Table of Contents
Part 1 Digestive health basics 8
Chapter 1 Why your gut matters 9
Warning signs
Digestion at work
Digestive problems
Chapter 2 The gut microbiome 23
The microbiome explained
The changing gut
When a good gut goes bad Nurturing a healthy gut
Chapter 3 Recipe for healthy digestion 33
What to eat
What to limit
Your eating habits
Physical activity
Stress Medications
Understanding digestive disease
Chapter 4 Gut feelings 51
Difficulty swallowing
Chest pain and heartburn
Indigestion
Nausea and vomiting
Belching, bloating and intestinal gas
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea and constipation
Bleeding
Unintended weight loss
Chapter 5 Diagnostic tests 69
Blood tests
Urine and stool tests
X-rays
Computerized tomography Ultrasound
Endoscopy
Ambulatory acid (pH) probe test
Esophageal muscle function test
Transit studies
Manometry
Defecating proctogram test (defecography)
Breath tests
Part 2 Digestive diseases 90
Chapter 6 Obesity 91
Why am I overweight?
Weight-loss treatments
Diet
Physical activity and exercise
Behavior changes
Prescription medications
Surgery and endoscopic procedures
Looking ahead
Chapter 7 Constipation and fecal incontinence 111
Constipation
Diagnosing constipation
Treating and managing constipation Complications of constipation
Fecal incontinence
Diagnosing fecal incontinence
Treating and managing fecal incontinence
Chapter 8 Irritable bowel syndrome and food intolerances 131
A functional disorder
Ruling out other conditions
Lifestyle changes
Over-the-counter medications
Prescription medications
Counseling
Lactose intolerance
Other intolerances
Low-FODMAP diet
Chapter 9 Celiac diseases 149
How gluten causes harm
Signs and symptoms
Diagnosing celiac disease Complications of celiac disease
A new way of eating
When diet isn't enough
Chapter 10 GERD and other esophageal diseases 165
What's GERD?
Varied signs and symptoms
What puts you at risk?
Associated conditions
Complications of GERD
See your doctor
Treatment starts with self-care
Medications to treat GERD
Surgery to treat GERD
Cancer of the esophagus
Chapter 11 Ulcers and stomach pain 187
An open sore
Bacteria a common culprit
Diagnosing ulcers
Treatment with medication
Self-care steps to promote healing
Functional dyspepsia Lifestyle changes the first step
Stomach cancer
Diagnosis and treatment
Chapter 12 Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis 203
Similar but different
In search of a cause
Signs and symptoms
Diagnosing IBD
Medications
Living with IBD
Surgery
Preventing complications
Chapter 13 Diverticular disease 225
Diverticulosis
Diverticulitis
Making a diagnosis
Treating diverticulitis
Chapter 14 Gallbladder disease 235
Gallstones
Gallstone attack
Are you at risk?
Making a diagnosis Treatment options
Life without a gallbladder
Gallbladder and bile duct cancers
Chapter 15 Pancreatic disease 247
Acute pancreatitis
Diagnosing acute pancreatitis
Treating acute pancreatitis Chronic pancreatitis
Diagnosing chronic pancreatitis
Treating chronic pancreatitis
Living with chronic pancreatitis
Pancreatic cancer
Treating pancreatic cancer
Chapter 16 Liver disease 261
What the liver does
Liver disease
Infectious hepatitis
Alcohol- or drug-induced hepatitis
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Autoimmune disease Inherited liver disease
Cirrhosis
Liver transplant
Liver cancer
Chapter 17 Colorectal cancer 289
Signs and symptoms
Are you at risk?
Screening
Cancer staging Treatment
Appendix: FODMAP eating plan 301
Index 313
