As someone who is age 50 or older, one question that you should find the answer to is this: “Are there any good gi doctors near me?” Although many individuals are not familiar with this branch of medicine, having an ongoing relationship with this type of professional is important to your health.
Why, you might ask, is it so crucial to find gi doctors near me? The answer can be summed up in three words: colorectal cancer screening. A gastroenterologist, also known as a GI doctor, is adept at procedures that can find precancerous growths called polyps in the colon or rectum. Before they do any lasting damage to your health, these growths can be removed. Since colorectal cancer is usually asymptomatic in its early stages, screening is the only way to detect and stop it.
For most patients, getting a colonoscopy is the most effective way to screen for and prevent colorectal cancer. This test involves first cleaning out your digestive tract on the previous day. Before the test begins, you receive medication that relaxes you and often causes you to forget the procedure altogether. The doctor then inserts a flexible colonoscope tube into your rectum. It is equipped with a video camera that projects images of your colon onto a screen. If any polyps are detected, the doctor removes them then and there.
As we age, we tend to require more medical attention. However, by following your GI doctor’s orders and receiving regular colorectal screenings, you can drastically reduce your chances of experiencing this type of cancer, which is the third most frequently diagnosed form in the United States. Attention to this aspect of your health via these tests can enhance both the quality and duration of your life.