An Overview Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a turmoil that influences the digestive system and causes pain, cramping, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. IBS is an intense issue that requirements long term treatment. IBS although has very serious and uncomfortable symptoms, unlike ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease doesn’t cause changes in the bowel tissues or increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Majority of the people have found relief from IBS by altering their diet and leading a healthy life; some are unlucky enough to suffer these uncomfortable symptoms. Although the symptoms may vary from person to person, some of the common symptoms are as follows:
- Feeling bloated
- Gastritis
- Chronic diarrhea or constipation
- Abdominal cramp
- Stool containing mucus
Some of the severe symptoms which require the immediate attention of doctor are
- Weight loss
- Progressive abdominal pain
- Blood from the rectum
A variety of reasons are responsible for IBS. Usually the walls of the intestine that are lined with muscles contract and relax moving the food from the stomach to the intestine. In IBS, the movement persists for a longer duration resulting in diarrhea and bloating. Less movement of the walls causes slow movement of food which again results in constipation. Some of the common reasons that trigger an IBS are as follows:
- Food: It has been found that certain food which may vary from person to person has been responsible for triggering IBS. Some of them include spices, fats, fruits, chocolates, cabbage, beans, cauliflower, milk, and broccoli.
- Stress: It has been found that an increased stress level increases the severity of IBS. Stress doesn’t cause IBS, but it does aggravate the disorder.
- Hormones: During the menstrual period, a lot of hormonal changes occur in a woman’s body, and they are more prone to IBS.
- Illness: Problems like acute diarrhea or too much bacteria in the gut could trigger an IBS.
Although people of all ages occasionally suffer from symptoms of IBS, people under the age of 45 are more likely to develop the disorder. Women are also at the risk of developing the disorder as compared to men. Taking proper irritable bowel syndrome medication and altering the diet with a healthy living can improve the overall health.
