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Recent research suggests that around the globe more than 2 billion cases of digestive diseases and disorders are diagnosed each year, making them some of the most prevalent medical issues. This book explores 30 serious conditions affecting the digestive system, including autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease and ulcerative colitis, cancers, chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), stomach flu and other infections, and more. Utilizing a standardized structure, each entry discusses a particular condition''s causes, prevalence, symptoms, potential complications, diagnosis, and treatment options. Treatment options highlighted include medications, surgical procedures, complementary and alternative therapies, and diet and lifestyle changes. Summaries of key research studies are included to help readers better understand the scientific community''s findings about each condition. Introductory essays offer a broad overview of the digestive system''s anatomy and physiology and discuss the most common GI symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, and changes in bathroom habits. A further reading section at the end of each entry points readers toward additional resources to expand and deepen their knowledge.
About the author
Myrna Chandler Goldstein, MA, has been a freelance writer and independent scholar for more than 30 years. She is the coauthor of
Treatments for Anxiety: Fact versus Fiction (Bloomsbury, 2024),
Pain Management: Fact versus Fiction (Greenwood, 2022), and
Dietary Supplements: Fact versus Fiction (Greenwood, 2020), among others.
Mark A. Goldstein, MD, is the founding chief emeritus of the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, USA. He is also the editor in chief of Current Pediatrics Reports.
