Understanding your Bowels

Description

many, if not most people experience a bowel problem from time to time but few know what it means and many are too embarrassed to tell anyone about it. Our knowledge of the bowels has increased enormously over recent years and doctors can now diagnose and cure or relieve nearly all disorders of the bowel. The way we live out lives and the food we eat have big effects on how our bowels work. This book explains these matters in everyday language and should help to keep the workings of your bowel comfortable. It also advises you what to do if things go wrong

Contents

• Introduction
• A brief guide to the bowel
• What affects the bowels?
• What can go wrong?
• Disorders of bowel function
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Mind and bowel - a network of interactions
• Bleeding from the anus
• Travellers' problems
• Worms
• Glossary
• Useful addresses
• Index

About the author's

Dr Ken Heaton - was untill recently in Medicine at the University of Bristol and Honourary Consultant Physician to the United Bristol Hospitals' Trust. His research interests are in bowel function and nutrition. He has been on many national committees and has published nearly 300 scientific papers.

Dr Tony Smith - family Doctor Publications' Medical Editor-in-Chief was for many years Deputy Editor of the British Medical Journal and continues to work as an Assiciate Editor. He is the Medical Editor of both the Complete Family Health Encylopaedia and the Family Doctor Home Advisor.