Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

HOLDING ON FOR BRITAIN

23 million UK citizens are putting their health at risk through fear of public toilets

While the Great British reserve is becoming a thing of the past, it seems there's one place where our confidence is still lacking – the toilet. Over half of us are too embarrassed to visit the loo at work, and a further 41% will turn on hand dryers or run taps to hide the noise, a new survey of over 2000 people by constipation remedy Ortisan, reveals.

Not only would we rather spend the day desperately holding on to avoid being heard using the office toilet, but 51% admit they'll walk out of a work loo without going if a colleague is using one of the cubicles. A sensitive 20% of men and women will head to a different department or even dash to a shop or restaurant when nature calls, rather than use the office convenience.

But it’s not just going at work which worries UK citizens, most have a fear of using any loo outside of their own home, according to the survey. It revealed that 76% will avoid using a loo on public transport while over a third of people won’t use the facilities in cafes or restaurants.

But our traditional British embarrassment may actually be damaging our health as 64% of British people reveal they suffer from irregular bowel movements or constipation in general, and a third of people believe this is due to avoiding going to the toilet in awkward places.

Nutrition Consultant, Doctor Chris Fenn comments: “Over half of people in the UK are putting their health at risk by not visiting the toilet regularly, and this worrying statistic underlines a serious common health issue which not only affects general wellbeing, causing headaches, poor skin, tiredness, bloating, bad breath and body odour, but has more serious long term health implications.

The survey also revealed that we use our time in the smallest room surprisingly productively: one in five people read a newspaper or magazine, while 14% choose to read a book. 21% say they use going to the lavatory as a chance to take time out and think, while another 20% say they simply day-dream. Six per cent of people actually take the opportunity to send text messages on their mobile phones, while five per cent puzzle over a crossword. And spare a thought for stressed out Londoners – ten per cent of people in our Capital talk and a further 12% text whilst on the loo!

When it comes to relationships, a self-conscious 27% say they won’t go to the toilet if their partner can hear them and 41% cannot bring themselves to go at the home of a friend or family member. The research revealed that women are more prudish than men – they are twice as likely to avoid visiting the office loos than their male counterparts, and are more likely to avoid using the toilet outside of their own home or when people can hear.

And as the holiday season approaches, 46% of British people will worry about toilet facilities, half will actually suffer from constipation when holidaying abroad, and 16% of women even confess that concerns about toilet facilities actually influence their choice of holiday destination.

One way to help sustain a healthy gut is Ortisan, an established, natural and effective fruit cube for maintaining regularity. Ortisan’s unique 3-way action combines the natural ingredients figs, dates, rhubarb and tamarind which gently act together to stimulate the intestines without irritation or disturbing the intestinal flora.

“A healthy, well functioning gut is essential to good health, and if you are one of the millions who suffer with constipation the fibre in foods such as figs can act as an internal bottle brush to sweep out waste products regularly and keep your gut functioning well”, adds Fenn.


Notes to Editors:

1) Ortisan Fruit Cubes can be found in Boots, Superdrug, Tesco and Waitrose, Health Food Stores and Pharmacies, priced £5.49 for 12 cubes or £9.25 for 24.

2) For full survey results, further information or samples of Ortisan or if you would like Doctor Chris Fen’s full quote or to discuss the possibility of an interview with a spokesperson from Ortisan, contact Pegasus PR.

Issued on behalf of:
Cedar Health Ltd

Issued by:
Pegasus Public Relations Ltd

Press enquiries:
Victoria Crook / Gemma Maxey / Terri Watson
Tel: 01903 821550
Email: vcrook@pegasuspr.co.uk / gmaxey@pegasuspr.co.uk / tjwatson@pegasuspr.co.uk

August 2006