You may have heard that the human body actually has two brains. One is the cerebral brain and the other, as medical experts claim, is the gut brain. The “brain” in the gut refers to over a hundred million nerve cells that compose two thin layers lining the entire gastrointestinal tract. When your stomach feels queasy, this is your gut brain sounding the alarm that something is off. To have the health of your gut brain checked, you should visit a gastroscopy clinic in Singapore.
Gastrointestinal conditions and diseases abound. And these illnesses can occur anywhere in the entire stretch of the gastrointestinal tract and affect the digestive system’s function and structure. When your gut is unhealthy, certain symptoms arise. The most common signs include:
- Bloating
- Blood in the stool
- Changes in regular bowel habits
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Heartburn
Having an unhealthy gut is also linked to other signs that can be experienced in the body in various ways, such as:
- Autoimmune conditions
- Chronic fatigue
- Food intolerances
- Inflammation
- Skin irritation
- Sleep disturbances
- Unexplained weight loss
On this page
- How can a gastroscopy clinic help you?
- There are several types of endoscopic procedures, such as:
- When should you book an appointment at a gastroscopy clinic?
- Here is what you can expect during your first gastroenterology appointment:
- What are the usual conditions and diseases that a gastroenterologist can diagnose and treat?
- Diseases that affect the liver:
- Diseases that affect the biliary system and gallbladder:
- Disorders that affect the esophagus:
- If you do not have any symptoms, when is the ideal time to book an appointment at a gastroscopy clinic?
- Gastrohealth – Centre for Digestive and Liver Care
How can a gastroscopy clinic help you?
A gastroscopy clinic offers different medical services, procedures, and treatments that focus on the health of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. A gastroenterologist heads this type of clinic.
Gastroenterologists are medical doctors that specialize in gastrointestinal conditions and diseases. They can diagnose and treat the main organs composing the GI tract:
- Mouth
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Large intestine
- Anus
Aside from these organs, gastroenterologists can also manage and treat the ancillary organs of the digestive system. These accessory organs are the teeth, tongue, and salivary glands, as well as the biliary system, which includes the bile ducts, gallbladder, liver, and pancreas.
Gastroenterologists are also trained to carry out endoscopies. Endoscopic procedures are exams that use a tool, called an endoscope that is inserted into the body. An endoscope is made up of a tube that is long, thin, and flexible with a tiny video camera attached to one end.
There are several types of endoscopic procedures, such as:
- Colonoscopy – This test is done to examine the condition of the large intestine or lower GI tract
- Endoscopic ultrasound – This test uses an ultrasound wand that is attached to an endoscope in order to examine the parts of the biliary system.
- Enteroscopy – This test is done to examine the condition of the small intestine
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) – This test is done to examine the upper GI tract up until the bile ducts and takes video X-rays of the biliary system.
- Polypectomy – This is a procedure that removes abnormal growths or polyps from the stomach or intestines.
- Upper endoscopy or EGD – This test is done to examine the upper GI tract beginning from the throat until the duodenum or the upper small intestine.
When should you book an appointment at a gastroscopy clinic?
If you suspect that you are experiencing symptoms that disturb the peace of your digestive organs, it is best to book an appointment at a gastroscopy clinic in Singapore. A consultation with a licensed gastroenterologist can help you understand what is going on in your gut and provide ways to treat any abnormality that affects its structure or disrupts its ability to function properly.
Here is what you can expect during your first gastroenterology appointment:
- Your doctor will ask you about your personal and family medical history
- Your doctor will ask you about the symptoms that troubles your GI tract
- Your doctor will perform a physical exam
- Your doctor will recommend and discuss any procedures, screenings, or tests that may be needed to diagnose your symptoms
These are the usual questions that doctors ask their patients about their symptoms during the initial consultation:
- What are the symptoms that you are feeling?
- Which area of the body do these symptoms occur?
- When do the symptoms start?
- What are the factors that trigger the symptoms to happen?
- When do they get worse or better?
- How frequent do you get these symptoms?
- How long do these symptoms last?
After discussing your medical history and symptoms, your doctor may conduct a physical exam. Here is what you can expect:
- Your doctor will observe your abdominal area, checking for abnormalities such as obvious bulges or masses.
- Your doctor will use a stethoscope to listen for bowel or vascular sounds produced in each of the abdominal quadrants.
- Your doctor will feel around each abdominal quadrant for tenderness or masses. You may be asked to cough or take a deep breath to see if you feel any pain at an area where palpation is done.
- Your doctor may check your rectal area, feeling any bulge, mass or signs of inflammation.
What are the usual conditions and diseases that a gastroenterologist can diagnose and treat?
Conditions and diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract:
- Appendicitis
- Celiac disease
- Colorectal polyps
- Diverticulitis
- Food allergies and intolerances
- Hemorrhoids
- Inflammatory and irritable bowel syndrome
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
- Stomach ulcers
Diseases that affect the liver:
- Cirrhosis
- Fatty liver disease
- Hepatitis
Diseases that affect the biliary system and gallbladder:
- Cholecystitis
- Gallstones
- Pancreatitis
Disorders that affect the esophagus:
- Dysphagia
- Esophagitis
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Hiatal Hernias
If you do not have any symptoms, when is the ideal time to book an appointment at a gastroscopy clinic?
If you do not have symptoms, but have a family history of any gastrointestinal condition or disease, it is ideal that you book an appointment at a gastroscopy clinic earlier. By doing so, there is a great chance that your doctor can detect the onset of symptoms and be able to treat them at an early stage, increasing your chances of living a longer and healthy life.
In general, it is recommended that a colonoscopy procedure is included in your health screening by the time you reach 45. For adults who have average risk of developing GI diseases, a colonoscopy procedure should be done in an interval of 10 years. Your doctor may recommend more frequent screenings and other diagnostic tests for the GI tract if you have been diagnosed with a certain condition or disease.
Gastrohealth – Centre for Digestive and Liver Care
6A Napier Road, Annexe Block
#03-37 Gleneagles Hospital
Singapore 258500
https://gastrohealth.com.sg/
+655 6355 5773
+65 9776 2721
