Chennai 24 March 2026: Digestive health concerns are rising across India, driven by fast-paced lifestyles, unhealthy dietary habits, and sedentary work routines. Despite the growing prevalence of digestive problems, awareness about serious gastrointestinal diseases such as colorectal cancer remains low.
To better understand how people interpret digestive symptoms and when they seek medical help, Merck Specialities Pvt. Ltd. supported a nationwide perception audit through the Lifestyle & Digestive Health Awareness Survey to understand how people interpret digestive symptoms such as irregular bowel movements, acidity, and blood in stool, identify awareness gaps and behavioural patterns that may delay early medical consultation and diagnosis.
The findings were shared at a press conference addressed by Prof. Dr. S. Subramanian, HOD, Sr. Medical Oncologist, Founder Chairman & Managing Director, V S Hospitals, Chennai; Prof. Dr. Anita Ramesh, Sr. Consultant Medical Oncologist, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai; Prof. Dr. S. Rajasundaram, Sr. Surgical Oncologist & CEO, Iswarya Hospital, Chennai; and Prof. Dr. (Brig) S Viswanath, Sr. Consultant Medical Oncologist, Dr Rela Institute and Medical Centre, Chromepet, Chennai, who emphasised the urgent need for greater awareness and timely medical consultation for digestive health symptoms.
Colorectal cancer is emerging as a growing health concern in India, driven by unhealthy diets, obesity, and low awareness about gut health. Although largely preventable and treatable when detected early, many cases are diagnosed late due to delayed screening and poor awareness of symptoms. March is observed globally as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and against this backdrop, the nationwide survey uncovered worrying trends in digestive health awareness and lifestyle habits.
As the campaign gathered momentum across Chennai, the city-specific survey findings exposed a worrying lack of awareness around digestive health and colorectal cancer.The city-specific analysis for Chennai included 203 participants, comprising 103 female and 100 male respondents, across age groups 25–35 (52), 36–45 (68), 46–55 (51), and 55 years and above (32). The findings revealed that only 11.7% of respondents in Chennai recognise blood in stool as a warning sign of colorectal cancer, indicating extremely low awareness. Equally concerning is the delay in seeking medical help. 83.2% of respondents said they delay visiting a doctor when bowel habits change, suggesting that many people ignore symptoms or wait for them to resolve on their own rather than seeking timely medical advice. Digestive symptoms were also widely reported in the city, with 57.1% of respondents experiencing irregular bowel movements. Another major concern is self-medication, with 89.3% relying on home remedies or over-the-counter medication instead of seeking professional consultation.
Prof. Dr. S. Subramanian, HOD, Sr. Medical Oncologist, Founder Chairman & Managing Director, V S Hospitals, Chennai, said, “Colorectal cancer develops in the colon or rectum and often begins as small growths called polyps that can gradually become cancerous if untreated. Risk factors include unhealthy diets low in fibre, obesity, sedentary lifestyles, tobacco use, and age. Don’t miss symptoms such as persistent bowel habit changes, blood in stool, abdominal discomfort, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss. Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when detected early through screening methods such as colonoscopy.”Prof. Dr. Anita Ramesh, Sr. Consultant Medical Oncologist, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, explained, “Findings from Chennai show that self-medication remains common, with many people relying on home remedies or over-the-counter medicines instead of consulting a doctor. Early changes in bowel habits are often ignored, delaying medical attention and diagnosis. Persistent symptoms should not be overlooked, and timely medical evaluation is important.”
Prof. Dr. S. Rajasundaram, Sr. Surgical Oncologist & CEO, Iswarya Hospital, Chennai, further added, “In Chennai, digestive complaints such as irregular bowel movements are being reported frequently, yet awareness about critical warning signs remains extremely low. Very few individuals identify blood in stool as a possible symptom of colorectal cancer. This lack of awareness increases the risk of late detection. Early recognition of symptoms and timely treatment are essential to improve outcomes and ensure better disease management.”Prof. Dr. (Brig) S Viswanath, Sr. Consultant Medical Oncologist, Dr Rela Institute and Medical Centre, Chromepet, Chennai, highlighted that lifestyle habits play a major role in the rising incidence of colorectal cancer. He said, “Frequent consumption of processed or outside food, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and obesity can increase the risk. Adopting healthier habits such as a fibre-rich diet, regular exercise, avoiding tobacco, and undergoing routine screening can reduce the risk.”
