Guts UK, the national charity for the digestive system, has launched a week-long campaign encouraging people to talk more openly about their gut health. The Let’s Talk Guts campaign, running from 13 to 19 July, aims to reduce embarrassment and help people feel more confident discussing digestive symptoms with family, friends, employers, and healthcare professionals.
Why the campaign was needed
To mark the start of the campaign, Guts UK released findings from a public poll carried out by YouGov. The survey of more than 2,000 UK adults found that many people with digestive symptoms are suffering in silence and delaying medical help.
The poll found that nearly half of UK adults have experienced persistent digestive symptoms at some point. However, fewer than half feel comfortable talking to family or friends about their digestive health, and fewer than 4% feel comfortable discussing symptoms with an employer.
Delayed help-seeking
A quarter of UK adults with persistent digestive symptoms waited more than six months after their symptoms began before seeking help. The most common reasons people gave for delaying were thinking symptoms would resolve on their own, not believing symptoms were serious enough, or feeling too embarrassed to speak up.
The poll also found that 11% of people experiencing persistent digestive symptoms still have not sought any medical help at all.
Emotional impact
The charity reported that the lack of open conversation and public stigma around gut health has taken an emotional toll. Among people who have experienced digestive symptoms, 40% felt anxious, 38% felt worried, 28% felt embarrassed, and 28% felt uncertain.
Online health information
The survey found that more than half of people turn to search engines and artificial intelligence tools for health information, and 22% use social media. However, nearly one in five admit they are not confident in telling whether the online health information they find is accurate.
Checking your poo
The poll also revealed that only 22% of UK adults check their poo regularly, with 21% not checking it at all. The charity says that regularly checking your poo helps you understand what is normal for you and notice when something may be wrong.
Campaign resources
Guts UK has created a range of free online resources to support the campaign. These include conversation starters to help people talk more easily about digestive health with family, friends, and colleagues, as well as tools to help people learn more about common digestive symptoms and when to seek medical advice.
The charity has also developed a digital tool called the Poo-Torial, which helps people understand what different poo colours, consistencies, and frequencies may indicate about their health.
Additional resources include traffic light cards designed for people living with digestive conditions. These cards allow someone to signal how they are feeling on a particular day without needing to explain repeatedly.
What this means for patients
The campaign highlights how common digestive symptoms are and how important it is to feel able to talk about them. Speaking openly with family, friends, or a doctor may help people get support sooner and reduce feelings of isolation.
The charity encourages anyone experiencing persistent digestive symptoms to contact their GP. People who need support or information about digestive health can contact the Guts UK helpline on 0300 102 4887 or visit the charity’s website for expert information on more than 40 digestive conditions and symptoms.
Reference
Guts UK. Let’s Talk Guts: It’s time to join the conversation! Published July 2024. Available at: https://gutscharity.org.uk
This article is a journalistic summary for informational purposes only. It does not constitute clinical advice or a recommendation to alter treatment decisions.