Stress, travel, changes in diet and routine are all part of the holiday season and can contribute to constipation. It’s no surprise that December is National Constipation Awareness Month, since so many holiday-related activities can impact gut health.
This is especially important to the estimated 13 million adults suffering from irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and 35 million adults suffering from chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in the U.S.1-3
Tips for Managing Gut Health, Especially for Those Suffering from IBS-C and CIC:
- Stay Hydrated: Between holiday shopping and running from one gathering to the next, it can be easy to overlook your fluid intake, or lack thereof. There’s a direct correlation between dehydration and constipation, so it’s important to drink water regularly to help avoid getting “backed up.”4
- Fill Up on Fiber: It’s hard to diet with so many indulgent options laid out in front of you, but make sure you don’t skimp on fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Not only may these foods help fill you up so you’re not consuming so many of the more gluttonous options but mixing in these healthier foods may also help keep you regular, so you’re not stuck in the bathroom all through dessert.5
- Stick with Your Routine: If you’re going to be traveling, get yourself into a regular food and bathroom routine a few weeks beforehand. Eating around the same time as you do at home can help maintain your normal bathroom schedule, helping to keep you regular.6
- Stay Active: It’s easy to pop the top button of your pants and collapse on the couch following a big meal, but make sure you stay active. Added movement such as taking a walk can help keep things moving through your system.7
Surprisingly, a recent survey shows that 2-in-5 IBS-C sufferers and 3-in-5 CIC sufferers never seek medical care.8
Join me in a recent interview with gastroenterologist, Samantha Nazareth, MD, as she talked about how to identify signs of IBS-C or CIC as well as ways to manage recurring symptoms proactively and when to speak to your healthcare provider. Dr. Nazareth will be joined by an IBS-C patient who will share her first-hand experience with the condition.
See the entire interview here:
Go to http://www.linzess.com for more information.
1. Age and Sex Composition: 2010. U.S. Census Bureau. May 2011. 2. Brandt LJ, Prather CM, Quigley EMM, Schiller LR, Schoenfeld P, Talley NJ. Systematic review on the management of chronic constipation in North America. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005; 100(100):S1-S21. 3. Data on file. Allergan, plc. 4. Arnaud MJ. Mild dehydration: a risk factor of constipation.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2003; 57(2): S88-S95. 5. Buttriss JL, Stokes CS. Dietary fibre and health: an overview. British Nutrition Foundation.Nutrition Bulletin. 2008; 33:186-200. 6. Pot GK, et al. Meal irregularity and cardiometabolic consequences: results from observational and intervention studies.Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 2016; 75:475–486. 7. Daley AJ, et al. The Effects of Exercise upon Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients Diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomised Controlled Trial.Int J Sports Medicine. 2008. 8. “Laxative Use in CIC and IBS-C Sufferers & HCP Patients” Survey. Allergan USA, Inc., Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; March 2018.
Interview is courtesy: Allergan and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.