The Gastrointestinal Motility Program offers diagnosis and treatment of motility disorders of the entire gastrointestinal tract for patients with mild to complex conditions. Gastroenterology physicians work closely with physicians of many medical specialties including radiology, pathology and surgery. Patients have access to traditional treatment techniques including new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Common symptoms of motility disorders, such as bloating, heartburn and difficulty swallowing frequently go unexplained despite routine testing and treatment. In these cases, the problem often lies in the way the intestine's muscles and nerves work together to move food down the GI tract.
In addition to routine evaluations, gastroenterologists use advanced testing when diagnosing motility disorders, including:
Making a diagnosis is essential in opening up new treatment options for patients who have grown used to suffering. Effective remedies such as dietary changes or medications to prevent motility disorders from worsening are important as well.
Heartburn is an irritation of the esophagus caused by stomach acid, and has different triggers, including certain foods, medications, pregnancy, obesity or even stress. Occasional heartburn isn't dangerous, but chronic heartburn can indicate serious problems. It can develop into GERD, or even Barrett's esophagus, the formation of precancerous tissue in the esophagus.
