April is IBS Awareness Month, a month dedicated to educating the public about Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by symptoms affecting the gut and bowel. IBS is the most common disease diagnosed by gastroenterologists, and the one of the most common disorders seen by primary care physicians. Although it’s one of the most common GI disorders in existence, IBS often goes undiagnosed, and although many people may have heard about the condition, oftentimes they’re unsure what IBS really is or how seriously the disease can impact your life.
As we close out the month of April, we wanted to share a few eye-opening facts about IBS that everyone should be aware of.
IBS Statistic #1: IBS is much more common than you think.
Most of us don’t realize just how many people are affected by Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It is estimated that IBS affects between 10-15% of the population in the US, a shocking 20 to 45 million people.
IBS Statistic #2: Women are more likely to have IBS.
Although IBS affects people of all genders, ethnicities, and ages, women are more likely to get IBS than their male counterparts. Studies show that approximately 35-40% of patients with reported IBS are male, while 60-65% of patients with IBS are female.
IBS Statistic #3: For most people, IBS is a lifelong condition.
One of the toughest things about IBS is that, unlike many other diseases, IBS often impacts patients for life. There’s no specific “cure” for IBS, and most IBS treatment methods are centered around lifestyle changes and management of the disease. With the right system in place patients can manage their IBS and live relatively symptom free, but for the majority of patients IBS is something they will deal with their entire lives.
IBS impacts tens of millions of Americans, and when left unmanaged it can be a source of frustration and discomfort for patients. Our goal is to educate patients on the facts surrounding IBS so that they can better understand the condition, its symptoms, and how to go about seeking treatment for IBS through an IBS specialist if they believe they may have the condition.