Irritable Bowel Syndrome Health Article

PERIODICALS

Dalton, Christine B., and Douglas A. Drossman. "Diagnosis and Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome." American Family Physician (Feb. 1997): 875+.

Hendricks, Melissa. "Bowels in an Uproar." Johns Hopkins Magazine (Apr. 1997).

"Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Treating the Mind to Treat the Body." Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter (Sept.1997): 4+.

Maxwell, P. R., M. A. Mendall, and D. Kumar. "Irritable Bowel Syndrome." The Lancet 350 (1997): 1691+.

ORGANIZATIONS

International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. P.O. Box 17864, Milwaukee, WI 53217. (888) 964-2001. <http://www.iffgd.org>.

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. 2 Information Way, Bethesda, MD 20892-3570. (800) 891-5389. <http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/nddic.htm>.

Howard Baker

KEY TERMS

Anus—The opening at the lower end of the rectum.

Crohn's disease—A disease characterized by inflammation of the intestines. Its early symptoms may resemble those of IBS.

Defecation—Passage of feces through the anus.

Feces—Undigested food and other waste that is eliminated through the anus. Feces are also called fecal matter or stools.

Lactose—A sugar found in milk and milk products. Some people are lactose intolerant, meaning they have trouble digesting lactose. Lactose intolerance can produce symptoms resembling those of IBS.

Peristalsis—The periodic waves of muscular contractions that move food through the intestines during the process of digestion.

Ulcerative colitis—A disease that inflames and causes breaks (ulcers) in the colon and rectum, which are parts of the large intestine.