Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is often dismissed as a trivial complaint blown out of proportion by neurotic hypochondriacs. The reality is very different. It is an extremely common and distressing problem affecting up to 20% of the population at any one time. The symptoms include bloating, wind, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation, and the condition can vary in severity. If you suffer from IBS , this book will answer the questions that you were too embarrassed to ask. Based on his long experience as a consultant gastroenterologist. Dr Shmueli provides detailed guidance on all aspects of the condition, answering over 430 questions from people with IBS. IBS: Answers at your Fingertips gives you: * Comprehensive answers to all your questions about IBS: its causes, symptoms and treatment * Self-help techniques that really work * Guidance on identifying other illnesses and disorders that could cause abdominal pain, plus a section explaining relevant medical tests and investigations * The latest reseach on food allergy and intolerance * Advice on complementary therapies, including herbal medicine, acupuncture and hypnotherapy Questions include: How common is IBS? * Is IBS predominantly a disease of Western developed countries? * Is IBS associated with indigestion? * Do probiotics help? * What increases the pain signal from the gut? * What do doctors need to know about the nature of the pain to make a diagnosis? * If the tests are normal will the doctor think I have wasted his time? * Where does all the gas in the bowel come from? * Is bloating real? * Which foods are most likely to make gas problems and bloating worse? * Is there any right number of times to open my bowels each day? * What causes constipation? * I've had diarrhoea for almost a month now. What could be causing it? * Who gets coeliac disease? * What is worse for long-term health - constipation or diarrhoea? * Why are doctors sceptical about dietary interventions for IBS? * Which foods are most commonly involved in food allergy?
