IIt is not uncommon for people to fast before a medical exam to avoid skewing the results. But Dr. Zoe Gottlieb's patients often skip meals for other reasons.
Gottlieb, a gastroenterologist and assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, specializes in treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a general term for diseases involving chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. . People with IBD may have “unreliable bowel habits” and need to go to the bathroom frequently or urgently, Gottlieb says. So if a patient doesn't eat before an appointment, it could be a sign of fear of being caught without a bathroom when needed, she says.
That concern is understandable, as there are only eight public restrooms per 100,000 people in the United States, according to a 2021 report from bathroom provider QS Supplies. Michael Osso, CEO of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, says this is a public health issue that has a serious impact on people with inflammatory bowel disease, but no one will be spared.
“Everyone needs a bathroom,” Osso says. “And, frankly, it feels fundamentally wrong that we cannot support people in our community as they leave their homes by meeting this clearly important need.”
Studies have shown that the problem is so severe that some people with IBD choose to stay home rather than risk going somewhere with unreliable access to the bathroom. It has been. A 2012 review of previous research on IBD found that patients frequently reported fear of incontinence, which often caused them to withdraw from work, social life, and hobbies. “Actual episode [of incontinence] “These were rare,” the authors write, “but the fear remained.”
That fear, and the lifestyle changes it prompts, can cause or worsen feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression, starting a vicious cycle, Osso says. Because the gut and brain are closely connected, research suggests that mental health issues may worsen her IBD symptoms. Some studies suggest that socially isolated IBD patients are at increased risk of early death.
“A big part of being able to heal is taking care of both your physical and mental health properly,” Gottlieb says.
But people with inflammatory bowel disease aren't the only ones who suffer from not being able to see the toilet. People with various chronic illnesses, pregnant women, parents of young children, and the elderly may need to use the bathroom frequently or with little warning. (People with mobility issues or disabilities are at a particular disadvantage when searching for an available restroom, as many public restrooms are not designed with their needs in mind.) People who don't have access to public transportation, and people who need to be out all day for work, such as delivery workers and taxi drivers, often use public facilities. And as Theodora “Teddy” Siegel learned when her 2021 shopping trip turned into a frantic search for the restroom, who doesn't run into an emergency from time to time, whether it's their job or their health? plug.
Siegel avoided disaster only after buying a bottle of water so he could use the restroom at a McDonald's in New York City's Times Square. Shaken by the experience, Siegel began posting on social media about restroom locations around New York City. Her audience quickly grew and her followers started posting their own toilet hacks. These crowdsourced posts are now published on a giant map, which Siegel said a Google representative told him is the most frequently used map in the world. That's what it means. While this is an impressive feat, it also illustrates how difficult it can be to find a restroom without insider knowledge and information. Disposable income to buy something at a store with a customer-only toilet.
America's poor public restroom infrastructure is a multifaceted problem.as bloomberg The reason for this, according to a report by (rejected). Currently, some city officials are hesitant to build bathroom facilities because they tend to be centers for drug use and sex work, the New Yorker said. times I would add.
However, the availability of high-quality toilets not only improves access for those in need, but also improves public health and welfare by reducing health risks such as public defecation and urination. There are also studies that show that.
Some states have passed laws aimed at allowing people with certain chronic conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, to use a company's employee restrooms if needed. However, these laws often do not work as intended due to a lack of compliance and awareness, which led the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation to launch the Open Toilet Movement. The initiative asks companies to make their facilities available to the public and promote their stance by joining the list on the foundation's “We Can't Wait” app. “There's a chance.” [businesses] It’s about promoting inclusivity within our community and being a good partner to the people around us,” Osso said.
Siegel happened to become a bathroom influencer by sharing tips for businesses with clean and accessible bathrooms. (Like churches, she says, department stores, bookstores and grocery stores are usually safe.) But she also says it's “unfair” that all the burden falls on private facilities rather than local governments. I also feel that. She says it's a “failure” that New York City only has about 1,000 public restrooms to serve a population of more than 8 million people, and identifies New York City neighborhoods that need more public facilities. They are advocating the enactment of local ordinances to do so. She increases the total number of bathrooms available. Advocates in cities such as Portland, Oregon, Washington, D.C., and Cincinnati, Ohio, are pushing for similar outcomes.
“Access to the bathroom is a basic human right. It shouldn't be a privilege,” Siegel says. “I hope this is an event that someday we all look back on and feel horrified.”
