Women Urged not to Ignore Digestive Discomfort

Poor digestive health could lead to more serious illnesses like colorectal cancer yet two-thirds of women experiencing digestive discomfort such as bloating or excess gas don’t consult their doctor about it , according to a survey by Danone. Younger women, aged 25-34, are least likely to seek medical advice.

The most common digestive issues are flatulence, bloating, slow transit and feeling heavy. Over half of the 650 Irish women who took part in the survey said they have suffered from these discomforts.

The findings were released last week to coincide with World Digestive Health Day, which took place on 29 May 2008.

• 4 in 5 Irish women believe that they have a healthy digestive system but 66% still experience bloated feelings.
• A quarter of all respondents suffer from gas or flatulence on daily basis and the majority of them said that it affects their daily life.
• Women who reported the worst digestive discomfort consumed a lot of foods that are known to aggravate digestive health such as fried or fatty foods.
• 17% of the younger working women surveyed skip breakfast, the most important meal for jumpstarting the day’s digestive process.
• 88% believed that probiotic yoghurts were good for the digestive system but only 28% ate them daily.

Prof Eamonn Quigley, President of World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) and Consultant Gastroenterologist at Cork University Hospital (CUH), said: “ Digestive disorders affect a significant percent of the population and can lead to serious conditions such as colon cancer. We believe that nutrition is integral to digestive health and overall health and within nutrition, daily probiotics can play a major role in improving digestive health.”

Paula Mee, independent nutritionist, said: “Digestive health is an excellent indicator of our overall health. Discomfort isn’t just something women get from time to time and it really isn’t something that should be ignored. If you do experience it, first check your diet – eat lots of fruit and veg, wholegrains and try a probiotic yogurt that has scientifically proven benefits. Also, try to eat more slowly, make sure you drink plenty of fluids and try and do regular exercise. If things don’t improve, talk to your local practice nurse or GP.”

More information on digestive health can be found at www.activedigestivehealth.com or www.wgofoundation.org for information on the World Gastroenterology Organisation and their global programmes.

Posted Tuesday 3rd June 2008