Best Gastroenterology in Townsville

What does gastroenterology mean?

Gastroenterology is a branch of internal medicine that deals with diseases of the stomach, intestines, liver, biliary tract, pancreas and metabolic diseases. Gastroenterologists are specialists who, after completing their 7 years of medical specialist training, have completed additional special training in the field of digestive disorders and who have passed a final examination as gastroenterologists.

What exactly does a gastroenterologist do?

The gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in all organs of the digestive tract, i.e. the esophagus, the stomach, the small and large intestines, the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts, as well as the pancreas. It deals with the diagnosis, therapy and prevention of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

In medicine, gastroenterology refers to the study of the stomach and intestines. A gastroloenterologist deals with all diseases of the digestive tract, but is also the right contact for metabolic disorders and diseases of the pancreas or liver. The gastroenterologist can often help you with questions of nutrition, especially when it comes to intolerance to certain foods (for example lactose intolerance or intolerance to gluten, soy, etc.). He knows the causes of such intolerances and can give you advice on the right diet. What examinations does a gastroenterologist perform? Since gastroenterology deals exclusively with internal organs, many examinations and treatments are carried out endoscopically – for example gastroscopy, in which an endoscope (today mostly with a tiny camera through which the patient can follow the examination) through the esophagus and into the stomach is introduced. A gastroenterologist also performs a number of preventive measures; in other words, examinations for the early detection of diseases This also includes the colonoscopy, which can be necessary to detect various intestinal diseases or even colon cancer. Colonoscopies for the early detection of colon cancer are generally only recommended from the age of 50 onwards; in younger people, they are only performed if they have a family history.