Irritable bowel syndrome: an underestimated condition
Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.
More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.Irritable bowel syndrome can also be emotionally stressful - especially if the disease is accompanied by diarrhea. Some patients even have suicidal thoughts during the worst phases.
Researchers led by Prof. Hans Törnblom from the Department of Internal Medicine & Clinical Nutrition at the University of Gothenburg interviewed 513 irritable bowel patients who suffered from diarrhea, among other things.
Robbed joie de vivre
Respondents were most concerned about the urgency with which they had to go to the toilet because of their diarrhea and the exhaustion that overwhelmed them an average of 18 days per month. One in four also stated that the illness robbed them of their joie de vivre. 11 percent even agreed with the statement: "If my irritable bowel is bad, I wish I were dead".
More than one in three patients said they were constantly worried about whether and when the irritable bowel symptoms would occur. One in five was convinced that the disease had a negative impact on their working life.
"Do whatever helps"
Although irritable bowel symptoms are intermittent, one in two people would be willing to take medication every day for the rest of their life if it helped. Almost as many said they would "do anything to get the complaints under control".
In addition, irritable bowel syndrome patients often suffer from other physical or mental illnesses. One in three people has an anxiety disorder, one in four has depression and the same number of migraines.
Not taken seriously by doctors
Despite the high level of suffering, a third of those questioned felt that their doctor was not taking them seriously and would like more support. "Living with irritable bowel syndrome can be extremely hard, emotionally stressful and difficult," says study leader Törnblom.
In addition to treating physical symptoms, patients should also be offered psychological and emotional support, the scientist said. This support should come from the doctors, but also from family members and friends.
Most irritable bowel patients did not seek medical advice for their symptoms, says Törnblom. A large proportion of those who tried it were very dissatisfied with the outcome of the therapy.
In fact, irritable bowel syndrome is difficult to treat. It is often a long and frustrating journey to find the best therapeutic option for a patient.
Ten million people affected
Abdominal pain, gas, and diarrhea or constipation are the main symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Around ten million people in Germany suffer from it - some severely, others less.
Since the mechanisms of the disease are not yet fully understood, only the symptoms can be alleviated, not the causes treated. The disease often first appears between the ages of 20 and 30. Women are affected about twice as often as men.
