What Upper Endoscopy Reveals About Your Health

If you’ve been dealing with unexplained digestive issues like persistent heartburn, nausea, or abdominal pain, an upper endoscopy may be recommended by Dr. Patel.  

But what exactly does this procedure reveal, and why is it so important? That’s what our board-certified gastroenterology team at Bay Area Gastroenterology Associates, LLC, is here to share.

What is an upper endoscopy?

During an upper endoscopy, an EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) procedure, Dr. Patel views the inside of your upper digestive tract using a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera at the end. Dr. Patel examines your esophagus, stomach, and the beginning of your small intestine (duodenum).

In some cases, Dr. Patel may take a biopsy during your procedure, which allows him to test the tissue to confirm (or rule out) specific diagnoses. 

Upper endoscopy can diagnose GI conditions

An upper endoscopy can reveal many different things about your digestive system. Your endoscopy can diagnose conditions such as:

• Acid reflux and  gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Ulcerative colitis
• Crohn’s disease
• Liver disease
• Peptic ulcers
• Enlarged esophageal veins (varices)
• Esophageal narrowing (strictures)

Once Dr. Patel confirms the source of your digestive symptoms, you can get started with the correct treatment to feel better.

Upper endoscopies can detect inflammation

Dr. Patel can also detect inflammation in your digestive tract. 

If the inflammation is in your esophagus, it’s referred to as esophagitis. If the inflammation is in your stomach lining, it’s gastritis.

Gastritis, for example, is common. Acute gastritis affects 8 out of 1000 people, while chronic gastritis affects 2 out of 1000.

Upper endoscopies can confirm Celiac disease and other food allergies

When a biopsy gets taken during an endoscopy, your provider can confirm if your symptoms are related to celiac disease, which is especially helpful if your blood tests are inconclusive.

Upper endoscopy can also help confirm food allergy-related conditions like eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). EoE is a food-related allergic condition that can cause inflammation in your esophagus, and your upper endoscopy is often the first step in its diagnosis.

Upper endoscopies can detect infections

The endoscope can reveal signs of bacterial, viral, or fungal infections that affect your upper GI tract. Identifying the cause of your disease is critical since each type of infection requires different medications, i.e., antibiotics versus antifungal versus antivirals. 

Upper endoscopies can tell if you have precancerous changes or tumors 

During your endoscopy, Dr. Patel can also look for signs of Barrett’s esophagus or other tissue changes that might increase your risk for cancer.

If we find abnormal tissue or polyps, we may remove them or take a biopsy for further testing. 

Get the answers you need with an upper endoscopy

Most importantly, your upper endoscopy can help give you answers. Reviewing your symptoms alone isn’t enough to say why you have specific digestive systems, but your upper endoscopy can help provide those answers.

 If you're experiencing ongoing digestive issues, don't wait. An upper endoscopy can provide the answers you need and help you take the next step toward feeling better. 

You can reach the Bay Area Gastroenterology Associates, LLC team at 727-372-4500. Or, book an appointment through our online scheduling tool to visit our Trinity, Florida, office.