Posttraumatic Stress and IBD: The Research May Surprise You
Managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is both physically and mentally challenging. While much of the current treatment strategies focus on the physical, new research is showing us just how important the psychological aspects of IBD can be. A recent study…
Positive Affirmations for Gut Health
As we continue to learn more about the gut-brain axis, it has become increasingly clear that our thoughts can play a role in our gut health. There is an open line of communication between our gut and our brain/nervous system.…
A Lesson In ‘Kindfulness’ From Tara Cousineau, PhD
If you have a digestive condition, you may have been told to practice mindfulness as part of your treatment plan. This is because doctors are learning more about the importance of the “gut-brain connection”, or the communication between your digestive…
The Emotional Impact of IBD: Doctor and Patient Perspectives
If you have inflammatory bowel disease, most of your treatment has likely been focused on caring for your body. But what about caring for your mind? According to Dawn B. Borromeo Beaulieu, MD, a gastroenterologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center,…
IBD Patients and COVID-19: What They Need to Know and Tips for Managing Stress
Sara N. Horst, M.D., M.P.H, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, provided the following insight for IBD patients and their caregivers. Dr. Horst is a gastroenterologist who specializes in the care of inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. She …
How to Keep IBS from Ruining Your Relationship with Food
Instead of letting your irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) diet control your life and potentially ruin your relationship with food, follow these steps to set yourself up for success! Work with a dietitian before changing your diet It’s essential to work…
5 Ways to Manage Stress Through Journaling
When you have a digestive condition, managing stress can be a key part of your treatment plan. While we know that stress didn’t cause your digestive condition, taking steps to lower your stress can help you manage your digestive symptoms.…
Does Stress Cause IBS?
Many people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been told that if they could just stop worrying, their IBS would be cured. While this is definitely NOT true, we are learning that stress and IBS symptoms may be linked in…
Five Things Patients Need to Know About Opioids
Opioids were one of the earliest classes of medications used for pain across a variety of conditions, but morbidity and mortality have been increasingly associated with their chronic use. Despite these negative consequences, chronic opioid use is increasing worldwide, with…
Study Suggests Link Between Probiotic Use and Brain Fogginess, Severe Bloating
Probiotics may cause a significant accumulation of bacteria in the small intestine that can result in disorienting brain fogginess as well as rapid, significant belly bloating, according to a recent study published in the journal Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology. Access…
NEW ACG Monograph Updates Evidence-Based Info on Management of IBS, Including Dietary, Psychological Therapies
The American College of Gastroenterology recently published its latest Monograph on Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. Access the Monograph Treating IBS can be challenging because no “validated treatment algorithm exists,” the authors write,…
IBS—From Symptom to Disease: Five Things to Know
In a recent Healio Gastronenterology article, Dr. William Chey, of the University of Michigan, explained the challenges of IBS and why we need to create a future in which we can identify an effective solution for some IBS patients that…
