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. Florida has 1,039 practicing gastroenterologists. Broken out by city, gastroenterology doctor density in Altamonte Springs is 8, in Apopka is 5, in Atlantis is 24, in Aventura is 14, in Bartow is 3, in Bay Harbor Islands is 1, in Belle Glade is 4, in Boca Raton is 27, in Bonita Springs is 12, in Boynton Beach is 22, in Bradenton is 15, in Brooksville is 11, in Cape Coral is 26, in Clearwater is 27, in Clermont is 5, in Cocoa Beach is 3, in Coral Gables is 20, in Coral Springs is 13, in Crestview is 2, in Crystal River is 5, in Davenport is 3, in Deerfield Beach is 3, in Delray Beach is 21, in Dunedin is 4, in Fort Lauderdale is 38, in Fort Myers is 34, in Fort Pierce is 4, in Fort Walton Beach is 4, in Gainesville is 49, in Hialeah is 21, in Hollywood is 27, in Homestead is 3, in Hypoluxo is 1, in Inverness is 2, in Jacksonville is 95, in Jacksonville Beach is 9, in Jupiter is 13, in Kissimmee is 19, in Lady Lake is 8, in Lake City is 5, in Lake Mary is 3, in Lake Wales is 3, in Lake Worth is 14, in Lakeland is 12, in Largo is 15, in Leesburg is 7, in Longwood is 5, in Maitland is 6, in Margate is 2, in Melbourne is 17, in Miami is 107, in Miami Beach is 19, in Milton is 2, in Mount Dora is 5, in Naples is 21, in New Port Richey is 16, in New Smyrna Beach is 4, in Niceville is 2, in North Miami is 1, in North Miami Beach is 14, in Ocala is 14, in Ocoee is 6, in Okeechobee is 2, in Orange City is 3, in Orange Park is 9, in Orlando is 39, in Ormond Beach is 10, in Oviedo is 12, in Palatka is 1, in Palm Coast is 11, in Panama City is 6, in Pembroke Pines is 13, in Pensacola is 17, in Pinellas Park is 5, in Plant City is 2, in Plantation is 17, in Pompano Beach is 10, in Port Orange is 12, in Punta Gorda is 3, in Rockledge is 6, in Sanford is 4, in Sarasota is 29, in Sebastian is 1, in Sebring is 8, in Seminole is 7, in South Miami is 10, in South Pasadena is 3, in Stuart is 11, in Sunrise is 8, in Tallahassee is 13, in Tamarac is 11, in Tampa is 59, in Titusville is 4, in Venice is 9, in Vero Beach is 7, in West Palm Beach is 34, in Weston is 13, in Winter Haven is 5, in Winter Park is 6, and in Zephyrhills is 12.

Florida’s warm and humid subtropical climate makes it a winter destination for many. Population in 2000 was 15,982,378, according to census statistics. Tallahassee, located in the north panhandle area, is the state capital. Tourism is a major industry in Florida, with Cape Canaveral, Disney World, the Everglades National Park, Universal Studios, the Atlantic coast and the Gulf coast all destinations for visitors and residents. Year-round outdoor activities include camping, golf, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing and boating.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Florida has a population of 17,789,864. Of this population, 3,975,071 are under the age of 18 and 2,978,335 are at or above the age of 65.