One major problem faced by many---perhaps most---patients is trying to understand the jargon their doctors spout at them. But that hurdle is not perpetuated by Dr. Anil Minocha in his truly superior book HOW TO STOP HEARTBURN. Subtitled "Simple Ways to Heal Hearburn and Acid Reflux," this book indeed delivers what it promises.
It's written in plain English with medical terms and techniques kept to a minimumn; nearly all are explained clearly, simply. Example: in the very first sentnce, Dr. Minocha writes that what doctors call "gastroesophageal reflux disease" is what real people call "heartburn."
The book is comprehensive; the index lists hundreds of topics from "abominal pain" to "Zyban," a drug that "reduces the desire to smoke." ("Smoking is a major contributor to the development of (heartburn)." (page 228) The 17 chapters and four appendixes cover such diverse topics as the causes of hearburn, how physicians diagnosis it, finding remedies that work, related illnesses such as peptic ulcers and some hernias, when surgery is needed---even alternative treatments such as yoga, juice therapy, acupressure, and other offbeat remedies.
A major section of the book covers "Lifestyle Changes that Work"---eating, sleeping, weight loss, stress reduction, and more.
A glossary explains many key words, including barium swallow, dosha, manometry, proton pump inhibitor, etc.
Should you think you don't need this book, consider these facts that Dr. Minocha presents: hearburn "is one of the most common diseases in North America;" "about 55 million (20% of our population) suffer from it;" Americans "spend over $2 billion a year on over-the-counter heartburn medications." Yet one study documented that more than half of hearburn sufferers who took antacids "for more than ten years developed serious illnesses."
The author is recognized worldwide as an authority of what he's written about. Among his very imnpressive credentials is his being Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology for the School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University.
The book's last chapter is encouraging. It points out that research for new remedies is extensive. One the horizon are new medications "to block acid secretion;" surgery that "does not require an incision;" "genetic advances;" and more.
But don't want: if you suffer from heartburn, seek professional help NOW---and one of the best places to start is by reading this book.
