Gut Feelings

 

If the holiday season has your stomach tied in knots, or just queasy from too much eggnog, you can receive help, courtesy of the American Digestive Disease society (ADDS). According to Dr. Arnold Levy, associate clinical professor at George Washington University Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and ADDS vice-president for education, holidays are a prime time for stomach problems, provoked by the rush of last-minute shopping, parties, overeating, or a sense of loneliness.

You can call the ADDS "Gutline" at (301) 6529293, and ask questions on stomach disorders to a team of gastroenterologist volunteers. According to Dr. Levy, many of the callers are executives with problems not usually discussed in public, including heartburn, constipation, and gas pains. The doctors also attempt to dispel a patient's guilt, tension, and trauma that can often cause stomach complaints.

The Gutline is open to calls Tuesday and Thursday, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m