Irritable bowel syndrome (irritable bowel syndrome) is a common functional gastrointestinal disease in urbanites. A study conducted by the Chinese University and the Guidance Teachers Association found that nearly 25% of the students interviewed and 10% of their parents suffer from moderate to severe bowel disorders. Exciting symptoms, due to gastrointestinal problems, some daily activities are affected, and emotions become an important main cause.
Studies have also found that parents and children have a significant correlation with each other regardless of the severity of irritable bowel symptoms, anxiety and depression symptoms.
Under the gloom of the epidemic, both parents and children’s emotions are affected. Hu Zhiyuan, professor of gastroenterology and liver in the Department of Internal Medicine and Drug Therapy of CUHK, who is responsible for the study, pointed out that clinical cases of irritable bowel have increased significantly in recent years, and some The patient even needs to aggravate the medication to control the condition.
The study found that nearly 25% of the interviewed students and 10% of their parents suffer from moderate to severe irritable bowel symptoms.
(Photo by Zeng Kaixin)
The study was conducted in the form of questionnaires in April this year, interviewing 232 parents and 324 secondary three to six students from seven places.
It was found that nearly 25% of the interviewed students and 10% of their parents suffered from moderate to severe irritable bowel symptoms, that is, the interviewees suffered from abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems in the past week, which affected part of their daily activities.
Hu Zhiyuan pointed out that there are about 280,000 to 300,000 adults in Hong Kong suffering from severe irritable bowel syndrome, and most irritable bowel patients begin to develop symptoms when they are adolescents, that is, 15 to 20 years old.
Hu Zhiyuan pointed out that emotional influence is one of the important factors leading to irritable bowel.
(Photo by Zeng Kaixin)
"Serotonin" affects the brain and intestines at the same time
Emotional influence is one of the important factors leading to irritable bowel.
Hu Zhiyuan pointed out that the study also explored whether parents and students had symptoms of depression or anxiety. It was found that more than half of adolescent irritable bowel patients had symptoms of depression and nearly 40% had symptoms of anxiety.
In addition, among the parent patients, one out of four had symptoms of depression, and three out of them had symptoms of anxiety.
Hu Zhiyuan said that the relationship between emotion and irritable bowel is very high, and the situation is more obvious in teenagers. It is mainly because the "serotonin" secreted by the brain affects mood and stomach. If irritable bowel problems occur, depression and anxiety will occur. Opportunities will also increase. Depression and anxiety will also alert the body, leading to symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort, which becomes a vicious circle.
Parents and children affect each other and get sick
Chen Yawen, a clinical psychologist at the Hong Kong Institute of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Medicine, CUHK, used the results of the survey to match parents and children and found that among the 215 parent-child pairs interviewed, both parents and children had the same severity of irritable bowel symptoms, anxiety and depression symptoms. There is a correlation. Among the 20% of parents with irritable bowel, their children also have the same symptoms, which means that family members will interact with each other due to different factors, resulting in irritable bowel, including personal, family financial and academic pressure, etc. The impact of economic and academic pressure is even more pronounced under the epidemic.
Increasing number of clinical cases of negative emotions during the epidemic
Under the epidemic situation, students need to stay at home to learn online, and parents also have to work from home from time to time.
He Yufen, chairman of the Hong Kong Guidance Teachers Association, said that parents and children lack social activities and peer support, and cannot express their personal emotions. In addition, they are pessimistic about the prospects, increasing pressure on both sides and accumulating more negative emotions.
He Yufen believes that the roles of parents and schools are very important. It is recommended that parents should pay attention to the gastrointestinal health of themselves and their children at the same time. When symptoms appear, they should pay attention to whether their mental and emotional health has turned on a red light.
Parents should also be vigilant, and seek medical advice as soon as possible when they find that their children continue to have gastrointestinal problems to avoid continued deterioration.
Hu Zhiyuan pointed out that the number of clinical cases of irritable bowel has increased significantly during the epidemic. Some patients even need aggravating drugs due to more serious illnesses. The patients also tend to be younger. This may be related to Hong Kong people's worries about the epidemic and the anxiety and pressure caused by the epidemic.
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