Right in the Gut
New technologies are revolutionizing the practice of gastroenterology

How much thought do you give to your digestive tract? Do you ever really think about what’s going on in there? You probably try not to. When something goes wrong, however, it might be all you are able think about. When something is amiss in the digestive tract, it is often up to a gastroenterologist to diagnose the problem.

To help you understand more about what is really going on in your gut, Morris Taub, MD, a gastroenterologist on staff at Little Company of Mary – San Pedro Hospital describes the digestive system and its disorders, and shares his thoughts on new technologies that are revolutionizing the practice of gastroenterology.

 
“Your digestive system is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube about 30 feet in length,” Dr. Taub said. “It runs from your mouth to your anus and includes the esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines. Your liver, gallbladder and pancreas are also involved as they produce juices to help digestion. When you eat, your body breaks food down to a form it can use to build and nourish cells and provide energy. This process is called digestion.”

According to Dr. Taub, there are many types of digestive disorders, which are generally classified into two categories. Functional disorders are those in which the bowel looks normal but doesn’t work properly. They are the most common problems affecting the colon and rectum, and include constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Structural disorders are those in which the bowel looks abnormal and doesn’t work properly. Sometimes, the structural abnormality needs to be removed surgically. The most common structural disorders are: ulcerative and inflammatory disorders of the upper GI tract and intestines; diverticulitis; colo-rectal cancer; hemorrhoids. Symptoms of both functional and structural disorders vary widely depending on the problem.   Continue »

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