IBS Is Still a Hot Girl Problem

TikTok has turned a wide range of health issues into a "hot girl problem."

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By Daphne Lee, News Editor TikTok has turned a wide range of health issues into a "hot girl problem." This phenomenon is almost like a self-deprecating joke, in which "hot" people admit to struggling with not-so-sexy ailments like acid reflux and dandruff.   Recently, hot girls are once again fighting a longtime foe: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Today's Top Story Stressed Out Hot Girls and IBS IBS was dubbed a hot girl problem last year when people started sharing their struggles with bloating, diarrhea, and cramps online. One TikToker went viral after sharing how her tight outfits look before and after meals to show her stomach bloating, something that wasn't shared often on social media.   Scientists don't fully understand the precise cause for IBS yet. It can be triggered by food intolerance, intestinal infection, or even menstrual period. So why is IBS trending on social media again? Pandemic stress is likely the culprit.   Janice Johnston, MD, chief medical officer at Redirect Health, said that the prolonged pandemic may have been a trigger for higher rates of IBS. When our body is consistently experiencing a fight-or-flight response, our gut shuts down so that our brain can focus on dealing with the cause of anxiety. Too much stress can then affect our digestion and alter the balance of healthy gut bacteria, she said. Know More Cortisol, or stress hormone, can fluctuate during stressful life events. Cortisol levels typically return to a normal level once an emotionally taxing situation is resolved. But the pandemic may have disrupted our regulation of cortisols, leading to manifestations in our physical health like IBS and hair loss. Feel Better During the earliest pandemic lockdowns, some people actually reported improved IBS symptoms. They may have been getting more adequate sleep or felt like they had more control over their home environment. Some dietitians recommend sticking to a diet rich in soluble fiber to ease IBS symptoms. READ MORE Researchers have argued that we need to pay attention to TikTok to identify public health-related concerns or opportunities. Aside from COVID-19, health-related hashtags have captured billions of eyeballs on the platform and mental health topics are among the most-viewed videos. Drones Could Soon Deliver Medications to Your Home Residents in Charlotte, North Carolina and Salt Lake City, Utah will be seeing drones parachuting packages into people's front yards soon. Zipline, a leading drone manufacturer, has teamed up with healthcare companies to deliver prescription medications and medical supplies to people's homes. This would improve access for people who live in mountainous areas or islands. But experts aren't sure how well the drones can perform these tasks in different weather conditions and locations. READ MORE FDA Authorizes a New Monoclonal Antibody Drug With COVID treatments still in short supply, the FDA authorized a new monoclonal antibody drug that appears to be effective against Omicron and other variants. The new drug, bebtelovimab, is authorized to treat mild-to-moderate COVID in people aged 12 and above. But the FDA said this drug should only be administered when other treatment options aren't available. READ MORE     In an interview with Verywell, Vivek Cherian, MD, said that managing your stress can improve your gut health and ease IBS symptoms. Some people find IBS support groups to be very helpful in managing stress and controlling symptoms of IBS. What works for one person may not work for another, but it's best to try various strategies that ultimately help reduce anxiety and stress from your life. Vivek Cherian, MD Internal Medicine Physician   In Other News   ■ We're All Trapped in the Scam-Industrial Complex. Slate     ■ Good Riddance to the Koala Bear, Australia's Most Useless Animal. The Guardian     ■ Queen Elizabeth Is Alive and Releasing a Dog Perfume. Gawker More From Verywell Genetic Links Between IBS and Mental Health READ MORE Best Sources of Soluble Fiber for IBS READ MORE 10 Breathing Exercises for Anxiety Relief READ MORE   How'd we do? If you have any feedback, send us a note at   feedback@verywell.com.       You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Verywell Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.   A DOTDASH MEREDITH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2022 verywellhealth.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy