MILWAUKEE, June 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) is giving everyone an easy way to become part of the digestive health community. The nonprofit patient education organization is marking the three year anniversary of its grassroots arm, the Digestive Health Alliance (DHA), with the introduction of a new web platform on DHA.org. The site is aimed at providing opportunities for individuals to come together and get involved in order to improve care for people with functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders (FGIMDs).
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DHA.org gives those affected by chronic digestive conditions the chance to become digestive health champions. People can raise much needed awareness and funds for research of FGIMDs, share personal stories, and educate policy makers and others through advocacy. The website also offers online discussion forums where individuals can interact and support one another, illustrating the point that they are not alone in their experiences.
"There are millions of people living with the effects of FGIMDs, whether they themselves are experiencing symptoms or their friends or family members are afflicted with the disorders," said Nancy Norton, president and founder of IFFGD. "We created DHA.org, a place where the community can come together to find strength and support and to create meaningful change, in the hopes of improving treatment options and finding cures for these conditions."
Through coordinated fundraising, advocacy, and awareness efforts, DHA works proactively to advance scientific understanding of FGIMDs. The group, together with IFFGD, relies on donor support to fund research and provide reliable information and ongoing support to those whose lives are impacted by chronic digestive conditions.
FGIMDs involve chronic troubles in areas within the digestive tract, from the esophagus (food tube), to the stomach, to the intestines. The conditions, some of which are life threatening, involve pain or discomfort and improper functioning of the nerves, muscles, and other related mechanisms of the digestive tract. There are few treatment options and the conditions can diminish a person's quality of life and productivity levels, while also having significant social and economic impacts on society.
ABOUT IFFGD
The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) is a nonprofit education and research organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people impacted by chronic digestive conditions. Together with patients, families, clinicians, researchers, and other health professionals, IFFGD works tirelessly to promote awareness, scientific advancement, and improved patient care. The largest organization of its kind in the US, IFFGD and its grassroots counterpart, the Digestive Health Alliance, rely on donor support to fund research and provide educational resources for those affected by gastrointestinal disorders. Make a donation, join the community, and learn how you can help at www.iffgd.org and www.dha.org or by contacting Email.
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