Gastrointestinal tract is the combination of the organs joined together in a form of tube twisted in several turns from mouth to anus. This tract might get some infections due to various reasons. Irritable bowel syndrome is a gastrointestinal long-term disorder that causes discomfort and distress.

Symptoms:

IBS common symptoms are abdominal pain, changes in the bowel movements, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, change in stool frequency, and passing mucus in the stool. It is one of the problems in the intestine that is known as a functional disorder. The concept is applied to the muscular organs of the parts of alimentary canal like esophagus, stomach, intestines, gallbladder and colon.

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome is caused due to following reasons:

  • Due to problems in the signals passed between brain and the gastrointestinal tract results in pain or discomfort in the abdominal section of the body.
  • Due to abnormal working of colon part of intestine makes the muscles to contract or tighten resulting in passing unwanted materials from the body too quickly or too slowly.
  • Due to depression of the mind or anxiety IBS is caused.
  • Bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract causes IBS to occur.
  • Due to lack of sleep stress occurs that helps in triggering IBS.

Occurrence

IBS is more common in women than in men. It can occur at any age normally in teenage or early childhood age. It is the common intestinal disorder that affects 7 to 10 people out of 100 people in the world.

How to control the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Symptoms of Gastrointestinal bowel disorder are controlled by some people through:
1.       Diet
2.       Stress management
3.       Prescribed medications

Treating IBS

  • By changing food habits and food eating patterns
  • By taking medicines
  • Fiber foods help to reduce constipation because it makes the stool soft and helps to pass easily.
  • By using various therapies like talk therapy and hypnosis (that helps in mental well being) that directs the gut helps in treating IBS.
  • By doing gentle exercises like yoga, swimming and walking. Deep-breathing exercises also helps in treating irritable bowel exercises.

Preventive measures for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

There are various measures to be used by you to prevent IBS and to get improve the condition.

  • Drink lots of water about two liters a day
  • Avoid beverages like coffee and milk
  • Avoid the foods that upset your stomach
  • Avoid strong spices and foods that give you pleasure
  • Avoid large meals but have your food in proper time regularly
  • Use high-fiber food that helps in digestion and excretion
  • Reduce intake of alcohol.
  • Adequate sleep is necessary to prevent stress

How is IBS treated by a doctor?

Firstly, doctor will ask you about the symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome then he might do the physical examination. He might also do the tests like blood tests and stool analysis test. The doctor may also suggest undergoing procedures like x-ray and endoscopy (That helps to view the internal of the colon through flexible tube).

Is good diet needed for IBS?

Yes, essentially it is needed. As per the doctor’s suggestions, a proper diet reduces Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.  You may also consult dietician who may suggest you to stop having dairy products. Dietary fibers like whole grain breads and cereals, beans, fruits and vegetables may reduce IBS symptoms.

Which are the other symptoms that are not concerned with IBS?

  • Blood in stools or in urine
  • Fever, vomiting
  • Weight loss
  • Black stools
  • Pain or diarrhea that breaks sleep

When should you contact a doctor?

When you get uncontrollable abdominal pain, when you find difficulty in swallowing the food, getting bleeding from the back passage, when you are not able to get sleep overnight, losing weight significantly and painless diarrhea you have to contact a doctor immediately for further advice.

What are psychological treatments and what is its use in IBS patients?

Psychological treatments are also known as talking therapy. It includes treatment for depression, anxiety and mental illness. It helps to give an opportunity to talk to a health professional in order to understand your symptoms and to help you adapt how you feel, think and respond to them. It also reduces pain and diarrhea in IBS patients.

Therapies that help IBS

There are many therapies like hypnotherapy, talking therapy, acupuncture etc.

Hypnotherapy

It is used to change your unconscious mind’s attitude towards your symptoms that help some people to reduce their symptoms of pain and discomfort.

Talking therapy

It is based on the principle that the way you feel depends on the way you think.

Acupuncture

It is a form of Chinese medicine that involves the insertion of needles into the skin on the body. It is used to treat pain conditions like back pain, headache and dental pain. It is done on the belief that energy flows through the body in channels.