Understanding and Controlling the Irritable Bowel [antikvár]

PrefaceIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder thatÍ l'affects up to one-fifth of the Western world. In addition toI' :those who are diagnosed with IBS, there are many undiag-, :nosed patients who ignore their symptoms and consider them' ' !simply to be a part of their everyday life. These individuals!never visit healthcare centers or meet with a doctor in rela-'tion to their condition. The true number of individuals suffering from IBS is therefore much greater than that reported in the literature.'Despite undergoing several tests and examinations, and after repeated contact with their healthcare providers, many IBS sufferers are dissatisfied with their management and feel that they are either misunderstood or regarded as hypochondriacs or mentally ill. There is a widespread beUef in society and among healthcare providers that IBS is unimportant since it is not a life-threatening disease. Furthermore, the consequences of suffering from IBS are often ignored; the con-i siderable reduction in the patient's quality of life as a result of IBS, which may lead to social isolation, quitting work, and broken relationships, should not be underestimated.Many IBS patients worry that their symptoms are either caused by a serious disease or that they will develop into a serious disease over time. Access to reliable informationi iabout IBS is important to both IBS patients and their health-f, ;care providers. Some studies have shown that IBS patients^ i iwho are not provided with support are able to correctly avoid.; ,some foodstuffs that can aggravate their symptoms, but theyi.;^ 'may replace them with items that are even worse. SeveralI !