The Importance of Taking Small Bacterial Overgrowth Testing In the UK

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we live our life for a long time. It has created many issues while it uncovered the others. Meanwhile, the UK is still trying to adjust to the new normal, and we might be facing another lockdown soon as you will learn here. One of the more recent strains of the disease was found in our soil, and it is a growing concern amongst the masses. Due to this, other conditions are not getting diagnosed and treated because of the fear of going to hospitals. 

However, there have been others in this world that are getting ignored. For one, the symptoms might not seem that dangerous. These “simple” health problems like colds and coughs are treated as nothing often. Before the pandemic, a sneeze was not even covered, especially around people you know. It sounds rude then, but it is technically a biological attack now.

Stomach Concerns

One of the most common issues that people face these days is related to digestion. Compared to the previous generations, our general diet as a species has become less healthy. The proliferation of processed food is one of the leading causes of these problems. However, most people would attribute it to poor eating habits, living conditions, economic positions, or a combination of many other factors. 

With all of this information, it may seem surprising that there are still several underdiagnosed digestive concerns here in the UK. The obscure one that goes out of the people’s radar is known as SIBO. It means Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, and its name exactly describes it. There are currently a scant number of cases known in the UK, mostly due to lack of knowledge. What is this disease exactly, and is it severe enough to be considered life-threatening?

You might not be familiar with it, but our gut is full of bacteria that help process the food we eat. These bacteria naturally occur in the small and large intestine, and both groups are distinct from one another. The ones in the large intestine still help digest the food, but it focuses more on making sure that it comes out through our bowel movement. However, these bacteria will not work well in a new environment, like the small intestine, for example.

SIBO: An Unfamiliar Problem

It happens if you have SIBO, though, and it becomes a problem every time you eat. There are many reasons why it could occur, as it does in the digestive tract. If you have undergone surgery in that area, the risk of developing SIBO is high. Also, there are cases wherein it is hereditary, but it needs to be investigated first since most of the evidence is inconclusive. However, most adults can happen, and the issues may manifest as early as the teenage years if there are no other problems.

Meanwhile, it is also rather challenging to diagnose this condition. For one, the symptoms can be confused with other digestive problems like diarrhoea. These symptoms are too often ignored since most of them are not life-threatening. Passing out gas all the time after eating may be embarrassing, but it will not kill you. However, the people around you might keep over from laughter or disgust.

The most effective way to know whether you have SIBO or not is to go to the doctor. They must make sure that you do have the disease for them to give the proper cure. However, there are Sibo Test UK options that you can explore to help you find it on your own. Some of these tests may not work like the others, though, so you need to choose high quality over anything else.

You might think that this is not a serious issue since it is not a life-threatening sickness. It is an understandable statement since we are still dealing with the pandemic. However, suffering from a sudden pain in your gut is not a laughing matter either. It is also important to note that SIBO is often linked to psychological conditions as the small intestine is connected directly to the brain.

Why is this important, you may ask? The small intestine also has another function: to absorb all the nutrients from the food we eat. It distributes all the necessary nutrients throughout the body, with some ending to your brain. If there are foreign bacteria in this location, then you are in for a difficult time. The nutrients that your brain needs will not arrive there and would end up as a part of your waste material.

It Gets Worse From Here

If it happens, it can impede normal cognitive processes and behaviour. SIBO is also linked with depression and anxiety, along with other psychological conditions. With the pandemic still raging around us, it adds up to stress, resulting in a more severe health problem. For these reasons, diagnosing it is essential, as depression and anxiety are already a complicated issue to tackle. If you want to know more about dealing with them, you need to visit a psychologist like here: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/reasons-to-go-to-therapy_n_58bf1299e4b0f0c1cf96dc32. 

Meanwhile, it can also get worse for your digestive tract and entire body. There are connections between this condition and other lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension. If you feel weak all the time, then you will end up eating more. With all the food resources at our disposal, the best-tasting ones are usually not good for you. It is crucial to keep track of your diet if you think that you have SIBO.

One way you can control it is by changing your lifestyle, specifically your food choices. Some food groups you need to avoid as much as possible are complex carbs since it makes SIBO worse. Also, sugar is one of the main ingredients that feed these bacteria in your gut, and you need to flush them out as soon as possible. However, you will need to visit your doctor because it requires antibiotics or surgery if it gets worse.