Pandemic anxiety was hard on IBS patients. Here's how to find relief
If you're one of the more than 25 million people in the U.S. with irritable bowel syndrome, there's a good chance your symptoms worsened at some point over the past two years. Or maybe you developed symptoms for the first time.
"We found reports of increased constipation, diarrhea and abdominal pain," says Kendra Kamp, a researcher at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She surveyed IBS patients with anxiety or depression about their experiences early in the pandemic. More than 90% reported increased stress and 81% reported increased anxiety. Another survey sponsored by a pharmaceutical company found half of IBS patients say their symptoms have been more challenging to manage, and many reported an initial onset of IBS amid the pandemic.
"The pandemic created an environment of uncertainty, isolation and less access to supportive resources that people depended on for well-being," says, a nurse practitioner at UCLA's. The center combines diet and stress management treatment approaches, and Smith helps patients understand the brain-gut connection in IBS.
