Lawrence S. Friedman - The Sensitive Gut

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THE SENSITIVE GUT

SPECIAL HEALTH REPORT

Medical Editor

Lawrence S. Friedman, M.D.

Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Chair, Department of Medicine,
Newton-Wellesley Hospital

Editor, Special Health Reports

Christine Junge

Writer

Julie Corliss

Art Director

Nieves Jenkins

Creative Director

Judi Crouse

Copy Editor

Kristie Reilly

Illustrators

Harriet Greenfield, M.A.
Scott Leighton
Michael Linkinhoker

Published by Harvard Medical School

Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D., Editor in Chief
Edward Coburn, Publishing Director

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Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 800 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06854-1631. Robert Englander, Chairman and CEO; Timothy H. Cole, Executive Vice President, Editorial Director; Philip L. Penny, Chief Operating Officer; Greg King, Executive Vice President, Marketing Director; Ron Goldberg, Chief Financial Officer; Tom Canfield, Vice President, Circulation.

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Dear Reader,

Out of sight, out of mind, your digestive system is working around the clock delivering the nutrients in food to your bloodstream. As long as the system is running smoothly, you need not think about it. Once trouble begins, however, your gutlike a squeaky wheelsuddenly demands your attention.

For some folks, symptoms such as diarrhea, gas, cramps, heartburn, indigestion, belching, bloating, and nausea are infrequent and tolerable, but many people experience them far more often. An estimated one in four people has frequent gastrointestinal problems that can severely disrupt a normal lifestyle. And the number of prescriptions for gastrointestinal medications has soared since the late 1990s, according to federal statistics.

Although the misery that such problems inflict is real, these ailments arent usually the product of an illness in the conventional sense. Often, they are functional gastrointestinal disorders. That means, unlike ulcers or stomach cancer, they cant be attributed to any physical abnormality or infection. More than 20% of people who consult a gastroenterologist learn that theres no structural abnormality to explain their complaints.

Just because we doctors cant find a physical causemeaning that theres no evidence of disease or a structural basis for the symptomsdoesnt mean youre imagining things. The symptoms are quite real, and if they occur frequently or last more than a month, its a good idea to seek help.

You might be relieved to know that even if your doctor cant pinpoint the cause of your symptoms, the chances are good you can get relief. This report focuses on a number of disorders considered to be functional: reflux, functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, and excessive gas.

The good news is that our ability to treat gastrointestinal disorders continues to improve. With proper knowledgeand the support of the right combination of health professionalsyou can make changes in your lifestyle, use specific medications, find other helpful therapies that will ease your discomfort, and make the right decisions about medical treatments.

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