Keeping Active Helps Irritable Bowel Patients Cope

Reuters ^ | 10/21/02 | Roxanne Nelson

[TC Rider]

Keeping Active Helps Irritable Bowel Patients Cope
Mon Oct 21, 5:27 PM ET
By Roxanne Nelson

SEATTLE (Reuters Health) - Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) significantly impairs quality of life, burdens patients with high out-of-pocket costs and causes losses in productivity, according to findings presented Sunday at the American College of Gastroenterology's annual meeting. However, a related study, also presented on Sunday, found that exercise may help patients to cope with their disorder.

IBS is estimated to affect up to 20% of the US population, primarily women, yet there is no cure or even an effective treatment, explained lead author Dr. Mugdha Gore, who is with Avalon Health Solutions. The condition is characterized by a cluster of symptoms including bouts of constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating. The cause of the condition is unknown.

"This leads to patients trying out numerous drugs and other treatments, much of which is paid out-of-pocket since they are not recognized by their insurance company or HMO," she told Reuters Health.

Gore and colleagues conducted a survey of members of the Intestinal Disease Foundation, a national patient advocacy group. The questions covered topics such as disease history, symptom frequency, healthcare utilization, medication use, out-of-pocket expenses and impact of symptoms on productivity and functioning.

Of 657 respondents, 97% reported having two or more consults with a healthcare professional in the last 3 months, and 75% reported four or more. Most patients said they had used over-the-counter and prescription medications and alternative modalities, with 89% taking at least three therapies. The average out of pocket expenditure was $258 during the past 3 months.

Of those who were employed, 39% had missed work, 34% reported leaving early, and 33% said their productivity was decreased during the 3 months preceding the study.

"This is still a disease that is not taken seriously," Gore explained, "even though it impairs all aspects of a person's life."

According to the survey, only one third of respondents reported satisfaction with currently available treatments.

A related study found that an increase in physical activity was associated with a better quality of life among IBS patients, and results suggest that a higher level of physical activity may help them manage their illness.

"Ours is the first study to look at the role of physical activity in this population, even though exercise has been advocated as a treatment modality," lead author Dr. Ashok K. Tuteja told Reuters Health. "Decreased physical activity will not increase the prevalence of IBS, but people who are more active will have a better perception and it helps them in coping with it."

Tuteja, who is from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and colleagues performed a study that evaluated the association between quality of life and exercise. In response to a questionnaire sent to 1,069 employees of the Veterans Affairs Health Care System, inquiring about bowel habits, quality of life and physical activity, 64 (9.1%) individuals reported symptoms of IBS.

IBS patients reported lower quality of life than patients without IBS. However, physical activity was found to be associated with greater physical functioning and health perception among those with IBS. The association was with leisure activity and sports, Tuteja noted. Overall, the patients who exercised felt better.

[TC Rider]

Wait a minute!

I thought this was about the NC Senate race with Elizabet Dole and Irksome Bowels

Then I saw Gore's name and figured he probably did invent irritable bowel syndrome, or at the least is a carrier.

[ikka]

This matches with my experience (although I do not believe I have IBS). When you exercise, your abs are used; they massage your internal organs, including your intestines, and that is good for them.

[Coleus]

LOL, I have often linked Gore and bowels, more to the point the end of the bowel and what comes out for his brains.

Now, to the real message of the article, anyone with IBS, crohns, etc. would be better off following a very low carbohydrate diet supplementing it with at least 6 g. of L-glutamine daily combined with digestive enzymes. One should also go on a glutin-free diet and get tested for food allergies.

[TC Rider]

Irksome Bowels Bump

[TC Rider]

One should also go on a glutin-free diet and get tested for food allergies.

My wife worked with a guy that was on a glutin-free diet, what a pain in the butt to cook for.

[glorgau]

I don't know for nuthin about glutin free, and never got tested for food allergies, but...

For me, the thing was rice. It took about a year of experimenting with different foods until I found out that keeping any food with rice out of my diet caused the symptoms to alleviate. That and dropping the drinking of a lot of sodas. I credit this discovery to my girlfriend. She really helped me get myself together.

I can tolerate a bit of rice now and then, but a few big portions and the runs begin again. :-)

[Gone_Postal]

In order to prevent Irritable (Irksome) Bowels Syndrome
Vote Republican on Nov.5th.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Don't even wait until the 5th, vote immediately under the NC no excuse early voting rule.

[Coleus]

Yep, most carbohydrate foods contain some kind of wheat product so it's hard to avoid them. Just go on Atkins, it's a great diet and you don't have to worry about grains. Vegetables are OK.

[TC Rider]

In order to prevent Irritable (Irksome) Bowels Syndrome


What about Dingel-Norwood?