Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

Why Irritable Bowel Syndrome Is Rising Among Young Working Adults

A growing number of young professionals aged 18 to 30 are being diagnosed with <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/irritable-bowel-syndrome">Irritable Bowel Syndrome</a> (IBS), a trend that is linked to the pressures and habits of modern life, said health experts today.

World Irritable Bowel Syndrome Day is held annually on April 19th to raise global awareness, reduce stigma, and support the roughly 700 million people worldwide suffering from the condition. 

According to health experts, the combination of long hours in the office, irregular diets, high-stress levels, and lack of physical activity has paved the way for a lifestyle that is making young adults increasingly susceptible to developing symptoms related to their gut.

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Nidhi Rawal, Consultant - Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, Rainbow Hospital, explained the major risk factors that are taking a visible toll on digestive health.

1. Chronic stress

Young professionals are faced with a fast-paced job environment full of obstacles and demands that they experience daily, along with performance pressure and increased digital overload; all of these factors can hurt the gut-brain axis. 

When the gut-brain axis becomes disrupted, the motility and sensitivity of the digestive system can be affected, producing gut-related symptoms, such as abdominal discomfort, excessive gas, and changes in bowel movements.

The increased reliance on processed foods, increased frequency of ordering takeout and fast food, excessive caffeine consumption, and irregular meal schedules can disrupt digestion and alter the balance of healthy vs unhealthy microbiota in the digestive tract.

Skipping meals or eating a late dinner can also raise risk of IBS, and worsen symptoms.

Being sedentary for long periods of time results in slowing the digestion process and therefore increases the risk of constipation and bloating.

Common among people in this age group, this also affect hormones and digestion negatively. 

6. Better access to diagnostic tests

Better access to diagnostic tests and awareness are leading to an increase in diagnosis of the condition, that can also enable faster treatment and early recovery.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common but often overlooked gastrointestinal disorder, and less than 15 per cent get diagnosed. 

<ul><li>bloated abdomen, </li><li>abdominal pain, </li><li>gas, </li><li>diarrhea, </li><li>constipation.</li></ul>

<h2>Why IBS Symptoms Are Often Ignored</h2>

IBS remains undiagnosed for many years as people tend to normalize these symptoms over time or attribute them to "something they ate" or everyday stresses. 

One reason for this delay in being diagnosed is that the symptoms occur intermittently. 

It is also important to note that the presentation of these symptoms is inconsistent and unpredictable; there may be episodes where the IBS can last many days, and then completely resolve, thus providing a false sense of relief. 

Therefore, many individuals choose to delay consulting with a physician due to their belief that the symptoms they are experiencing are not serious. 

Another contributing factor is that there is still a degree of reluctance or discomfort associated with discussing problems related to the gastrointestinal tract openly; this only further complicates under-reporting statistics. 

IBS is a functional disorder. Therefore, routine diagnostic testing will not reveal any visible abnormalities. 

Many patients may assume that the symptoms they are experiencing are not "real" or are not significant enough to warrant seeking medical attention, even though the discomfort they experience can be quite significant and affect their daily lives. 

To treat IBS effectively, those suffering from it need to adopt some lifestyle changes, such as

Health Conditions A-Z

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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irregular diets

stress

lifestyle changes

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A growing number of young professionals aged 18 to 30 are being diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a trend that is linked to the pressures and habits of modern life, said health experts today. World Irritable Bowel Syndrome Day is held annually on April 19th to raise global awareness, reduce stigma, and support the roughly 700 million people worldwide suffering from the condition.  According to health experts, the combination of long hours in the office, irregular diets, high-stress levels, and lack of physical activity has paved the way for a lifestyle that is making young adults increasingly susceptible to developing symptoms related to their gut.  Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Nidhi Rawal, Consultant - Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, Rainbow Hospital, explained the major risk factors that are taking a visible toll on digestive health. 1. Chronic stress Young professionals are faced with a fast-paced job environment full of obstacles and demands that they experience daily, along with performance pressure and increased digital overload; all of these factors can hurt the gut-brain axis. When the gut-brain axis becomes disrupted, the motility and sensitivity of the digestive system can be affected, producing gut-related symptoms, such as abdominal discomfort, excessive gas, and changes in bowel movements. 2. Dietary habits The increased reliance on processed foods, increased frequency of ordering takeout and fast food, excessive caffeine consumption, and irregular meal schedules can disrupt digestion and alter the balance of healthy vs unhealthy microbiota in the digestive tract. 3. Skipping mealsSkipping meals or eating a late dinner can also raise risk of IBS, and worsen symptoms.4. Lack of physical activity Being sedentary for long periods of time results in slowing the digestion process and therefore increases the risk of constipation and bloating. 5. Poor sleeping habitsCommon among people in this age group, this also affect hormones and digestion negatively. 6. Better access to diagnostic tests Better access to diagnostic tests and awareness are leading to an increase in diagnosis of the condition, that can also enable faster treatment and early recovery.What Is IBS? Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common but often overlooked gastrointestinal disorder, and less than 15 per cent get diagnosed. Common symptoms include bloated abdomen, abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea, constipation. Why IBS Symptoms Are Often Ignored IBS remains undiagnosed for many years as people tend to normalize these symptoms over time or attribute them to "something they ate" or everyday stresses. One reason for this delay in being diagnosed is that the symptoms occur intermittently. It is also important to note that the presentation of these symptoms is inconsistent and unpredictable; there may be episodes where the IBS can last many days, and then completely resolve, thus providing a false sense of relief. Therefore, many individuals choose to delay consulting with a physician due to their belief that the symptoms they are experiencing are not serious. Another contributing factor is that there is still a degree of reluctance or discomfort associated with discussing problems related to the gastrointestinal tract openly; this only further complicates under-reporting statistics. IBS is a functional disorder. Therefore, routine diagnostic testing will not reveal any visible abnormalities. Many patients may assume that the symptoms they are experiencing are not "real" or are not significant enough to warrant seeking medical attention, even though the discomfort they experience can be quite significant and affect their daily lives. To treat IBS effectively, those suffering from it need to adopt some lifestyle changes, such asRegular mealtimes, A balanced diet, Exercise, Stress reduction.