Flushing away the poo taboo, together!
What is it that stops us from talking about our digestive health, or poo, as openly as we’d talk about having a cold, a headache or back pain? After all, our poo is an indication...
7th March 2024
3rd December 2021
Whatever festive season you celebrate, many of us can tend to ‘overindulge’. Many social aspects of festive celebrations revolve around food and drink, so we’ve put together a guide to understanding your guts this Christmas.
As we don’t like to talk about our guts, not many of us know what is ‘normal’ versus when it might be a good idea to speak with your GP about your symptoms. It’s important to know what is normal for you, and to keep an eye on any new symptoms.
From constipation and diarrhoea to heartburn and reflux, read on below for top tips to avoid unpleasant symptoms this Christmas:
Normal stool function is opening the bowel between three times a day to three times a week, but it’s important to know what is normal for you. People can experience a change in bowel habit over the holiday season. This can mostly be down to lifestyle factors and is usually short term. However, if symptoms persist longer than 2-3 weeks, or any what are called red flag symptoms occur, such as weight loss, blood in poo or swallowing problems, them people should see their doctor.
People can experience short term constipation symptoms, and this can occur with a change in daily routine. Winter holidays can mean less activity and possibly lower fibre intake due to a short-term change in diet.
Diarrhoea experienced over the festive season could be caused by food poisoning.
You are more likely to get food poisoning at Christmas because people are cooking for more people than usual, and the fridge is often over ladened with food. If dishes are brought for a family event they may also be stored at the wrong temperature for too long. All this can mean that microbes can grow in the food, and this can cause food poisoning.
To avoid food poisoning follow food hygiene tips such as:
Food poisoning for most people is a self-limiting illness and usually resolves within a few days however if any of the following occur seek medical help:
Wind and bloating are different symptoms and wind can occur without bloating. Bloating is described as an uncomfortable feeling of fullness or pressure and this can sometimes be accompanied by a widening of the girth, called distension.
Most people will feel uncomfortable if they have eaten above their fullness cues and consumed a particularly large meal and this would be a normal physiological response to overeating. Rich meals that have a high content of fat can also delay the emptying of the stomach, which can be another cause of bloating.
If bloating is persistent or associated with weight loss, abdominal pain, diarrhoea or appetite loss and increasing need to pee for women over 50 years, you should see your doctor as it could be a symptom of more serious condition.
Passing wind is a natural process and whether someone admits to it or not, we all do it. The first food that comes to mind when talking about the festive season is Brussel sprouts – they have a notorious reputation when it comes to wind!
There are other causes of increased wind. Swallowed air, carbonated drinks, chewing gum, smoking, and eating quickly can also introduce air into the gut. People shouldn’t be too concerned about short term wind during the festive season if they have changed their lifestyle, unless they notice a more persistent change and other symptoms. These are diarrhoea, bloating, blood in poo, abdominal pain, or weight loss.
Some tips that might help to reduce wind and bloating:
Most people will experience indigestion, which is a symptom, (also known as dyspepsia) and is a term used to describe unpleasant or even painful sensations at the top of the abdomen or in the lower part of the chest. This happens after eating a fatty or spicy meal or if a meal is eaten too quickly. It also can happen when we have had too much to eat, and this is often the case over the Christmas period. With average calories consumed increasing over the Christmas period, it would not be surprising that people can experience indigestion.
Heartburn and reflux are common with one in four people experiencing symptoms. Heartburn is a pain in the centre of the chest that occurs after eating, lying down, or bending over and is often described as ‘burning’. Acid reflux is the regurgitation of stomach contents, including acid, into the gullet.
Heartburn and reflux symptoms can also be experienced over the Christmas period. So here are some tips to consider that might be helpful to prevent some symptoms, aim for two or three that you feel might fit best into your lifestyle.
There are antacids and medications that can be considered during this time to reduce short term symptoms of indigestion, heartburn and reflux, you can also ask a pharmacist about treatment. Don’t ignore these symptoms though if they continue. Do see your doctor if for 3 weeks or more, you experience:
If you found this information useful, please consider donating to Guts UK this Christmas. When you do, your kind donation will sit proudly at the bottom of our virtual Christmas tree. With new knowledge, we will end the pain and suffering for the millions affected by digestive diseases.
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