IBS Impact’s Top 25 (or 33!) Countries and Top 10 Posts of 2014

For this first week of the New Year, IBS Impact is once again participating in the common December-January blogger tradition of highlighting popular posts and interesting blog statistics from the year just past.

This blog reached readers in 94 countries and territories during 2014, and 124 in the three years that WordPress has made country statistics available to individual blog owners. While, predictably, most of the nations in the top 10 are ones where English is an official or major secondary language, our total blog hits span every continent, underscoring that IBS is a global problem, not the common stereotype of it as a nuisance disorder caused by overindulgent North American diets and lifestyles. A list of the top 25 better reflects the diversity of countries of origin represented. This year, because of several two-way or three-way ties in the statistics, the top 25 places are actually occupied by 33 countries. It is hoped that the vast majority are legitimate visits, even from those who might not have been searching specifically for information about IBS, and not simply potential spammers. In order, the countries are:

1. United States

2. United Kingdom

3. Canada

4. Australia

5. India

6. Italy

7. Ireland

8. Kuwait

9. Poland

10. Sweden

11. Germany

12. Netherlands

13. Sri Lanka

14. (tie) Philippines and Bangladesh and Spain

15. Japan

16. Malaysia

17. New Zealand

18. Turkey

19. (tie) Singapore and Brazil

20. (tie) South Africa and Austria

21. Mexico

22. Israel

23. (tie)  Malta and Republic of Korea and Norway

24. (tie) Pakistan and Portugal

25. (tie) Romania and Russia

Below are the top 10 individual posts that received the most hits during 2014. The majority of them were first published in 2011, 2012 or 2013. However, they continue to attract attention because they address topics that are of ongoing concern to people with IBS. Perhaps longtime readers can refresh their memories and newer readers will discover something interesting and useful. In order, the posts are:

1. Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders/IBS Considered Presumptive Service-Connected Disabilities for U.S. Gulf War Veterans,  August 12, 2011

2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and a Debate on “Can’t Wait” Cards,  November 25, 2012 Please note that the blog originally linked in the above post as a basis for discussion no longer exists on WordPress.com. However, the ideas raised and the invitation by IBS Impact for readers and the IBS community to continue to discuss related concerns are still valid.

3. Restroom Access Act (Ally’s Law) Updates in Maryland and Maine, May 10, 2013

4. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), July 30, 2012

5. Public Restroom Access and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), February 21, 2012

6. 15 Common Misconceptions That Shouldn’t Exist about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), November 8, 2013

7.  The American College of Gastroenterology Issues 2014 Evidence-Based Review on the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), August 10, 2014

8. Guest Post: I Know Why People Can’t Tell I Have IBS (Becoming More Present At Work), May 5, 2014

9. Food Poisoning and Post-Infectious IBS, August 5, 2011

10. Update on American Gut and uBiome Microbiome Research Projects, October 6, 2013

This blog was begun in July 2011, a few months after the launch of the main IBS Impact website, and a bit over a year after the inception of IBS Impact itself. It is intended as a supplement to the many resources on our main site, one that can be updated relatively quickly with time-sensitive news, advocacy and clinical trial opportunities, as well as providing well-researched, scientifically reputable information on IBS and commentary on broader issues affecting the IBS community that may not be widely discussed on other sites. It is meant to be useful to a broad readership: people with IBS and related conditions, both those who may have lived with IBS for some time and those with recent onset or who are new to IBS sites online,  family members and friends, health care and human service professionals who may interact with us, and the general public. We are pleased that it continues to fulfill this role.

IBS Impact wishes everyone a happy, healthy, prosperous and productive New Year and looks forward in 2015 to advances in awareness, advocacy, research, treatment and community support systems that benefit the worldwide IBS community.

• Posted in: IBS ♦ IBS Impact ♦ Irritable Bowel Syndrome