulous diagnosis.
Treatment and management of gastric issues require complete commitment from the patient as well. Often the patient will be asked to make lifestyle changes to achieve favorable results. Depending upon the seriousness of the condition, our gastroenterologists may recommend diet restrictions, exercises, medication, or surgical intervention.
Final words
At our hospital, we have a few of the best gastroenterologists in Dubai working with us. With in-depth knowledge about the entire digestive system and the numerous conditions affecting it, you are in safe hands when it comes to diagnosing your condition and getting the right treatment in time. Book your appointment today.