Published at 03 April, 2020 10:00.
Here at Yorkshire Smokefree we are happy to be supporting IBS Awareness Month, an event which takes place annually in April and is hosted by the International Foundation For Funding Gastrointestinal Disorders involving individuals, health professionals, teachers, community groups, and others with the aim of delivering vital health messages to focus global attention on the accurate diagnosis, effective treatment of and quality of life for Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers everywhere.
How can you get involved?
This year, those living with IBS, their families, friends and loved ones are being encouraged to actively share their most pressing questions via social media using the hashtags #IBSAwarenessMonth and #IWant2Know. These campaigns are designed to spark lively conversation, dispel rife uncertainty and raise much needed awareness for those living with a range of Gastrointestinal problems including IBS and gastritis.
Key ways you can get involved are to share links, make a donation, sign up for the IFFGD newsletter, print and hang up posters, start a fundraiser, give press releases to your local media, become an advocate for digestive health, organise virtual community events through Whatsapp and Skype, as well as visiting their website and leaving comments on their wider social media platforms.
You can also find a copy of their comprehensive 2020 Awareness Toolkit to download here, detailing all the information you might need for this year’s events.
IBS is very common and is estimated to affect roughly 10% to 15% of the adult population worldwide. Yet all too many people remain undiagnosed and largely unaware that their symptoms (stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea, and constipation) may indicate a medically recognized disorder.
There are strong links between smoking and IBS, which is exacerbated by the 43 carcinogenic substances absorbed during the frequent use of cigarettes, nicotine and other tobacco products. They affect almost all parts of your digestive tract, increasing heartburn and acid reflux by damaging and weakening your esophageal sphincter, hindering the healing of your stomach linings done by acid levels, giving you a significantly higher risk of developing peptic ulcers in the gut.
A great way to take action and prevent future or worsening GI issues is to quit smoking with Yorkshire Smokefree and take the first step to begin your full-stop journey.
We offer friendly, approachable and expert NHS support and a personalised 3-step quit plan tailored to your new lifestyle. Including one to one support, collaborative discussion groups, telephone support and an innovative online quit program - all for free. Having helped thousands of people with IBS symptoms just like you achieve their quitting goals, we welcome all clients even if you’ve tried to stop smoking before.
Within 20 minutes of quitting you can expect to see improvements in your health, and the longer you stay smoke free the better you will feel, guaranteed. You can be assured the tools we give you will stand you in good stead for a better standard of wellbeing, lung capacity and gut health.
Whether you’d like to improve, avoid or prevent symptoms of IBS, we are here to keep you strong and motivated throughout your full-stop journey.
If this article has inspired you to take action, get in touch for a prompt Callback Request with one of our experts today.
