Dr. Assoc. Prof., Phd, Doctor Nguyen Tan Cuong

Go to a gastroenterologist when you are experiencing persistent heartburn or abdominal pain, or bloating, when you cannot swallow easily, chronic diarrhea, constipation, blood in the stool or any sudden unexplained weight loss.

A gastroenterologist will commonly perform upper GI (gastrointestinal) endoscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography), liver biopsy and capsule endoscopy.

A gastroenterologist manages all organs of the digestive tract, which includes the liver. A hepatologist is a physician who has a focus on dealing with liver diseases.

In many instances, it helps to have a referral from your primary care provider to determine if you are seeing the correct specialist, in cases when a gastroenterologist would recommend any sort of specialised procedures.

You would typically be advised to stop eating for a specified amount of time before avoiding certain medications, and in the case of a colonoscopy, to follow a bowel-cleansing practice as instructed by your doctor.

Severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood, black or tarry stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), and difficulty swallowing should all be evaluated right away.

For most people over age 45, or those with a family history of colorectal cancer, colonoscopy is generally recommended every 5-10 years, depending on the findings and risk factors.