DOHA: A new survey has found that 41 percent of residents in Qatar say their overall digestive health “could be improved”.
Common digestive health issues include diarrhoea, constipation and heartburn, according results based on a survey of nearly 200 respondents. The survey was commissioned by Johnson & Johnson.
Twenty four percent of those surveyed who have suffered from either acute or chronic diarrhoea did not treat the condition, even though the condition can interrupt daily activities such as causing respondents to miss school, work and family or social gatherings.
Chronic diarrhoea is a prolonged condition, lasting more than four weeks. Acute diarrhoea — characterised by abnormally frequent and loose bowel movements — generally has a sudden onset and while the episodes are brief, the symptoms include cramps, anxiety, nausea, bloating and headache, and can be both distressing and incapacitating.
While acute diarrhoea is more commonly seen among travellers, or as a result of bacteria in food or poor hygiene, chronic diarrhoea can be caused by stress, hormones, medication and even dietary intolerances.
Leading experts from the fields of gastroenterology, general medicine and pharmacy from across the Middle East met in Dubai over the weekend to obtain input on the unmet needs in the treatment of diarrhoea and to gain an understanding of the prevalence of digestive health issues in Qatar and across the region.
Dr Abdel Nasser Elzouki, Professor and Senior Consultant Medicine, and Head of General Internal Medicine at Hamad General Hospital, who took part in the advisory council said: “There are many myths in the region associated with the treatment of digestive conditions such as diarrhoea. For example, some patients believe they shouldn’t treat diarrhoea because their condition isn’t “severe enough,” or that diarrhoea is a defence mechanism to flush out toxins and pathogens from the body. These are barriers we face as medical professionals in ensuring patients receive the recommended medical care to treat digestive health issues such as diarrhoea effectively, whether the condition is acute or chronic.”
According to the survey, which was also carried out in the UAE, Lebanon and Kuwait, 24 percent of respondents who have suffered from diarrhoea across the region admit they did not treat their condition. Fifty one percent of these respondents who didn’t seek treatment believed it’s best for diarrhoea to run its course and 20 percent weren’t sure how to treat their condition.
Interestingly, 21 percent of those surveyed across the four markets who have suffered from either chronic or acute diarrhoea have treated their condition with natural remedies, for example by using an absorbent such as charcoal, rather than with Loperamide-based medication or antibiotics. While these natural agents were included in traditional anti-diarrhoeal mixtures, research shows these natural absorbents provide little, if any, benefit to adults suffering from diarrhoea.
The Peninsula
