GI Health Check: Three Reasons to Visit San Francisco Gastroenterology in 2016

With New Year’s resolutions abound, January is the perfect time to get organized and take control of your health for all of 2016. Perhaps you are wondering if you really need to see a gastroenterologist or whether a visit to your general practitioner (GP) will do. Maybe 2016 is the year of your 50^th birthday and you know that certain health checkups accompany this milestone.

The start of a new year is an ideal opportunity to schedule your appointments for the next year, especially if you are in need of a visit to San Francisco Gastroenterology in 2016. There are many reasons why our patients seek care from our GI specialists, but here are a few great reasons to make an appointment at our practice this year.

You’re 50 years old in 2016.

Regardless of whether or not turning 50 is a big deal to you, it’s still an important milestone for your health – your first colonoscopy. A modern colonoscopy is not something to be feared or avoided. It is actually designed to keep patients as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

Have a question about getting a colonoscopy? Visit our FAQ page.

You have a change in a chronic condition.

Chronic issues such a celiac disease, Crohn’s disease and hepatitis C can sometimes present new symptoms or changes in how you feel from one day to the next. New medications or lifestyle changes can also affect your quality of life when you have a chronic GI issue. We recommend taking the time to schedule an appointment with SFGI in order to discuss any changes you may be experiencing with a gastroenterologist.

You’ve been ignoring an issue.

Sometimes, GI issues are written off as embarrassing or “not a big deal.” Many people will hope that their GI issue will simply go away and they won’t need to visit a gastroenterologist. However, even if your problem does happen to resolve itself, this doesn’t mean the issue won’t come back. Patients tend to wait to schedule a doctor’s appointment for issues like  hemorrhoids, change in bowel movements, constipation, and diarrhea.  All of these issues can be and should be addressed by the physicians at SFGI with the respect and privacy requested by all patients.