Sensitive Gut: A Harvard Medical School Guide

A stomach ache might not be fatal, but it can certainly spoil a good time. And for the fifty million Americans who have frequent stomach problems, such discomfort can seriously disrupt lives. Help arrives in the form of The Sensitive Gut, an easy-to-use guide to the most common gastrointestinal complaints -- heartburn or reflux, dyspepsia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, constipation, and excessive gas.These conditions are referred to as functional gastrointestinal disorders because, unlike ulcers or stomach cancer, they cannot be attributed to an infection or structural abnormality. In fact the root of these problems is something of a mystery. The Sensitive Gut walks the reader through these disorders and their overlapping symptoms to clarify the distinguishing characteristics of each problem and suggests ways to treat the different conditions. Readers will learn that heartburn is affected by high-fat foods, onions, garlic, alcohol, and coffee; that broccoli and chewing gum can trigger Irritable Bowel Syndrome; how to determine whether they have dyspepsia or an ulcer; which oral laxatives are the most effective; and much more.A reassuring and practical guide to managing common intestinal distress, The Sensitive Gut will improve the quality of life for millions of Americans.