Irritable Bowel Solutions: The Essential Guide to Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Its Causes and Treatments

by Professor John Hunter

Overview

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a condition that is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. Despite common perceptions, only 50% of cases are related to diet and the causes of the other 50% of cases are rarely examined, leaving sufferers unable to find suitable treatment. In this groundbreaking new book, Professor John Hunter reveals how you can solve the causes of your IBS. Using his carefully-constructed questionnaire, find out the reasons for your symptoms, then turn to the appropriate chapter to learn how to treat them. Irritable Bowel Solutions also answers all the other questions that might be causing concern, such as: What if I don’t fit any of the types described? What do probiotics really do and are they helpful? Will my disease always affect me or can I manage it effectively?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780091917067
Publisher:	Random House UK
Publication date:	02/01/2009
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Professor John Hunter is a physician and an authority on diseases of the gut including IBS, Crohn's disease, and Colitis, and an expert on the subject of food allergy and intolerance. He has contributed more than 100 research papers to major medical journals such as the British Medical Journal and The Lancet, and is the author of Solve Your Food Intolerance.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii Introduction to IBS 1 Are you confident that your problem is IBS? 1 How to use this book 4 The way forward 5
1 Why is There Confusion Over IBS? 7 Potential IBS symptoms 10
'Red flag' symptoms 10
2 What are the Symptoms of IBS? 13 Abdominal pain 14 Bloating 18 Diarrhoea 20 Constipation 23 Nausea and vomiting 27 Symptoms outside the gut 28
3 Which Sort of IBS Do You Have? 29 The dietary approach 31 A change of approach 33 Getting started 35 Keep a food and lifestyle diary 42 Changing your lifestyle 43
4 What If You Have Two or More Forms of IBS? 47 What if I seem to be positive for nearly everything? 51
5 Malfermentation and IBS 53 Fibre and malfermentation 53 Excluding problem foods 58 Which diet should I choose? 61 Low-fibre diet 61 The exclusion diet 66 Frequently asked questions 75 A sample menu 77 Low-fibre, gluten-free diet 78
6 Overload and Overflow 87 Getting started 89 What happens next? 91 What happens in the long term? 92
7 Air Swallowing and Anxiety 97 Why do we swallow air? 97 Test for abnormal breathing patterns 98 How to correct abnormal breathing pattern 99 Talking 105 Other causes of air swallowing 107 Anxiety 110
8 Constipation 119 The normal behaviour of the large intestine 121 Causes of constipation 123 Treatment of constipation 126 Going to the loo properly 131 Pelvic floor exercises 133 If lifestyle changes don't work 133 What about an exclusion diet? 138 What if I am still having problems with my bowels? 139 You want to go but you can't - obstructed defecation 139 Biofeedback programme for constipation 141
9 Understanding Probiotics and Prebiotics 147 The development of a healthy bacterial flora in the gut 147Colonisation resistance and IBS 149 Probiotic bacteria 150 Prebiotics 156
10 The Menstrual Cycle and IBS 159 Exaggerated gut effects 161 Treatment of menstrually-related IBS 162
11 Musculo-Skeletal Causes of Abdominal Pain 165 Causes of musculo-skeletal abdominal pain 166 How to spot a musculo-skeletal pain 169 How is musculo-skeletal pain treated? 170
12 What If You're Still No Better? 177 Bile salt malabsorption 177 Enteric neuropathy 180 Gallbladder disorders 183 Disorders of the pancreas 186 Diverticular disease 186
13 Continuing Control of IBS 189 Further Information 194 Bibliography 195 Index 198

Editorial Reviews

"Cuts through the confusion surrounding the condition . . . a must for all those affected by IBS."  —Health and Fitness

From the Publisher