Digestive Health

    Our approach to digestive health

    SIU Medicine provides routine and advanced care for your digestive and gastrointestinal conditions. We treat all areas of the digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine and colon, and specialize in providing endoscopic procedures, gastrointestinal surgery and other innovative, evidence-based therapies.

    The digestive system is the group of organs that break down food so your body can absorb its nutrients. Everything in your body needs these nutrients from the digestive process to work correctly. Digestive diseases are disorders of the digestive tract, which is also called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Gastroenterology (GI) is the branch of medicine dedicated to treating diseases and conditions affecting the gastrointestinal or digestive system. Gastroenterologists, also known as "GI doctors" are experts on the digestive system and how it works. As part of the academic medical community, our doctors work in collaboration with other specialists, including colon and rectal surgeons, primary care doctors, nutritionists, hepatologists, radiologists and mental health care professionals, to provide exceptional care and treatment options for you and your family.

    SIU Medicine Minute with C. Leslie Smith, MD | Integrative Medicine

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    Latest blog articles

    Dr. Benjamin Rejowski

    Gallstones symptoms - causes and treatment

    Time for an anatomy pop quiz: Do you know where your gallbladder is? This small, pear-shaped organ is located beneath your liver on the right side of your abdomen. Its primary function is to hold bile
    Digestive Health

    5 simple steps to improve your digestive health

    Here's a great trivia fact: The total length of the average adult's digestive tract, from mouth to rear-end, is up to 30 feet long. All that tissue—tongue, esophagus, stomach, small intestines and
    blog-gastroparesis

    What is gastroparesis? Things you didn't know about this digestive condition

    Gastroparesis isn't one of the most common health conditions around—about 10 men and 40 women out of 100,000 people have it. But it can be life-altering to anyone who has it. The gastroenterology team
    blog-apples

    Why you should incorporate apples into your diet this fall

    I honestly love all things fall, especially this year, when it means the long COVID-restricted summer of 2020 is over. When I was a student, fall was my favorite time of year because I knew I’d be