Gastrointestinal Conditions

The digestive system is complex and has a major impact on your overall health. Also called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the organs and tissues that make up this system help turn food and liquids into the nutrients and fluids your body needs.

Our doctors are specially trained beyond medical school and internal medicine residency to become gastroenterologists — doctors specializing in treating problems in the digestive system.

The GI tract

The GI tract starts at your mouth and continues through the esophagus and stomach. It also includes the liver, pancreas and gallbladder, which empty special digestive fluids through tubes called ducts into the upper part of your small intestine, or duodenum. From there, your digestive system continues through the rest of the small intestine and into the large intestine, or colon. The lowest portion of the large intestine is the rectum. The GI tract ends at your anus, where your bowel movements leave your body.

Some GI problems are things most of us face now and then in our lives, like nausea, hemorrhoids, heartburn and diarrhea.

Other problems are more severe and chronic, including:

• Barrett's esophagus
• Crohn’s disease
• Celiac disease
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Ulcerative colitis