Maria Burke | Registered Nutritional Therapist Surrey

Irritable bowel syndrone

Wednesday 5th September 2018

You may have symptoms that include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. Your doctor may concude that you have IBS Irritable bowel syndrome.This may be a chronic condition that you'll need to manage long term.

Your symptoms may be severe or mild. Some people can control their symptoms by managing diet, lifestyle and stress. For others with more-severe symptoms your doctor may treat you medication or peven counseling. Over 60%of IBS may be stress related.

IBS doesn't cause changes in bowel tissue or increase your risk of colorectal cancer.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of IBS may vary from each person. The most common include:

Abdominal pain, cramping or bloating that is typically relieved or partially relieved by passing a bowel movement.

Excess gas

Diarrhea or constipation — sometimes alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation

Mucus in the stool

Most people with IBS experience times when the signs and symptoms are worse and times when they improve or even disappear completely.

It is important to see your doctor if you have a persistent change in bowel habits or other signs or symptoms of IBS.

They may indicate a more serious condition, such as colon cancer. More-serious signs and symptoms include:

Weight loss
Diarrhea at night
Rectal bleeding
Iron deficiency anemia
Unexplained vomiting
Difficulty swallowing
Ongoing pain that isn't relieved by passing gas or a bowel movement

What are the causes of IBS

The precise cause of IBS isn't known.There are some factors that appear to play a role include:
The intestines are lined with layers of muscle. These contract as they move food through the digestive tract.
If contractions are stronger and last longer,this may cause bloating,gas and diarrhea.
If muscle contractions are weak this may slow the food passage and lead to dry hard stools.

Nerves in the digestive system may cause more than normal discomfort in the abdomen,when gas stretches the abdomen.
Stress causes signals between the brain and gut to overreact. This may cause reactions in the digestive process,which result in pain,cramps,or diarrhea.
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Some causes of irritable bowel
Inflammation in the intestines. Some people may have increased number of immune-system cells in their intestines. This immune-system response may then cause pain and diarrhea.
This may be the result of a severe infection. IBS can develop after a severe bout of diarrhea (gastroenteritis) caused by bacteria or a virus. IBS might also be associated with an overgrowth of bacteria in the intestines (bacterial overgrowth).
Changes in bacteria in the gut (microflora). Microflora are the "good" bacteria that reside in the intestines and play a key role in health. Research indicates that microflora in people with IBS might differ from microflora in healthy people.
Other causes of IBS can be triggered by:

Food. The role of food allergy or intolerance in IBS isn't fully understood. A true food allergy rarely causes IBS.
People with IBS symptoms often find when they eat or drink certain foods or beverages, including wheat, dairy products, citrus fruits, beans, cabbage, milk and carbonated drinks their symptoms worsen.
Sress is another major factor for most people with IBS. They experience worse or more frequent signs and symptoms during periods of increased stress. But while stress may aggravate symptoms, it doesn't cause them.
Hormones. Women are twice as likely to have IBS, which might indicate that hormonal changes play a role. Many women find that signs and symptoms are worse during or around their menstrual periods.
Risk factors
Many people have occasional signs and symptoms of IBS. But you're more likely to have the syndrome if you:

Are young. IBS occurs more frequently in people under age 50.
Are female. In the United States, IBS is more common among women. Estrogen therapy before or after menopause also is a risk factor for IBS.
Have a family history of IBS. Genes may play a role, as may shared factors in a family's environment or a combination of genes and environment.
Have a mental health problem. Anxiety, depression and other mental health issues are associated with IBS. A history of sexual, physical or emotional abuse also might be a risk factor.
Complications
Chronic constipation or diarrhea can cause hemorrhoids.

In addition, IBS is associated with:

Poor quality of life. Many people with moderate to severe IBS report poor quality of life. Research indicates that people with IBS miss three times as many days from work as do those without bowel symptoms.
Mood disorders. Experiencing the signs and symptoms of IBS can lead to depression or anxiety. Depression and anxiety also can make IBS worse.
Prevention
Finding ways to deal with stress may help prevent or ease symptoms of IBS. Consider trying:

Only a small number of people with IBS have severe signs and symptoms. Some people can control their symptoms by managing diet, lifestyle and stress. More-severe symptoms can be treated with medication and counseling.