Nutritional Problems - Who To Turn To?

Food problems can be very diverse. Some diseases can lead to disorders of nutrition and the process of assimilation of food. Or, on the contrary, improper nutrition, consumption of low-quality or contaminated products can cause certain diseases .

When such problems arise, do not self-medicate, but consult a specialist. It is difficult to single out one doctor who would completely cure all diseases related to nutrition, since the causes can be of a very different nature. Why not, let's highlight the main specialties of doctors that should be consulted in case of problems with nutrition and digestion.

Among the doctors dealing directly with problems of the digestive organs and their functioning, the following specialties can be distinguished: a gastroenterologist and a hepatologist.

Gastroenterologist

A doctor who specializes in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of various diseases of the digestive tract .

As a rule, the doctor 's competence includes the treatment of all inflammatory diseases of the intestines and stomach .

What diseases does a gastroenterologist deal with

• Reactive pancreatitis.
• Dysbacteriosis.
• Hepatitis A, B, C, E, D.
• Toxoplasmosis.
• Infectious mononucleosis.
• Glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, crystalluria, dysmetabolic exchange nephropathy.
• Gastritis, peptic ulcer disease.
• Acute abdomen (appendicitis, peritonitis, acute pancreatitis, puncture ulcer, etc.).
• Pains of a gynecological nature (adnexitis, etc.).
• Centers of chronic infection in the digestive tract .
• Gallstone and urolithiasis diseases.

What organs does a gastroenterologist deal with?

Esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, duodenum, liver, pancreas, urinary bladder, urinary tract.

In which cases should you consult a gastroenterologist?

• Frequent stomach pains.
• Pain interferes with daily activities and activities.
• Loss of appetite and weight loss.
• Abdominal pain is accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
• There are changes in the usual work of the intestines.
• Stomach pain often prevents sleep.
• You have previously suffered from diseases of the digestive tract : ulcer, inflammatory bowel disease , gallstone disease, surgical interventions.
• If you consume any medications that have side effects on the digestive tract (aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

Hepatologist

A doctor dealing with liver diseases . He diagnoses hepatitis, cirrhosis and other diseases . Their treatment is usually long-term and requires the patient to strictly follow the diet and all the doctor 's recommendations .

The competence of a hepatologist includes diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the liver and biliary tract.

What diseases does a hepatologist deal with

• Acute chronic hepatitis.
• Alcoholic liver disease.
• Cirrhosis.
• Toxoplasmosis.
• Legionnaires' disease.
• Hepatitis caused by gram-negative bacteria.
• Bacterial hepatitis caused by gram-positive cocci.
• Cytomegalic hepatitis.
• Herpetic hepatitis.
• Enterovirus hepatitis.
• Infectious mononucleosis.
• Yellow fever.
• Leptospirosis.
• Autoimmune hepatitis.
• Nonspecific reactive hepatitis.
• Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
• Asthenovegetative syndrome.
• Hepatitis C.

What organs does a hepatologist deal with?

Liver.

In which cases should you consult a hepatologist?

Symptoms of liver cirrhosis

• Bleeding gums.
• An increase in the volume of the abdomen.
• Abdominal pains.
• Change in human behavior (decreased concentration of attention, rapid fatigue, drowsiness).
• Decreased sex drive.
• Enlargement of mammary glands in men.
• Yellow skin color.
• Change in the color of stools.

The course of the disease takes place in several stages. Depending on the stages, symptoms appear. At the initial stage, they are practically invisible. However, symptoms can be observed. The sooner treatment is started, the greater the chances of liver recovery.

Symptoms of hepatitis C

• Weakness.
• Abdominal pain.
• Bad appetite.
• Weight loss.
• Itch.
• Manifestations on the skin.

Most people have no symptoms. The development of hepatitis and the transition from acute to chronic are hidden for many years (up to 25), when a person may not even be aware of the disease .

Very often, the cause of problems with nutrition , digestion and assimilation of food are malfunctions in the work of the endocrine system. In such a case. You should consult an endocrinologist .

A doctor dealing with diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases of the endocrine system.

The doctor 's competence includes problems related to the endocrine system.

What diseases does an endocrinologist treat?

• Diabetes.
• Diseases of the thyroid gland: toxicosis syndrome (diffuse toxic goiter), hapotyrosis syndrome.
• Adiposity.
• Hypothalamic-pituitary diseases : hyperprolactinemia syndrome, diabetes insipidus.
• Syndromes caused by calcium metabolism disorders: hypercalcemia and hapocalcemia syndromes.

What organs does an endocrinologist deal with?

Thyroid gland, hypothalamus, pineal body, pancreas, pituitary gland, adrenal glands.

In which cases should you consult an endocrinologist?

Diabetes

• Dry mouth.
• Polyuria, in particular, at night.
• Weight loss of various degrees.
• Polyphagia (increased paetitis).
• Drowsiness.
• General weakness.
• A sharp decrease in working capacity.
• Decreased libido and potency.
• Propensity to infections (furunculosis, periodontal disease) and fungal diseases.

The disease of the thyroid gland

Thyrotoxicosis syndrome

• General weakness.
• Fast fatigue.
• Irritability.
• Sweating
• Hyperactivity.
• Tremor.
• Poor heat tolerance.
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Increased appetite.
• Decrease in body weight.
• Violation of sexual function and menstrual cycle.

Adiposity

• shortness of breath
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Increased blood pressure.
• Weakness.
• Decreased libido and potency.

Syndromes of calcium metabolism disorders

Hypercalcemia syndrome

• General weakness.
• Loss of appetite.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting
• Constipation.
• Emaciation.
• Bone pain.
• Weakness of the muscles of the limbs.

Hypocalcemia syndrome

• Heat.
• Chills.
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Brittle nails.
• Hair growth disorder.
• Insomnia.
• Memory loss.
• Depression.
• Vomiting
• Constipation.
• Bronchospasm.

Proper nutrition is of particular importance for the prevention, treatment or rehabilitation of diseases . In this case, a nutritionist will help.

A specialist dealing with issues of rational, including medical, nutrition.

First of all, a dietitian doctor deals with the selection of a diet. It helps to prepare a diet that is correct, healthy, physiologically balanced and, most importantly, convenient for a person. When preparing a diet, the doctor takes into account habits, rhythm and lifestyle, taste preferences, etc. Of course, at the same time, the nutritionist must take into account the general state of health of the patient. Even minor deviations detected with the help of analyzes are a reason to change nutrition.

What diseases does a nutritionist deal with

• Disorders of the digestive system (belching, heartburn, heaviness and discomfort in the stomach, bitterness in the mouth, stool disorders, etc.).
• Weight deficit.
• Headaches (including migraines).
• Excessive fatigue, reduced work capacity, emotional instability, drowsiness.
• Allergic conjunctivitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis, vasomotor rhinitis.
• Frequent acute respiratory diseases and chronic lesions of the respiratory tract (bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, etc.).
• Skin rashes (acne, seborrhea, allergy, etc.), itching.
• Arterial hypertension.
• High level of cholesterol in the blood.
• Pain in the joints.

What bodies does a nutritionist deal with

The doctor gives advice on nutrition in general, rather than treating individual organs.

In which cases should you consult a nutritionist?

• High blood sugar (over 5.6 mmol/l fasting).
• High blood pressure (over 130/85 mmHg).
• Low levels of high-density lipoproteins in the blood (less than 1.3 mmol/L in women and 1 mmol/L in men).
• High level of triglycerides in the blood (over 1.7 mmol/l).
• Obesity (waist circumference over 102 cm in men and 8 cm in women).

If you do not know the cause of the disease and are not at all sure where to turn for help, we advise you to contact a therapist or family doctor .

A doctor who deals with issues of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of internal organs.