Why people need to stop hiding bowel worries and get symptoms checked

Burcu Borysik

Head of Policy and Campaigns, Crohns and Collitis UK

Thousands of young adults in the UK may be dropping out of their studies, work and social lives because of bowel health problems.

Despite the severity of their symptoms, young people keep delaying seeing a GP. Some put it off because they are too embarrassed or scared to speak about their toilet habits. Others are worried they might waste the doctor’s time.

Young people seeking unreliable bowel health support

A recent independent poll commissioned by the charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK found that nine in ten young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 said they would delay seeking medical help if they had recurrent stomach pain, diarrhoea or saw blood in their stools.

Instead, many try to manage their symptoms through dietary and lifestyle changes. Some even turn to social media to get advice from other young people. Unfortunately, the internet is awash with unverified medical treatments, making it difficult for young people to distinguish between reliable medical advice and utter nonsense — some of it dangerous.

70,000 people across the UK have completed the symptom checker since November.

Quicker diagnosis with a symptom checker

Delays in diagnosis limit young people’s ability to work, study and socialise. They also limit the medical interventions available to them. Plus, the longer they wait to find out what’s wrong, the more likely they are to need emergency bowel surgery. All these factors place a huge burden not only on the individual but also on the NHS.

At Crohn’s & Colitis UK, we aim to change that with our campaign — Cut the Crap: Check for Crohn’s and Colitis. We have developed a symptom checker, which does the talking for young adults. There is a letter they can take to their GP, complete with a list of the warning signs they’re experiencing.

Approximately 70,000 people across the UK have completed the symptom checker since November. Three quarters of those advised to see a GP by the symptom checker do so within a month. All this highlights the overwhelming need for quick, accessible and confidential advice.

Government support to encourage bowel health

In March this year, the Scottish Government got behind our campaign and invested time, money and effort in raising awareness of Crohn’s and Colitis. We now need governments across the four nations to follow suit, so that everyone — regardless of where they live — can get diagnosed, get treated and get their lives back.