Day of the pharmacy is dedicated to the gastrointestinal discomfort

Gastrointestinal complaints are often treated with over-the-counter medications
This year's Day of the Pharmacy will be held under the motto "For your gut feeling. What to do if gastrointestinal discomfort? " According to the Federal Association of German Pharmacists Associations (ABDA), seven out of ten people in Germany (69 percent) suffer from symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or stomach ache.

Gastrointestinal complaints are the focus of this year's Pharmacy Day. (Image: ag visual / fotolia.com)

For gastrointestinal complaints, heartburn takes first place
On behalf of the ABDA, the polling company forsa carried out a survey of 3,200 Germans aged 18 and over about their health problems in the past twelve months. For digestive problems, heartburn takes first place. Accordingly, every third person (36 percent) suffered from it. In every fourth, nausea with vomiting has occurred in the last 12 months. Every 20th German citizen (six percent) was plagued by chronic constipation. Not older people were affected more often. The complaints concerned all age groups.

Regarding the level of distress, the survey found that every second person affected by nausea and vomiting felt extremely or very impaired. A similar result was also seen for stomach pain, diarrhea and constipation.

"Heartburn, diarrhea, constipation and other digestive problems are often treated with over-the-counter medications," reports ABDA. "But not every disease is suitable for self-medication, and not every patient is the same drug optimal. Therefore, the independent and individual advice of the pharmacist or the pharmacist is of particular importance, "emphasizes ABDA President Friedemann Schmidt.

Often home remedies for stomach ache and other digestive problems can provide relief, such as chamomile tea or the spices fennel, anise and cumin. (Ag)