The gastrointestinal (GI) tract performs like a symphony, with perfectly timed
movements that work in harmony. Before we take our first bite, or our first sip,
our salivary glands begin producing the enzymes that help with digestion. Our
digestive system has begun its orchestration of the organs that help move food
and drink throughout our bodies by breaking them down so we can absorb
nutrients and eliminate waste.
he digestive system is a
workhorse, processing everything
we consume, sometimes taking
up to 72 hours for complete digestion.
During the process, the mouth, esophagus,
stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas and
intestines work together; they create
digestive juices and deliver the muscular
contractions that are necessary for ingested
items to travel from our mouths through
our colons for elimination.
Given the extraordinary demand we
place on the digestive tract, it’s no wonder
that many people have problems.
Heartburn (or acid reflux) and abdominal
pain, gallstones, constipation, irritable
bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel
disease (including Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis) are the most common
digestive disorders. These conditions can
T
be quite serious and may require long-term
management. However, some GI diseases,
including colon cancer and other cancers of
digestive organs, are an area of particularly
great concern to experts at Scott & White
Healthcare. The team here, which offers
“We have extended
the excellence that
has historically been
provided in Temple
down to the Round
Rock campus.”
—Benjamin D. Havemann, MD
unique solutions for a range of digestive
diseases, has helped almost 10,000 patients
in the past decade who have sought
treatment for GI disease at Scott & White
Healthcare locations.
Help for digestive discomfort
is nearby
Digestive disorders increasingly affect
the growing and aging population in
Central Texas, and new guidelines for
colorectal cancer screening for people age
50 and over have helped detect more
cases of colon cancer. (See related story on
page 21.)
In response, Scott & White has
expanded its GI services with physicians
who practice in more locations beyond
Temple—to Round Rock, College Station,
Waco and Killeen. The Division of
sw.org | Spring 10 THE CATALYST
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