Is Stress Messing With Your Stomach? The Link to IBS - AI Podcast

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Story at-a-glance

• Approximately 10% to 15% of Americans suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by unpredictable symptoms that disrupt daily life
• Recent research reveals that psychological stress trains your body to misidentify safe foods as threats. This rewires your immune and nervous systems to produce pain responses in the gut
• Stress increases mast cell activity in the gut, which leads to nerve hypersensitivity and immune system changes that trigger IBS symptoms like bloating, pain, and altered digestion
• When stress becomes chronic, hormones like cortisol and CRF impair digestion, damage the gut lining, and throw off your microbial balance, worsening IBS symptoms
• Managing IBS involves comprehensive lifestyle strategies, including stress reduction techniques like mindfulness, exercise, improving sleep, and supporting gut health through diet and potential supplements