For the more than 61 percent of Americans suffering from chronic gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, holiday feasts and treats come with a steep price – flare-up of symptoms including upset stomach, diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating. According to Dr. Douglas Drossman, one of the world's leading gastroenterology experts, holiday foods – which are higher in carbohydrates, fat, gluten and sugar – can worsen already frustrating GI symptoms.

Dr Drossman says that risk can be mitigated by knowing how to communicate with your doctor and understanding how to proactively manage your condition.

"Every holiday season, we see a significant increase in patients with gastrointestinal flare ups. If you are suffering from a chronic GI disorder, called a disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), eating foods you don't normally indulge in and managing the stress that can come with the season, the risk is high that you will experience intensified symptoms that are frequent and disruptive," said Dr Drossman, who has dedicated his career to study of gastroenterology and psychiatry to understand and treat these disorders.

"We all love holiday foods, which are nostalgic and reflective of our traditions and culture. Add in the stress of the holidays – and the added stress of a holiday during a pandemic and it's a recipe for intensification of these GI symptoms. It's possible to enjoy the holiday season without paying the price with your health. That starts with properly managing your DGBI condition," added Dr Drossman.

The American Psychological Association reports that 38 per cent of Americans experience increased stress around the holidays, which can exacerbate GI symptoms. Forty per cent of Americans suffer from disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) that present as a collection of symptoms not diagnosable through traditional testing methods but through the use of symptom criteria. Misdiagnoses for DGBIs are common, and often cause long-term physical and mental distress, disrupt the patient-doctor relationship and lead to unnecessary tests and high health care costs.

"Patients can spend years seeking a diagnosis for their condition, which can strain relationships with friends and family. "The task is not to do more tests but to accept the diagnosis and carve the path toward recovery," said Dr Drossman. For many DGBI patients, holiday celebrations are disrupted by frequent trips to the bathroom and embarrassing symptoms. It doesn't have to be that way."

Dr Drossman says DGBI patients have faced a long-time struggle communicating with their doctors and feeling unheard as they seek their path to effectively manage their condition, so he partnered with renowned patient advocate, Johannah Ruddy, to write the new book Gut Feelings: Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI) and the Patient-Doctor Relationship, which is now available for pre-order ahead of its December release.

"DGBI patients often feel frustrated by the lack of diagnosis and direction. Physicians are often stymied by testing that cannot produce diagnosis. It's time to reset the dialogue and create a real path to address the DGBI health crisis," said Dr Drossman.

Gut Feelings includes a wealth of information on GI disorders, with findings from over 35 years of research in this field and analysis of numerous clinical studies in addition to tips for both doctors and patients to build more productive conversation about diagnoses and treatment plans for DGBIs. The book also includes information on DGBI diagnoses using the Rome Criteria, which evaluates functional GI disorders based on a collection of symptoms.

"When the doctor-patient dialogue is improved and productive, effective treatment plans can be explored, and disorders of Gut-Brain interaction can be managed. That can make the holidays more enjoyable and every day more comfortable," said Dr Drossman.