11. Case studies
Case study 3
David is the landlord of the local pub and is in his early fifties. He is very overweight and you
are aware that he smokes between 20 and 30 cigarettes a day. He frequently suffers from
constipation and has previously complained of feeling bloated. The bloating is particularly bad
at the moment and he is looking for a treatment that will help to settle this. |
Consider the questions you would need to ask David and what treatment you would recommend.
Case study 3 - Answer
David is overweight, a smoker and leads a sedentary lifestyle. Lifestyle advice is an important part of this consultation, since the symptoms are reasonably mild and David has not made any attempt to alter his lifestyle to help his symptoms. David lives alone in the pub and admits that he will often choose the fatty, fried foods which are on the menu, and has irregular meal times. You also find out that David is regularly eating dinner once the pub closes at midnight and is rushing his meal so that he can get to bed.
David should be encouraged to eat lighter, healthier, meals at regular times throughout the day to avoid eating a large meal late at night. This is a perfect opportunity to also talk to David about smoking and give him advice on ways to give up. In addition, you should stress the health benefits of regular exercise and encourage David to be more active. The lifestyle advice is key to this consultation, but you could also recommend a motility restorer, to help ease the bloating.
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