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. California has 1,623 practicing gastroenterologists. Broken out by city, gastroenterology doctor density in Sacramento is 58, in Salinas is 8, in San Bernardino is 5, in San Carlos is 3, in San Clemente is 7, in San Diego is 112, in San Dimas is 5, in San Francisco is 99, in San Gabriel is 3, in San Jose is 44, in San Leandro is 2, in San Luis Obispo is 7, in San Marino is 2, in San Mateo is 7, in San Pablo is 5, in San Pedro is 5, in San Rafael is 6, in San Ramon is 9, in Santa Ana is 7, in Santa Barbara is 11, in Santa Clara is 7, in Santa Clarita is 2, in Santa Cruz is 10, in Santa Fe Springs is 1, in Santa Maria is 6, in Santa Monica is 27, in Santa Rosa is 18, in Saratoga is 1, in Seal Beach is 1, in Seaside is 1, in Selma is 1, in Sherman Oaks is 2, in Shingle Springs is 1, in Sierra Madre is 1, in Signal Hill is 2, in Simi Valley is 8, in Solvang is 3, in Sonora is 3, in South Lake Tahoe is 1, in South Pasadena is 1, in South San Francis is 5, in South San Francisco is 7, in Stanford is 32, in Stockton is 8, in Sun City is 6, in Sun Valley is 2, in Sunnyvale is 7, and in Sylmar is 4.

California’s population is 36,142,137, and it is America’s third largest and most populous state. It also claims the highest and lowest altitudes in the lower 48 states. The lowest point in the country, Death Valley, is also home to the nation’s highest recorded temperature, 134 degrees. Tourists flock to this state for its many outdoor activities and attractions, including Universal Studios, Disneyland, Rodeo Drive shopping, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, wine country tours, and California’s numerous beaches and parks. Los Angeles is the nation’s second largest city, but California’s capital is Sacramento. The giant sequoias in California’s forests are among the oldest living things in the world, and a redwood in the Redwood National Park is said to be the world’s tallest tree, at 365 feet. California achieved statehood in 1850, and was named the Golden State after the beginning of the Gold Rush in 1848.

According to 2005 Census estimates, California has a population of 36,132,147. Of this population, 9,308,563 are under the age of 18 and 3,827,038 are at or above the age of 65.