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Part I The Gastrointestinal System and Digestive Problems: A Fundamental Primer |
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1 Gastrointestinal Anatomy and Function: A High-Yield Overview |
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3 | (10) |
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Anatomy of the GI System: What it Consists of |
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4 | (4) |
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4 | (3) |
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Accessory Organs and Structures |
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7 | (1) |
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Function of the GI System: How it Works |
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8 | (2) |
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Six Main Functions of the GI System |
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8 | (2) |
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Organic Versus Functional GI Disorders |
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10 | (1) |
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11 | (1) |
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12 | (1) |
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2 The Burden of Digestive Problems: Common and Impactful |
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13 | (4) |
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A Disclaimer about Assessing the Burden of Digestive Problems |
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13 | (1) |
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Digestive Problems Are Common and Have a Profound Impact Nationally |
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14 | (1) |
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Burden OF Digestive Problems at the Individual Level |
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15 | (1) |
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15 | (1) |
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16 | (1) |
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3 Distinguishing Benign Symptoms from Red Flags |
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17 | (6) |
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What Makes a Symptom "Benign"? |
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17 | (1) |
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The Different Meanings of "Benign": Context Matters |
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17 | (1) |
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Potential Confusion Surrounding the Term "Benign" |
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17 | (1) |
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What Are "Red Flags" in Medicine? |
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18 | (2) |
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"Red Flags" don't Always Indicate Doom and Gloom |
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19 | (1) |
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20 | (1) |
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20 | (3) |
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Part II Triggers and Causes of Digestive Problems: A Broad Spectrum of Possibilities |
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4 Genes, Food, Environment, and Beyond |
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23 | (12) |
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What Types of Things can Trigger Digestive Problems? |
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23 | (1) |
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24 | (3) |
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25 | (1) |
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25 | (1) |
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26 | (1) |
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26 | (1) |
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27 | (2) |
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27 | (1) |
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28 | (1) |
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28 | (1) |
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28 | (1) |
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29 | (1) |
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29 | (2) |
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Mental Health and Psychosocial Issues |
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30 | (1) |
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30 | (1) |
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30 | (1) |
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Caveats Regarding the Relationship Between Triggers and Digestive Problems |
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31 | (2) |
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33 | (1) |
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34 | (1) |
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5 Flow Problems: Digestive Tract Blockages and Dysmotility |
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35 | (8) |
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What Causes Problems with GI Flow |
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35 | (3) |
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36 | (1) |
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Digestive Tract Dysmotility |
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37 | (1) |
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What Are the Symptoms of Flow Problems? |
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38 | (1) |
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Bloating: A Common Problem that Is Sometimes but Not Always Due to Flow Issues |
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39 | (2) |
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39 | (1) |
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Increased Production of Gas |
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40 | (1) |
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Abnormal Dissipation of Gas |
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40 | (1) |
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41 | (1) |
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41 | (2) |
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6 The Intestinal Microbiome: Friends, Foes, and Unknowns |
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43 | (6) |
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A Primer on the Immune System: A Starting Point for Understanding the Microbiome |
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43 | (1) |
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What Constitutes the Intestinal Microbiome? |
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43 | (2) |
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What Is the Relationship Between the Intestinal Microbiome and Digestive Problems? |
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45 | (1) |
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What to Do about my Intestinal Microbiome |
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46 | (1) |
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47 | (1) |
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47 | (2) |
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7 The Role of Stress and Psychological Factors |
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49 | (8) |
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A Disclaimer on Stress, Psychological Factors, and Functional Disorders |
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49 | (1) |
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Stress and Digestive Problems |
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50 | (1) |
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51 | (1) |
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Psychological Factors and Digestive Problems |
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51 | (2) |
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What to Do about Psychological Factors? |
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52 | (1) |
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53 | (1) |
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53 | (4) |
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Part III Medical Evaluation and Diagnosis: Pearls, Pitfalls, and What I Wish I Knew Sooner |
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8 Effectively Navigating the Path to Seeing a Subspecialist |
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57 | (8) |
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An Overview of "Referrals" |
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57 | (2) |
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What Is a "Referral", and What Purpose Does it Serve? |
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57 | (1) |
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Who Makes Referrals to Gastroenterology, and Why Does this Matter? |
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58 | (1) |
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Steps after a Referral Is Received |
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58 | (1) |
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The Referring Provider as the Hub |
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59 | (4) |
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Interface Between Patient and the Referring Provider: The Basis of the Referral |
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60 | (2) |
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Interface Between the Referring Provider and Subspecialist: The Pitch of the Referral |
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62 | (1) |
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When Time Comes to See the Subspecialist |
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63 | (1) |
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63 | (1) |
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64 | (1) |
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9 Following a Practical Sequence in Testing |
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65 | (6) |
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Components and Sequence of the Medical Diagnostic Evalution |
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65 | (2) |
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When Is (Further) Testing Needed? |
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67 | (1) |
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Instances Where the Usual Testing Sequence May Not Be Best |
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68 | (1) |
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69 | (1) |
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How Do I Know if My Evaluation Is Complete? |
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69 | (1) |
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70 | (1) |
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70 | (1) |
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10 The Unifying Diagnosis: Often but Not Always Correct |
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71 | (4) |
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Basis of the Unifying Diagnosis |
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71 | (1) |
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Problems with the Unifying Diagnosis |
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72 | (1) |
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The Unifying Diagnosis: Use Only if it Fits |
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73 | (1) |
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73 | (1) |
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74 | (1) |
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11 Seeking a Second Opinion: When and Where |
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75 | (10) |
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Should I Obtain a Second Opinion? |
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75 | (2) |
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The Benefits of a Second Opinion |
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75 | (1) |
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Situations that Merit a Second Opinion |
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76 | (1) |
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Concerns Around Getting a Second Opinion |
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77 | (1) |
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Where and How to Obtain a Second Opinion |
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78 | (2) |
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Where to Go for a Second Opinion |
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78 | (1) |
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How to Go About Obtaining a Second Opinion |
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79 | (1) |
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Digestive Problem Scenarios Where You May Benefit from a Second Opinion |
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80 | (2) |
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82 | (1) |
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82 | (3) |
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Part IV Treatments and Solutions: Each Patient Is Unique, and One Size Doesn't Fit All |
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12 Initial Approaches: Lifestyle and Dietary Modifications |
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85 | (12) |
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The Association Between Lifestyle, Diet, and Digestive Problems |
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85 | (1) |
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Areas for Reflection and Potential Modification |
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86 | (6) |
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87 | (1) |
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87 | (1) |
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87 | (1) |
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88 | (1) |
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89 | (3) |
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92 | (1) |
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Changes that Come with the Aging Process |
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92 | (3) |
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Lactose Intolerance and Food Sensitivity |
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93 | (1) |
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A Tendency Toward Constipation |
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93 | (1) |
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Diverticulosis and Diverticular Disease |
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94 | (1) |
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95 | (1) |
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95 | (2) |
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13 Over-the-Counter and Prescription Medications |
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97 | (10) |
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OTC Medications for Digestive Disorders |
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97 | (4) |
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Advantages of OTC Medications |
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97 | (3) |
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Disadvantages to OTC Medications |
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100 | (1) |
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Prescription Medications for Digestive Problems: Guiding Principles |
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101 | (4) |
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102 | (1) |
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102 | (1) |
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When to Anticipate the Medication to Take Effect |
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103 | (1) |
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Even a "Good" Prescription Medication Can Be Ineffective or Cause Adverse Effects |
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103 | (1) |
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104 | (1) |
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The Optimal Long-Term Dose |
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104 | (1) |
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When/Whether to Consider Switching |
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104 | (1) |
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105 | (1) |
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105 | (2) |
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14 Complementary and Alternative Medicine Approaches |
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107 | (12) |
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107 | (3) |
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Confusion Regarding the Expression "CAM" |
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107 | (2) |
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109 | (1) |
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The First Subgroup of CAM: Natural Products |
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110 | (3) |
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Things to Bear in Mind Regarding Natural Products |
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110 | (2) |
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112 | (1) |
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The Second Subgroup of cam: Mind-Body Medicine |
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113 | (4) |
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114 | (3) |
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Integrative Medicine: Taking cam to the Next Level |
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117 | (1) |
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117 | (1) |
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118 | (1) |
Index |
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119 | |