When symptoms of GI distress don’t pass, at Ascension Saint Thomas Medical Partners Rutherford Gastroenterology we’re here to help. From bloating and heartburn to inflammatory bowel symptoms, we deliver personalized care for conditions that affect the entire digestive tract from your throat to the colon and everything in between. With diagnostic lab and imaging tests and colonoscopy, endoscopic and pill camera procedures, doctors specializing in gastroenterology diagnose and treat many gut disorders. Gastroenterology doctors and care teams listen to understand you and your health concerns. Then we work with you to create a care plan that’s right for you.
Gastroenterology and digestive health care
Digestive health conditions affect your physical and emotional health. GI distress often disrupts how, what and when you eat. Your gastroenterology doctor provides treatment options and advanced care for a range of digestive health conditions, including:
- Barrett’s esophagus
- Colon cancer screening of polyps
- Crohn’s disease
- Gallbladder disease
- GI cancers (including colon, pancreas and stomach)
- Gluten and food allergies
- Hepatitis C
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Leaky gut
- Reflux (GERD)
- Stomach ulcers
Colonoscopies can help detect cancer
Getting regular colon screenings, such as a colonoscopy, may help find polyps and cancer early, when they are most treatable. When polyps and cancer are found early, there may be more options for treatment too. We recommend men and women get their first colonoscopy at age 45. You may need to get a colonoscopy earlier if you have a personal or family history of polyps or colon cancer, or if you have symptoms such as:
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Change in bowel habits
- Rectal bleeding
- Unexplained weight loss
