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. Arizona has 299 practicing gastroenterologists. Broken out by city, gastroenterology doctor density in Avondale is 1, in Bullhead City is 3, in Casa Grande is 1, in Chandler is 13, in Cottonwood is 3, in Flagstaff is 5, in Gilbert is 7, in Glendale is 11, in Goodyear is 7, in Green Valley is 4, in Kingman is 2, in Lake Havasu City is 2, in Mesa is 35, in Oro Valley is 3, in Page is 1, in Paradise Valley is 1, in Payson is 2, in Peoria is 8, in Phoenix is 98, in Prescott is 6, in Safford is 3, in San Luis is 1, in Scottsdale is 73, in Sedona is 2, in Sierra Vista is 2, in Sun City is 9, in Sun City West is 10, in Surprise is 1, in Tempe is 1, in Tolleson is 1, in Tucson is 56, in Willcox is 1, and in Yuma is 7.

Arizona has many famous tourist attractions and parks, including the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, which was created when the dam was built. The Grand Canyon draws millions of visitors each year, and Phoenix, Scottsdale, Flagstaff each draw their own sun-seeking winter vacationers. Visit the world-famous O.K. Corral in Tombstone. Arizona’s population is 5,939,292, and Phoenix, the capital city, is home to a majority of those people. Entertainers Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, and Tanya Tucker were born here, along with architect Frank Lloyd Wright and former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Arizona has a population of 5,939,292. Of this population, 1,535,805 are under the age of 18 and 754,345 are at or above the age of 65.