Читать книгу The Good Gut Guide: Help for IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis, Food Allergies and Other Gut Problems - Stephanie Zinser - Страница 49

Doctors see hundreds of patients every week and they’re all different. Some patients are very shy and have difficulty expressing their problems; others are hilariously frank. Some patients, often the elderly, are quite embarrassed about being examined by a doctor of the opposite sex. People living in certain cultures find various forms of nudity degrading or contrary to their religious beliefs. Asian women, for example, traditionally cover their legs, upper body and upper arms, and may find hospital gowns uncomfortably revealing. Asian men, by contrast, cover themselves from the waist to the knees and even in the presence of other men they may find nakedness humiliating. Some religions consider all body secretions to be unclean or polluting and people may not only have difficulty discussing them, but may need to observe religious rituals with respect to cleansing – for example, they may need running water (as opposed to bathing) to wash themselves in hospital. In addition, some cultures view medicines in a way that may not be known to the doctor: for instance, the notion of taking pills as a preventative measure is not always readily accepted, and having a stoma is hugely stigmatized in some communities.

This is not a trivial point when it comes to digestive health: according to a health survey of minority groups, Bangladeshi, Irish and Indian men suffer more with long-term digestive problems compared to the general population. The same is true for women of Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Irish origin.

When it comes to health, people are embarrassed and uncommunicative for a whole host of reasons – and doctors are not mind readers. Don’t assume your doctor will automatically know, for example, that you are shy about him examining your body. If you are, tell him. If you are scared to talk about your problem for fear that it is serious, let him know up-front. Get your doctor on your side by telling him how you feel. One honest exchange can spare a dozen embarrassing moments.