Irritable Bowel Syndrome: What Causes It And How To Control IBS


Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a very common debilitating gastrointestinal disorder that affects people in different ways. It is estimated that between 8% and 20% of the adult population are affected, mainly women between the ages of 30 and 60 years, and typical symptoms include chronic abdominal pain, bloating, and varying bouts of constipation and diarrhoea.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is termed a ‘functional disorder’. A functional disorder is a medical condition that impairs the normal function of the body where every part of the body looks completely normal under examination. We do not fully understand IBS since it is a very complex condition, but sufferers can exhibit a combination of different symptoms and signs such as abdominal bloating, constipation (IBS-C), diarrhoea (IBS-D) or alternating between both (IBS-A). Read More…

How to Ease Post-nasal Drip


Q: I am 30 and have post-nasal drip, which makes it very hard to breathe, particularly as I am also asthmatic. I would like to feel well, especially around Christmas, but the doctor is very dismissive.

A: Pharmacist Shabir Daya has helped many people with this problem so I asked him for his advice. He explains that post-nasal drip (PND) is associated with excessive production of mucus by the respiratory tract in the nose, which then accumulates at the back of the throat or in the nasal cavity. This causes problems with breathing.

The big culprits tend to be acid-producing foods, especially dairy products, tomatoes and potatoes. So cut down on these as much as possible. Try swapping cow’s milk for almond, rice or oat milk (available from good supermarkets nationwide). Some asthmatics also find it helps to cut down on gluten too. Read More…