Feeling off more often than on? You’re not alone.
Most of us are running on empty, clutching our stomachs or popping pain relievers more often than we’d care to admit — and a fresh study has the data to prove it.
A new survey — conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Doctor’s Best — has revealed that only 28% of us feel completely healthy, with the remaining 72% living in chronic discomfort.
Respondents said they feel tired 12.9 days, experience mood changes 10.1 days, suffer from tummy issues 9.8 days and deal with headaches 7.5 days — per month.
The research also found that the average American only feels truly healthy for 19 days out of the month — meaning nearly two weeks are spent in a fog of fatigue, headaches or digestive distress.
And those aches and pains may be taking more than a physical toll.
Roughly 65% of Americans say their health issues make it more difficult to function optimally at their job — and 40% report they make it harder to exercise, potentially creating a negative cycle of wellbeing.
Another 15% complain they take away from their ability to enjoy quality time with family and 32% of men admit to having trouble performing sexually as a result.
Of the maladies, gut issues appear to have the biggest impact on our personal lives — as one in three Americans regularly deal with stomach problems, with almost half (48%) confessing these tummy troubles make them more reluctant to have sex.
“When your gut is unbalanced, everything else begins to suffer: work, sleep, intimacy and even the simple joy of being with family,” Katie Lucas, CMO of Doctor’s Best, said in a press release.
“We often try to convince ourselves that health is a private issue, but the statistics show otherwise. When we don’t feel well, it affects every aspect of our lives. Healing the gut isn’t just about improving digestion; it’s about reclaiming the parts of life we’re gradually losing.”
Perhaps surprisingly, the data indicates that — of all of the generations — Gen Z is the one most likely to suffer from upset stomach.
This is troubling, as bloating, gas and discomfort are often dismissed as harmless digestive issues, but they can sometimes signal more serious health problems — such as colon cancer, which has been on the rise among younger adults.
“Normalizing chronic symptoms like bloating, discomfort or irregular bowel habits can delay diagnosis of underlying conditions such as SIBO, IBS, celiac disease or even inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer,” gastroenterologist Dr. Ali Rezaie previously told The Post.
