Know Your Gut

Book excerpt: Know Your Gut has been written to inform persons with gastrointestinal illnesses why they feel the way they do and suggests ways to help them feel better. The book has been written for patients in plain English and is free of jargon and complex medical terms. The illnesses and symptoms covered are among the most common that persons bring to their medical caregivers and advises how to prepare for the medical visit, and what to ask the doctor. Topics include common and sometimes overlooked causes of abdominal pain, acid reflux, swallowing problems and choking, gallstones, faulty food absorption, SIBO, diarrhea, constipation, stress causing gut disorders, testing for colon cancer, diet, hemorrhoids, gas and bloating, and diverticulitis. Know Your Gut gives guidance on which gastrointestinal illnesses require urgent care by healthcare professionals and which ones can be treated at home using care plans described in detail. Every sentence in this book has been written by a gastroenterologist who has long experience in treating persons with digestive tract illness, and each topic has the patient squarely in mind.