After taking a bite of food, you may not think about its journey through your body. From beginning to end, your digestive system is working hard to keep you healthy.

“Your digestive system plays an essential role in your well-being, helping your body to absorb nutrients, provide energy and fuel for your favorite activities,” explained Wellstar Gastroenterologist Dr. Arif Aziz.

That’s why it’s so important to do your part to protect your gut health.

Wellstar helps your digestive system stay on track, so you can feel your best and keep doing the things you enjoy most.

Care from top to bottom

Your digestive system is made of an entire team of organs: the esophagus, stomach, intestines (small and large), pancreas, liver, gallbladder, rectum and anus.

“With so many parts working together, your digestive system requires expert care to stay well,” said Wellstar Gastroenterologist Dr. Inder Tandon. “Regular check-ups with your Wellstar provider can help identify potential digestive issues early.”

At a routine exam, your provider can screen serious diseases like colorectal cancer and help identify chronic and common digestive conditions.

“If specialized care is needed, your primary care physician can refer you to our expert team of gastroenterologists right away,” Dr. Tandon shared.

Find a Wellstar provider near you and schedule a check-up today.

Catch colorectal cancer early

Most colorectal cancer starts as a growth, or polyp, in the colon or rectum. Because polyps develop slowly over time, you may experience few warning signs and not know you have a medical issue for months, or even years.

That’s why it’s so important to get a colonoscopy — it could save your life. When caught early, colorectal cancer has a 91 percent survival rate.

People with average risk should have a colonoscopy starting at age 45. Those at high risk or with a family history of colon cancer may start screenings even sooner.

Learn more about colorectal cancer screening.

Wellstar East Cobb Health Park now has a new, non-invasive way to get an inside look at your liver health, quickly and painlessly. 

An exam with FibroScan, the first FDA-cleared device for diagnosis and monitoring of liver disease, only takes a few minutes, is painless for the patient and produces immediate results for evaluation by a physician.

Results can be used to rule out the need for an expensive, more painful liver biopsy or other invasive procedure. 

“When it comes to your liver health, it’s best to be proactive and take action to stay healthy before issues develop,” said Dr. Arif Aziz, chief of Wellstar’s digestive health service line. “This cutting-edge device allows us to monitor your liver without a painful or time-consuming procedure, and since it’s conveniently located at Wellstar East Cobb Health Park, our patients don’t have to travel to take advantage of this new technology.”

The exam only takes about five to 10 minutes. You will lie comfortably on an exam table and raise your right arm above your head. Then, the operator will apply a water-based gel to your skin and place the probe on your ribcage. They will take 10 quick, pain-free measurements. The technology not only saves you pain, it speeds up the diagnostic process as well — results are available immediately for your physician to review.

This new technology can be especially useful for diabetic patients. Fatty liver disease makes it more difficult to control diabetes and can worsen outcomes. 

Fatty liver disease can lead to cirrhosis of liver and associated complications. It is one of the leading reasons for liver transplant in the United States.

To learn more about your liver health and schedule a FibroScan exam, make an appointment with a Wellstar gastroenterologist.