There’s nothing worse than tummy troubles. From causing embarrassment, or leaving your jeans feeling that little bit too tight, bowel problems can affect your busy social life.
In Ireland, one in five of us has a problem with irritable bowels, with those most commonly affected aged in their 20s and 30s.
We talk to Dr.Pixie McKenna of Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies fame about what digestion issue symptoms you should be looking out for, what foods to avoid and when you should be booking a trip to the doctors…
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Her: What are the main symptoms of digestion issues women should look out for with digestion issues?
Dr. Pixie: Well one of the main things women should be looking out for is bloating of the gut area or tummy. Anything like changes in weight, changes in bowel habits or discomfort in the tummy area should be monitored. That’s where you’re most likely to pick up any bowel inflammation.
Her: Are digestion issues genetic?
Dr. Pixie: Incredibly, 1 in 5 people in Ireland are going to suffer from some type of bowel problem. What I would say is that a lot of things can run in families because there is a common diet or lifestyle adapted by the whole family. That all plays a part in your digestion – the foods you eat, the exercise you do to break it down. Also coeliac disease is really common in Ireland and that can cause irregularities in your digestion, which would be more of a genetic thing in families.
Her: Can digestion issues be early warning signs for wider issues or conditions?
Dr. Pixie: Well bloating comes and goes for most women, but if there is persistent bloating, especially if it’s making you uncomfortable, you should take yourself to see a doctor. Again, if there’s a change in your bowel habits, passing of blood in the bathroom or if there’s a weight loss, you really need to get it checked out straight away. Also, things like constant tiredness or shortness of breath are worth noting if you’re suffering from a bloated tummy or discomfort.
Symptoms for digestion problems shouldn’t really be lasting more than three weeks, and constant changes in your bowel or tummy could be early signs of ovarian cancer so it’s good to keep an eye on any differences you notice. If you’re worried, or have the same problems for a couple of days, well then it’s time to go see your doctor.
Her: What foods should we be eating to best help our digestion problems? What foods should we alleviate for irritated tummies?
Dr.Pixie: Well, best foods would be the obvious things like fruit, veg and wholemeal foods. But it’s just as important to look at how we eat than just what we eat. I’d be suggesting that you’re eating more than just convenience food with little nutritional value and that you’re eating smaller meals regular and often and getting.
As for things to alleviate, people really need to stop drinking fizzy drinks. They’re quite bad for you and can really irritate the gut. Also, as I was saying earlier, eating on the train/car means you’re probably picking up something really high in fats and sugar and with little use to your nutrition. Washing down five pints with a curry is really a bad idea too. Avoid spices and curries, or drinking too much alcohol.
Her: What natural remedies might help if you’re suffering some tummy troubles?
Dr. Pixie: Try drinking some peppermint tea after your meals. This can really help relax the gut and stop bloating. Or a traditional old wives remedy which you might have in a kitchen press, and is definitely useful for any bakers, is taking a teaspoon of baking soda with a glass of water. It can be great for settling digestion problems in the tummy.
Her: So, when should you go straight to the doctors?
Dr. Pixie: For any symptoms lasting three to five weeks, or if your symptoms aren’t improving with over the counter antacids, you need to go see your GP. Be honest about your eating habits and try and give as much information as possible, like family histories of coeliac disease, ulcers or stomach problems.
Her: How common are digestion issues to Embarrassing Bodies case studies?
Dr. Pixie: A lot of the cases we see on the show deal with digestion, about 1 in 5 I’d say. We tend to see every end of the spectrum, from flatulence and bloating to bowel or tract irritation. It’s a lot more common that people might admit to, but gut problems would bring a lot of people into the clinics.
Her: What has been the most surprising ailment you’ve seen since opening the Embarrassing Bodies clinic?
Dr. Pixie: It’s not really a person that’s surprised me, more than the fact that some people wait so long before they go see a doctor. We’ve literally had people who have waited 10 years, suffering with symptoms, but they’re too embarrassed to go to a doctor. The mind sometimes boggles, ‘cause you have to relay to them that as a GP you’ve literally seen it all.
Every GP has seen most things, so it’s really unlikely that you’ll have the worst thing we’ve ever seen. I think that’s really important to bear in mind.
Her: What would be your top advice to any women looking to take better care of their health?
Dr. Pixie: I know that personally, I’m a terrible patient, but what I would say is that we all could probably do with being better patients. I’m not saying that we need to say less to the doctor, or go less frequently, but just being mindful of little things can really help with our overall health.
We all give out about the health service, and there isn’t enough money to go around, but we need to make sure we’re better patients too. I know the system is far from perfect, but we can do our part by making sure to turnup to appointments, and to do it on time. If you’re given antibiotics or treatments, make sure you do the full course for the real benefits.
Also, we’re awful for going to a doctor once and being told that there’s little that can be done to help the situation. But this could have been 10 years ago. I’d really suggest getting a second opinion if you’re not happy that there are persisting symptoms after treatment or you feel like more could be done. Don’t forget as well that medicine is constantly developing, so what we had a few years ago is practically ancient. It’s definitely worth stopping by your GP if old issues are persisting.
Then the last thing might sound obvious, but there’s no point in taking medication or visiting your doctor if you’re going to go out, drinks loads, eat badly and not take care of yourself. If you start looking after yourself properly from the outside in, you’ll notice it has an overall positive knock-on effect for your whole body.
Dr. Pixie Mc Kenna is an ambassador for Maalox Plus indigestion medication. For more information, visit the website here.
