Conducted on nearly 6,000 people in the United States, the United Kingdom and Mexico, a study shows that there is an association between flatulence and a poorer quality of life. Those affected also have a higher level of stress, anxiety and depression.
- Researchers found that people with more gas-related symptoms (shortness of breath, stomach gurgling, belching, bad breath, etc.) were more likely to suffer from stress, depression or anxiety, and to have an impaired quality of life.
Taboo, even downright shameful, intestinal bloating and flatulence can also be a source of embarrassment for people who are affected. Due to the accumulation of intestinal gas, they can also cause pain and tightness in the stomach.
According to a new survey presented to theUEG (United European Gastroenterology) Virtual Week of 2021, these gas-related symptoms are associated with poorer quality of life and higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression.
Shortness of breath, gurgling, belching and bad breath
The researchers, attached to the University of North Carolina (United States), came to this conclusion after following nearly 6,000 people aged 18 to 99 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Mexico. These volunteers were asked to complete intestinal gas questionnaires to measure the presence and severity of seven gas-related symptoms over the past 24 hours. The researchers also collected information on body mass index, physical exercise, emotional well-being and quality of life over the past seven days.
Shortness of breath is the most commonly reported symptom, affecting eight in ten adults (81.3%) over a 24-hour period. This is followed by stomach gurgling, which affects 60.5% of respondents, belching (58%) and bad breath (48.1%). Trapped gas (47.2%), abdominal distension/bloated belly (39.6%) and bloating/abdominal pressure (38.5%) also had a noticeable impact, while only 11.1% of respondents reported having no gas-related symptoms. On average, survey participants were affected by three different gas symptoms in the previous 24 hours.
Mexicans more affected than other patients
The researchers noted, however, that these symptoms, when significant, were correlated with lower mental health and quality of life scores on the questionnaire, as well as higher stress, anxiety and depression and more non-gastrointestinal symptoms.
“I think the most remarkable and surprising result of our study is that almost all adults in the general population experience gas-related symptoms on a daily basis, said, professor and lead author Olafur Palsson. This is important because the data also clearly reveals that these symptoms affect people’s general well-being. Having a high number of these common gut symptoms is associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as an overall impaired quality of life.”
The results also showed that Mexicans scored higher for all seven gas-related symptoms in the questionnaires, and an average total score of 26, compared to 14.5 in the US and 13.7 in the UK. .
“The reasons for the stark differences in the number of gas-related symptoms between Mexico and the other countries we studied are unknown and need to be investigated further. continues Professor Palsson. Cultural, linguistic, dietary or public health factors could affect levels of gas-related symptoms in the population.”
.
