Digestive complaints such as constipation, diarrhoea, heartburn and bloating are very common and usually treatable with lifestyle measures and medicines you can buy without a prescription from a pharmacy.
Around 4 in 10 people have at least one digestive symptom at any one time, according to Dr Anton Emmanuel, consultant gastroenterologist at University College Hospital in London.
The most common are:
- Stomach Ache
- Changes in bowel habit (usually constipation or diarrhoea)
- Indigestion
- Heartburn
- “Most digestive problems are to do with lifestyle, the foods we’ve eaten, or stress. Which means that taking steps to change your lifestyle can help, and often prevent, many of these problems,”
“There’s a wide choice of pharmacy medicines for heartburn, indigestion and similar problems that are very good for short-term relief of symptoms,” he adds.Diarrhea and other digestive problems are no fun, especially for people who suffer from them often.
Such problems can be the result of bacteria in food, infection, stress, certain medications, or chronic medical conditions such as colitis, Crohn’s disease, and IBS. But no matter the cause, anyone who has frequent digestive problems faces daily challenges and potential embarrassments.
Do you schedule your activities around your bathroom breaks? Do you turn down invitations and avoid activities in public because you fear having an accident? If that sounds like you, rest assured you’re not alone.
Your doctor can suggest dietary guidelines and may prescribe medication to improve your digestive dilemma. But between checkups, you can take steps that will help you get through each day in greater comfort and ease.