Table 3. Lifestyle modifications used to manage symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
| Positive response to “Which, if any, |
Individuals,
N
(%) |
|
|---|---|---|
| of the following things do you do in your day-to-day life in order to manage your (IBS/stomach problems)?” | Diagnosed with IBS-D (n=1,094) | Undiagnosed (n=830) |
| Avoid foods that I think will upset my stomach | 799 (73)a | 506 (61) |
| Always know where bathrooms are located | 733 (67)a | 407 (49) |
| Keep OTC medications or supplements handy at all times | 569 (52)a | 374 (45) |
| Avoid stressful situations | 350 (32)a | 199 (24) |
| Always stay near a bathroom | 350 (32)a | 183 (22) |
| Carry wipes when you're on the go | 252 (23)a | 133 (16) |
| Avoid drinking alcohol | 219 (20)a | 133 (16) |
| Put off or avoid intimacy with a partner | 197 (18)a | 116 (14) |
| Wear different clothes such as oversized, looser, or dark-colored items | 186 (17) | 116 (14) |
| Carry an extra set of clothing | 142 (13)a | 66 (8) |
| Avoid exercise | 44 (4) | 25 (3) |
| Other | 55 (5)a | 17 (2) |
| None of the above | 44 (4) | 83 (10)b |
| Current lifestyle adjustments, mean | 3.7 | 2.9 |
IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; IBS-D, diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome; OTC, over the counter.
a
P<0.05 vs. undiagnosed.
b
P<0.05 vs. diagnosed.