HealthLinks Upstate July/August 2020

32 | www.UpstatePhysiciansSC.com | www.HealthLinksUpstate.com GUT HEALTH By the Numbers In 21.1% of visits to a physician for digestive disorders, patients are diagnosed with esophageal reflux disease. According to the National GI Survey, 61% of the population reported AT LEAST ONE GI symptom (hearburn/reflux, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and constipation) during the past week. Digestive disorders affect 60 MILLION TO 70 MILLION people in the United States. Most people do not get even the minimal amount of fiber in their diets. For men, that’s 38 GRAMS . Women should get 25 GRAMS . 70% of a person’s immune system is in their gut. The American College of Gastroenterology said IBS is the most common disease diagnosed by gastroenterologists. It estimates that 10% to 15% of adults suffer from its symptoms. “It’s more of a functional problem than a life-threatening problem,” according to Dr. Yarborough. But if symptoms persist more than a couple of weeks or are severe, it may be a sign there’s an underlying problem that needs attention, said Dr. Lori Robbins, a gastroenterologist with Charleston-based Palmetto Digestive Health Specialists. Symptoms that should prompt immediate medical care include weight loss without a good reason, blood in the stool, black stool, severe vomiting, severe stomachaches and trouble swallowing food, Dr. Robbins said. “Both IBS and inflammatory bowel disease interrupt a per - son’s daily lifestyle,” she said. “With IBS, there are not typically long-term physical consequences if left untreated. Inflamma - tory bowel disease is an inflammatory disorder that can have potential long-term complications. There is no cure, but there are medicines to treat it.” Besides eating more fiber and cutting back on processed foods, you can improve your gut health by avoiding unneces- sary antibiotics, which kill good bacteria as well as bad, Dr. Yarborough said. Getting enough sleep and staying hydrated also promote gut health, he added. Stress affects gut health, and Dr. Bul- siewicz said he’s seeing more patients with gastrointestinal problems having flare-ups during the coronavirus pandemic. “We’re all feeling the threat of COVID-19, whether it’s from a health perspective, financial stress or change in rou - tine. Stress can alter the balance of microbes and induce dysbiosis,” he said. In times of stress, we often reach for junk food and alcohol, something that Dr. Bulsiewicz said is no coincidence because our microbiome controls our cravings. “Now more than ever requires a conscious effort to nurture a healthy gut microbiome,” he concluded. (Sources: CDC, the Harvard Medical School, the American Journal of Gastroenterology, and Dr. Will Bulsiewicz. ) Listen to our podcast channel for more information on this subject. www.healthlinkspodcast.com. Up to 100 TRILLION bacteria – both good and bad – live inside the human digestive system. When we’re not getting fiber, we’re not feeding our gut. We’re loading up on processed foods and animal products that have no fiber, and we’re creating a formula for illness.

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1