Happy World Digestive Health Day!

Today, May 29th, marks World Digestive Wellness Day, one of the most important days of the year (in my opinion)! And at Sanofi, we are committed to increasing awareness and understanding of the importance in looking after our digestive health, not only today, but every single day of the year.

IBS and digestive wellness

In a previous blog post, I discussed the importance of taking IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) seriously, offering appropriate self-care methods to help manage symptoms, and in some cases, prevent them.

With developing countries now adopting a more Western diet and lifestyle, a subsequent increase in IBS prevalence rates is anticipated. However, even if prevalence rates remain unchanged, population growth alone indicates that there will be many more people living with IBS and digestive issues worldwide, potentially undiagnosed, and lacking understanding of how to manage symptoms.

IBS is one of four most common digestive issues that people experience, in this blog, I aim to explore how you can proactively support your digestive wellness by living a healthy lifestyle and prioritizing self-care.

Healthy gut, healthy mind

Believe it or not, our digestive system is generally referred to as the ‘second brain’ and has a huge effect on the functioning of the body and mind!

Let’s not get too caught up in the science, but the gut brain axis is a very real thing, linking emotional and cognitive centers of the brain with peripheral intestinal functions.

The best way we can maintain healthy gut function is to feed our bodies with a diet high in vegetables, legumes, beans, and fruit. It’s also extremely important to drink plenty of water throughout the day, manage your stress, get at least 7 hours restful sleep per night and exercise regularly.

Conditions and treatments

As Global Head of Digestive Wellness here at Sanofi, I think it’s important for me to touch on some of the conditions, symptoms and, importantly, the treatment options available.

Diarrhea is a common digestive condition, it is the frequent passing of loose or watery stools. You may also experience stomach cramps, an elevated temperature, flu-like symptoms or vomiting. ?Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which can be very serious if not treated, so it is important to drink plenty of fluids if you are ill. To help your gut when experiencing diarrhea, Enterogermina??is a natural probiotic, that contains healthy bacteria which can help to maintain a healthy gut flora and hence to?prevent diarrhea and related symptoms. Consumer Healthcare at Sanofi has worked in several counties to provide better hygiene conditions in low-income populations, such as clean hands and clean water, and add to the objective to reduce child mortality. Diarrhea kills 2,195 children every day—more than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined. Diarrheal diseases account for 1 in 9 child deaths worldwide, making diarrhea the second leading cause of death among children under the age of 5.[1]

Constipation is the opposite, although stomach cramps may be experienced, like diarrhea. If you have fewer than three bowel movements in a week, or if going to the bathroom is painful (also known as having hard, dry stools), you might be constipated. Constipation symptoms might also look like needing to go to the bathroom again immediately after a bowel movement or experiencing gas, and/or bloating. Dulcolax? have various remedies, including fast-acting, overnight, or gradual relief medicines. Please refer to Josefine Fubara’s article for scientific details; however, what it has been proven is that in occasions of travel, change of diet, or lack of water in the body, there can be constipation, consuming Dulcolax can be a good decision for your wellness and enjoyable days.

As mentioned previously, IBS and/or abdominal pain can include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation. There are products that contain the active ingredient, Hyoscine butylbromide, that directly targets the smooth muscles of your abdomen with an antispasmodic effect. Consumer Healthcare at Sanofi also has the evidence that peppermint oil can have a relieving effect for symptoms related to IBS. In some countries, we have Buscomint (part of Buscopan ? portfolio), so you can look for it! We want to provide solutions for patients, nobody should suffer of treatable conditions. We are working every day for the priority of healthier days and fuller lives.

Your liver works really hard to keep you healthy – many people don’t release it’s a major part of your digestive system so it’s important that you treat it with respect. Essentiale? contains phospholipids that support a healthy liver functioning, and helps to regenerate liver cell membranes, keeping your liver as healthy as possible and looking after your digestive system. The statistics for fatty liver are very high nowadays, because of diverse factors, like the number of people who live with diabetes and are more susceptible of developing fatty liver; or people with obesity and/or hypertension. It is positive if all of us ask for a fatty liver test in our next doctor’s appointment.

Preventative action is key

When it comes to looking after our digestive wellness, proper self-care along with discussing your digestive conditions with a health care professional may help you to manage or prevent the symptoms.

We want to empower you to act proactively, get support and ultimately raise awareness this #WorldDigestiveHealthDay.

[1] “Diarrhea: Common Illness, Global Killer,” by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/global/programs/globaldiarrhea508c.pdf