YOUR GUT FEELINGS: A Complete Guide to Living Better with Intestinal Problems

A competent guide to intestinal problems, from the medical point of view. Janowitz (New York's Mt. Sinai School of Medicine) speaks always as physician--not consumer--but is understandable, with minimal medical lingo. He first describes the normal anatomy and physiology of the lower intestinal tract (""it will help to visualize this long tube, a veritable hydraulic system. . .""), then covers the most common disorders. From irritable-bowel syndrome through diverticulitis and cancer, the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment are competently and thoroughly discussed. Janowitz also looks at such special areas of interest as food allergies, gut problems associated with aging, ""intestinal repercussions of other diseases""; and sexually transmitted bowel disease (the incidence of which has increased greatly over the last decade). Throughout, this is up-to-date, easily understood information on the medical understanding of common bowel conditions.