With the flood of information readily available online, it can be tempting for people to type their symptoms into a search engine and instantly receive dozens of potential causes. A 2023 study found that more than 58% of adults consulted the internet to research health and medical information.
Social media feeds can magnify the self-diagnosis trend too, because once someone clicks on an ad, video or post about a particular health topic, the algorithm will feed them more posts on the same topic. The problem is, self-diagnosing is prone to inaccuracies, which can lead to ineffective, unnecessary or even harmful treatment.
Gut issues: when trusting your gut leads to incorrect assumptions
When it comes to gastrointestinal (GI) issues, self-diagnosis is particularly unreliable for several reasons:
- Common symptoms: There are many different diseases and conditions of the GI system that have similar symptoms or non-specific symptoms. For example, abdominal pain, nausea and bloating are generic symptoms that are common in many different conditions.
- Lack of testing: For a proper diagnosis, most GI conditions require some kind of testing, whether it’s lab work, imaging or procedures that physically examine the GI tract. Without these tests, those who self-diagnose are at risk for improper treatment.
- Mistaking the severity of the condition: Sometimes, people who self-diagnose underestimate the severity of their symptoms. This can lead to people dismissing serious symptoms as something minor, which can make a potentially serious issue worse.
Irritable bowel? Maybe. Leaky gut? No.
A quick search online for GI problems will commonly bring up two conditions: irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and leaky gut syndrome. Only one of these conditions, however, is an official medical diagnosis.
IBS is an official condition, and it is one of the most common. It is estimated that 10% to 15% of adults in the United States have some form of IBS, yet only half of those get diagnosed by a health care provider.
There are several types of IBS: IBS with constipation, IBS with diarrhea and IBS with both constipation and diarrhea. Treatment varies and is highly individualized – what works for one person may not work for another. Self-diagnosing IBS can result in delaying appropriate care and treatment.
Leaky gut syndrome is not recognized by the medical community as a formal medical diagnosis. The theory of “leaky gut syndrome” views the increased permeability of the intestines as the cause of disease, allowing toxins into the blood stream that then trigger an inflammatory response.
This unproven theory has gained traction as it soothes unanswered questions about certain gastrointestinal conditions, but there is a lack of scientific evidence validating the condition.
When to see a health care provider
People who are experiencing the following GI symptoms for more than a few weeks should talk with their primary care provider for proper testing, diagnosis and treatment:
- Losing weight without trying
- Blood in the stool or vomit
- Severe pain or vomiting
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing
- Heartburn that doesn’t get better with antacids
- Feeling full quickly
- Symptoms when there’s a family history of GI disease or cancer
Natural ways to protect the gut and prevent flareups
In addition to a treatment plan, those who have IBS, or who have symptoms of IBS, can help to manage their condition and prevent flareups with these tips:
- Identify triggers and trigger foods: certain foods or ingredients in foods may cause symptoms to flare. Emotional or psychological triggers also can cause a flare. Learning what those triggers are can help people avoid or modify them
- Eat small, frequent meals: consuming smaller and more frequent meals can help to decrease bloating and puts less pressure on the digestive system
- Reduce stress: learning ways to relax and manage stress also can relax the digestive system and help reduce flareups.
- Exercise: exercise not only helps to reduce stress, it helps the body move things through the digestive system better. Aim for at least 150 minutes of exercise per week.
- Avoid smoking: nicotine is a trigger that can increase cramping, bloating and other IBS symptoms.
Getting checked by a medical professional will help to accurately identify the problem and get started on the proper treatment.
Shanthi Appelö is a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. For more health tips and information, visit AHealthierMichigan.org.
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