The Gut-Brain Connection

For years, gastroenterologist Tina Storage, MD, saw patients who had hard-to-explain symptoms that affected their digestive tracts. “They might experience diarrhea, bloating, constipation, or abdominal pain, but their labs came back totally normal, and traditional treatments didn’t help,” she says. “Clearly, there was more going on.”

In her search for explanations, Dr. Storage, who specializes in inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, researched holistic approaches to digestive health disorders, a discipline known as functional gastroenterology (GI). What she found was surprising: The gut and brain are interconnected, meaning an imbalance in one can affect the other. The good news? Treating functional GI disorders may be easier than you expect.

Go with your gut

The term “gut feeling” is not just a turn of phrase. The gut and brain are connected through the vagus nerve, which is why you might feel symptoms of anxiety, stress, or fear in your digestive tract. And for some people, normal digestion processes might trigger a fight-or-flight response.

“When the brain perceives normal GI tract feelings as being really wrong, people can have symptoms such as abdominal discomfort or bloating,” Dr. Storage says. “The brain becomes wired that way, but we can naturally break that circuitry and help the brain feel calm again.”

Simple solutions

Several strategies can help manage mental health disorders or reduce stress to improve the effectiveness of other gastrointestinal treatments. You may try some of these methods on your own, or your doctor may recommend a combination of several treatments:

Exercise: Daily movement has a significant impact on multiple aspects of your health. It’s good for your heart, bones, muscles—and mental health. Try to move at least 30 minutes a day, whether it’s walking around your neighborhood or signing up for an exercise class.

Mindfulness and relaxation: Techniques like breathing exercises can help you cope with everyday stress or manage a mental health condition. One study of more than 1,000 adults found that those who meditated regularly reduced their anxiety symptoms more significantly than those who didn’t.

Psychotherapy: Also called talk therapy, psychotherapy is one of the most common treatments for managing depression or anxiety. A therapist can help you overcome fears, learn mindfulness and reduce behaviors that worsen your anxiety.

Medication: Dr. Storage sometimes prescribes medication that aids in rewiring nerve pathways between the brain and gut. For many people, medications help reduce symptoms enough that they’re able to practice other coping strategies more effectively. Researchers have also found that improving your gut health can help you manage anxiety or depression. There are many foods you can eat for gut health and lifestyle changes you can make. Getting adequate sleep, avoiding processed foods and drinking plenty of water will go a long way to a healthier gut.

Undeniable results

Dr. Storage says she has been inspired to see positive outcomes for patients who once felt that they couldn’t go to social events for fear of their digestive symptoms acting up.

“When I worked with people on holistic approaches, I started seeing real results,” she says. “Functional GI techniques really work.”

If your gut symptoms are severe or interfere with your daily activities, talk with your doctor. They can help figure out if there’s an underlying cause and offer treatments to help you find relief. Find an Adventist Health provider near you.