Colon and rectal polyps occur in about 25 percent of men and women ages 50 and older. Not all polyps will turn into cancer, and it may take many years for a polyp to become cancerous. Risk factors include a family history of polyps or colon cancer; an inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease; a high-fat, low-fiber diet; tobacco and alcohol use; little exercise; and obesity.
Digestive health at the University of Michigan Health System diagnoses and treats diseases of the gastrointestinal system of the body, including irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's Disease, GERD, liver disease and constipation.
Adults struggling with obesity or weight-related health problems need options for achieving significant, long-lasting weight loss. Endoscopic bariatric therapy (EBT) may be an excellent option for individuals who have decided not to pursue weight loss surgery, and for those who have had weight loss surgery and are now experiencing adverse events or weight regain.
Make an appointment with an GI or liver specialist (gastroenterologist or hepatologist) at the University of Michigan or call one of our special clinic phone numbers. Call 1-888-229-7408 to get answers to your questions.
Your gastrointestinal medical care team will depend upon the specific GI condition you are being treated for and often includes doctors with different medical specialties along with other health professionals collaborating to give you the best care possible. This is called a multidisciplinary approach, and at Michigan Medicine, our goal is always to coordinate this multidisciplinary care in a way that is convenient and efficient for you.
Gastroenterology specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal system of the body, which includes the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, colon and rectum.
Your digestive system is made up of a series of organs that allows your body to get the nutrients and energy it needs from the food we eat. As food travels through the digestive system it is broken down, sorted, and reprocessed before being circulated around the body to nourish and replace cells and supply energy to our muscles. This page includes an animation of the digestive process as well as a description of the various digestive organs and diseases related to them that we treat at the University of Michigan.
