Gut-Brain Disorders Soared Following COVID Pandemic
Long COVID may not be the only lasting consequence of the 2020 pandemic. A recent study by international researchers led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found a significant increase in disorders of gut-brain interaction — such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia — following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first direct population-level comparison of pre- and post-pandemic data found that the overall prevalence of gut-brain disorders rose from 38 to 43 percent, while IBS cases increased by 28 percent and functional dyspepsia increased by 44 percent. The researchers also found that people with long COVID were more likely to have gut-brain disorders and experienced worse anxiety, depression, and quality of life.
Try this recipe today: Cucumber Raita
Sign up for more Dr. Weil newsletters!
