Digestive Health
A healthy digestive system is essential for the body to function properly. Gastroenterology, or GI medicine, focuses on digestive disorders and the wide variety of symptoms that can accompany them such as heartburn, acid reflux, abdominal pain, constipation and indigestion.
Mat-Su Regional Medical Center offers gastrointestinal services and endoscopic procedures, including colonoscopy, upper endoscopy (gastroscopy), endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) a procedure used to detect and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts and pancreas.
Digestive health conditions can encompass everything from food sensitivities and issues with the esophagus or other organs in the GI tract to diseases of the liver or small and large intestines.
Issues with the digestive process can affect many other aspects of our overall health. Some conditions and health issues may not be able to be fully treated but can often be managed with diet or lifestyle changes, prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
GI doctors provide treatment options for a range of digestive disorders to improve each patient's quality of life and overall health, including:
- Appendicitis and peritonitis
- Acid reflux and heartburn
- Dietary sensitivities such as celiac disease and lactose intolerance
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Barrett's esophagus
- Gastrointestinal viruses, infections and general discomfort
- H. pylori and ulcers
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), irritable bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease and diverticular disease
- Stomach, esophageal and colorectal cancer
For an appointment with a gastroenterologist at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, call 907-861-6315.