Last Updated on January 21, 2023 by Faiza Murtaza
Medical terminologies are not only difficult to pronounce, but sometimes they are confusing to understand as well. There are different sub-specialities in one branch of medicine. Thus, it gets challenging to figure out which category is about what. Gastrologist and Gastroenterologist are two such terms that often confuse people. This difficulty often comes when you want to consult a doctor online but get confused when you see the specializations in the bio.
In this article, we will differentiate between these terms and discuss when you should consult them.
Gastrologist
A gastrologist is a person that specializes in the stomach and the illnesses related to it. It is not a widely used term in many parts of the world. But wherever it gets used, it implies a specialist who diagnoses and treats the stomach ailments. These include the issues like abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, and likewise. So if you experience discomfort in your stomach, you can consider getting an online appointment with a gastrologist. This term was widely used back in the 90s and was soon gastroenterologists took over the place.
Even though gastrologist and gastroenterologists are two different specialities, gastrology lost its popularity. It is because all the ailments that they treat come under the work scope of a gastroenterologist. Let us understand in detail about gastroenterologists.
Gastroenterologist
A specialist doctor helps treat issues related to the gastrointestinal tract, popularly known as the digestive tract. It has multiple organs related to it like salivary glands, pancreas, liver, and gall bladder. These organs have different roles, from swallowing the food to breaking it down, digesting, and removing the waste. Any issue in the functioning of any of the organs can lead to discomfort and stomach-related diseases.
Common diseases that a gastroenterologist treats
If you experience any of the issues listed below, you should immediately switch to an app to consult a doctor online. Ensure that you have a list of queries beforehand and make the best use of the time allocated for the consultation session.
GERD
GERD stands for Gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is a form of heartburn inside the stomach. It causes the content in the stomach to move up to the oesophagus. It causes many discomforts, and you would need some medicine recommended by the doctor for efficient treatment.
Ulcers
These are painful sores that usually develop along the lining of the oesophagus, stomach, and intestines. If not treated on time, ulcers can damage the inner membrane of the stomach, leading to complications.
Acid Reflux
It happens due to indigestion or pyrosis. Even though everyone tends to try home remedies for acid reflux, medical assistance is mandatory if it does not get better with the regular treatments. A gastroenterologist can help you with oral medications to control heartburns and get rid of acid reflux.
Hepatitis C
It is a viral infection of the liver. Hepatitis C occurs when a person comes in contact with the blood of an infected person. If you do not see a doctor on time, it can be life-threatening, as it can turn into liver cancer. Therefore, treatment from a specialist is mandatory to save the life of the infected person.
Crohn’s Disease
It is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes uncontrollable abdomen pain, diarrhoea, weight loss, and other health complications. It can affect any part of the GI tract and need immediate medical attention.
There are plenty of other diseases that one can experience, including jaundice, general bloating, diarrhoea, and likewise. For all these stomach-related issues, one can take an online appointment with a gastroenterologist. First, it is vital to consult a doctor online as there are many specialists listed on the online apps; secondly, you can take medical assistance from the comfort of your home. Now that you are well aware of both the terms and their roles, it becomes easy to choose.
As you open an online app for choosing a doctor, it is a rare case scenario that you would see the term gastrologist over there. You are more likely to see the term gastroenterologist written in the specialization section of the doctor’s bio. Seeing that term, you can infer that the doctor deals with all kinds of diseases related to your stomach or the liver. You can easily book the slot and carry on with the consultation online.
Apart from this, if you are interested to know about the Hepatitis B virus then visit our Health category.
