Gastroenterology is the study of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of the body. A gastroenterologist diagnoses and treats diseases of the digestive organs, including the stomach, esophagus, intestines, pancreas, liver and gallbladder. This specialist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer in the GI tract, and jaundice. A gastroenterologist also performs complex diagnostic procedures, including the use of endoscopes to see and treat internal organs.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are Hemorrhoids, Hiatal Hernia, Digestive Disorders, heartburn, Rectal Bleeding, Ulcer, Ostomy Care, Polyps, colon cancer, Crohn's Disease, Diarrhea, Abdominal Pain, Constipation, acid reflux, Bowel Diseases, cystic fibrosis, Ulcerative Colitis, Nausea, Appendicitis, and Colitis.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including GERD Services, abdominal surgery, Appendectomy, Cholecystectomy, laparoscopy, Liver Transplantation, and Cholecystography.

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including endoscopy, Colonoscopy, Barium Enema, Liver Biopsy, Sigmoidoscopy, Barium Swallow, Abdominal Ultrasound, Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), Gallbladder Scan, Upper Gastrointestinal Series, Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography, Radiographic X-Ray, Proctoscopy, Pancreas Scan, Abdominal Angiogram, Anoscopy, Liver Scan, and Abdominal X-rays.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Georgia has 381 practicing gastroenterologists. Broken out by city, gastroenterology doctor density in Albany is 8, in Alma is 1, in Alpharetta is 5, in Americus is 1, in Athens is 4, in Atlanta is 128, in Augusta is 31, in Austell is 14, in Bainbridge is 1, in Blairsville is 2, in Blue Ridge is 2, in Bowdon is 1, in Bremen is 3, in Brunswick is 4, in Canton is 1, in Carrollton is 4, in Cartersville is 3, in Claxton is 1, in Columbus is 9, in Conyers is 7, in Covington is 6, in Cumming is 7, in Dallas is 10, in Dalton is 5, in Decatur is 24, in Douglas is 3, in Douglasville is 18, in Dublin is 6, in Duluth is 15, in East Point is 7, in Eatonton is 3, in Ellijay is 2, in Evans is 10, in Fayetteville is 10, in Forest Park is 3, in Fort Benning is 1, in Fort Gordon is 2, in Fort Oglethorpe is 4, in Gainesville is 7, in Greensboro is 5, in Griffin is 3, in Hiawassee is 1, in Hinesville is 2, in Homerville is 1, in Jasper is 3, in Jonesboro is 2, in Lagrange is 2, in Lawrenceville is 20, in Lilburn is 1, in Lithonia is 4, in Locust Grove is 1, in Macon is 12, in Madison is 1, in Marietta is 27, in Martinez is 1, in Mcdonough is 1, in Milledgeville is 3, in Monroe is 2, in Montgomery is 1, in Moultrie is 1, in Newnan is 1, in Peachtree City is 5, in Pooler is 1, in Reidsville is 1, in Richmond Hill is 2, in Riverdale is 12, in Rome is 10, in Roswell is 13, in Saint Marys is 1, in Savannah is 20, in Scottdale is 1, in Sharpsburg is 1, in Smyrna is 2, in Snellville is 16, in Springfield is 2, in Statesboro is 2, in Stockbridge is 15, in Suwanee is 3, in Swainsboro is 1, in Thomasville is 3, in Tifton is 3, in Tucker is 3, in Valdosta is 6, in Vidalia is 1, in Villa Rica is 8, in Warner Robins is 1, in Waycross is 4, in Waynesboro is 1, in West Point is 1, in Wildwood is 1, in Winder is 1, in Woodstock is 7, and in Wrens is 1.

Georgia is rich in history, from its statehood in 1788, to its tobacco plantations, to its civil rights memorials. Atlanta is its vibrant capital city, and it offers a myriad of music, arts, sports and nightlife. While in Atlanta, visit the world’s largest aquarium, the Woodruff Arts Center, or the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Ride the Old Town Trolley in Savannah, and listen to some live jazz and blues at one of Savannah’s many festivals. Georgia’s mountain parks offer hiking, biking, climbing, and other outdoor activities. On Georgia’s coastline, you can go boating, deep sea fishing or kayaking in the Atlantic. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge draws many visitors yearly.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Georgia has a population of 9,072,576. Of this population, 2,319,806 are under the age of 18 and 865,997 are at or above the age of 65.