14-20 July Gut Week

It’s important to be regular!

The UK population is sitting on a potential time bomb of gut-related illnesses, according to a new survey to mark the 10th annual Gut Week. The survey revealed nearly half (45%) of the UK population suffer from irregular bowel habits, but maybe oblivious to the fact that irregularity in bowel movement is the first sign medics note as an indicator of possible serious digestive disease, including colorectal cancer and colitis.

The survey by Yakult showed two thirds of people are not even aware that bowel movement is such an important indicator of general health. In fact, 40% of people would not even consider seeking advice if they noticed a change in their bowel habits.

Dr Simon Gabe, consultant gastroenterologist at St Mark’s Hospital, Harrow, is concerned about the lack of basic health knowledge among the UK population. He said: “Any change in bowel habit should always be investigated to ensure it is not an indicator of a more serious digestive problem. Bowel movement is something some people take for granted, so next time people visit the loo they should consider the need to be regular, and if their own habit is cause for concern, talk to a doctor.”
Suffering from digestive disorders affects millions of people in the UK. One third of people in the UK suffer from digestive symptoms such as constipation, diarrhoea and stomach aches at any one time.

Part of the problem could be the embarrassment experienced by people when talking to doctors about gut-related illnesses. The survey highlighted that just over a third of people said they feel uncomfortable with the language needed to communicate gut-related problems to their doctor as they feel embarrassed and self-conscious.

A new website www.loveyourgut.com has been launched to help people and give advice. Organised by the Gut Week partners - digestive health charities Core, The Gut Trust, St Mark’s Hospital, Harrow, and in association with Yakult - the website offers practical advice and information on gut-related problems. It also includes advice on how to maintain gut health and ensure a regular bowel habit.

(Back to healthy eating)