Irritable Bowel Syndrome Relief Treatments

You may find many people experiencing a symptom for irritable bowel syndrome feel depressed about it.  Although IBS is considered a “syndrome” meaning that there are a number of signs and symptoms that characterize the condition, many people can suffer with some of the same signs and symptoms and not have IBS.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition, which can reduce quality of life.  It can effect people both physically and psychologically, and dictate many of ways someone has to conduct their life as the symptoms can be sudden.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder of the lower digestive tract that is characterized by a mixture of symptoms. The symptoms for irritable bowel syndrome may differ from person to person. However the main symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome include abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and abnormal bowel habits such as diarrhea and constipation.

It has been observed that any one symptom typically predominates in people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

Many patients’ report of diarrhea being the chief complaint during an irritable bowel attack. Such patients feel a strong need to relieve themselves many times throughout the day and they pass loose, watery stools.

Patients suffering from constipation may have fewer than three bowel movements a week. Some patients of irritable bowel syndrome experience alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation. Some patients feel as if they are not able to void completely. They may also experience bloating and pass excessive amounts of gas.

The majority of patients never bother to seek help from a doctor and simply endure their symptoms. Some others feel reluctant to leave home during an attack because of pain or the urgency to have bowel movement.

In people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, the muscles of the bowel wall go into spasm. In a normal person, regular contractions of the muscles in the wall of the digestive track propel the contents forward. In IBS patients, the muscle spasms hinder this smooth movement resulting in diarrhea or constipation.

While factors such as diet and stress can trigger the muscle spasms, it is thought that one of the main possible causes of IBS appears to be the way the brain and bowel communicate. Some researches have indicated that patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome have a more heightened awareness of pain in their digestive systems than people without irritable bowel syndrome do. This hypersensitivity is considered to trigger the intestinal spasms, and is the basis of abdominal pain/discomfort.

In order to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome in a patient, a physician needs to rule out other possible conditions or diseases. A physician performs physical examination of the patient and goes through the medical history of the patient.

The physician will ask questions about the symptoms and then may suggest laboratory tests. These tests help in ruling out other diseases and may include complete blood count (CBC), thyroid function, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and urinalysis.

Depending on symptoms, physician may also recommend additional tests such as lactose tolerance test and a check for the presence of blood, bacteria, and parasites in feces. If the laboratory tests and physical exam do not suggest any other disease, the physician may diagnose irritable bowel syndrome in the patient.

IBS is not very well understood and very few drugs show consistent results. Many patients of IBS are often switched from drug to drug to control the abnormal bowel habits including antidepressants or medications that affect serotonin receptors.

However, for most patients, the best therapy is natural, based on dietary supplements that encourage healthy digestion. Also lifestyle changes can bring each symptom for irritable bowel syndrome under control.

Don’t forget, if you haven’t joined already, to sign up for the free IBS newsletter that has proven methods for managing IBS naturally. In the newsletter you’ll also find more information on effective control of each symptom for irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), also known as spastic colon is usually indicated by episodes of abdominal pain and irregularities in bowel patterns. Some of the conditions of this functional bowel disorder are similar to other gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, and more info on irritable bowel syndrome symptoms that the person is suffering with is required to make a full diagnosis.

Although irritable bowel syndrome cases are not uncommon, the true cause of the disease is yet unknown. Further studies are being conducted to find the cause, as well as reviewing past records and reports to gain more data regarding the hazards that cause or may aggravate IBS.

The most common symptoms are abdominal pain, discomfort and bloating while bowel habits are considerably altered. IBS can last for a long period of time but it is a manageable and treatable condition.

The symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome are usually classified as follows:

IBS-A is characterized by changing bowel pattern, usually alternating between constipation and diarrhea.

IBS-C is predominated by episodes of constipation

IBS-D is predominated by episodes of diarrhea

IBS-PI is known as post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome, which is triggered by a pre-existing an infection.

The cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown at present but some theories suggest that it may be caused by communication problems between the brain and the intestines and the confused messages causing hypersensitivity in the bowels and causing untimely and painful symptoms.  It is suggested that this communication problem can cause abnormalities in gastrointestinal tract motility, and so causing either diarrhea or constipation.  

Theories also link IBS with food allergies and other allergies we may be exposed to in our daily routines. These theories suggest that sudden allergic reactions to certain foods may cause contractions or blockage in the gastrointestinal tract and the digestive system in general which may hamper or boost bowel movement. This then irritates the digestive tract and alters bowel pattern.

Other information on irritable bowel syndrome proposes stress as a causative factor. The evidence for this proposal is not clear, but it has been shown that as many as 60% of the people with IBS also suffers with one or more psychological disorders like depression or anxiety.

However, it is not clear if these psychological disorders cause IBS, or are a symptom of living with IBS. It is known that stress and anxiety can make IBS symptoms worsen.

Info on irritable bowel syndrome shows that changing diet, avoiding trigger foods and supplementation can have amazing results on improving IBS symptoms.

Don’t forget, if you haven’t joined already, to sign up for the free IBS newsletter that has proven methods for managing IBS naturally. In the newsletter you’ll also find more
info on irritable bowel syndrome.