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Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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D E S C R I P T I O N

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the gastrointestinal system, which is responsible for digesting food and ridding the body of waste material. In IBS patients, this system goes awry and is unable to function normally in the excretion of fecal material.

The colon is responsible for absorbing water from food that enters from the small intestine. Once the colon has had the chance to absorb enough water, nerves and hormones stimulate the muscles of the colon to contract. The contractions push fecal matter toward the rectum, which holds the feces until further muscle contractions excrete the material.

In IBS patients, this process is disrupted, resulting in diarrhea or constipation. Some patients experience both.

Doctors don't know what causes IBS. However, the disorder is not life-threatening and does not damage the intestines. IBS does not lead to more serious diseases such as cancer.

For some patients, IBS is merely a slight inconvenience. But for others, the disorder disables them from participating in normal activities and travel.


R I S K

Risk factors of IBS are hard to pinpoint since doctors don't know what causes the disorder. However, diet and stress seem to play influential roles in the development of IBS.

Some people may be more susceptible to developing IBS if their bowels react more strongly to stimulation, stress, diet or activity. Other researchers theorize that IBS may be the result of changes to the activities of nerves or hormones.

Women are affected by the disorder three times as often as men.

Results of a recent study showed that emotional stress was a significant risk factor in people with IBS.


S Y M P T O M S


  • Abdominal cramps and pain
  • Painful constipation or diarrhea, or both
  • Mucus with bowel movements
  • Bloated feeling
  • Flatulence (gas)
  • Change in stool frequency and form (lumpy/hard or loose/watery)
  • Small stools (rabbit-like pellets) or flat, "ribbon" stools
  • Change in stool passage (straining, urgency or feeling of incomplete evacuation)
  • Urgency to have a bowel movement soon after a meal

Some patients experience bleeding, weight loss, fever and persistent severe pain. However, these symptoms may also indicate other problems.


T R E A T M E N T

1. Diet - A proper diet with adequate amounts of fiber alleviates the symptoms of many patients. Whole grain breads and cereals, beans, fruits and vegetables are good sources of dietary fiber. Avoiding foods that aggravate symptoms prevents them from flaring up.

2. Counseling - Stress reduction, counseling and related therapies, such as biofeedback, to reduce anxiety and other psychological symptoms help to alleviate symptoms.

3. Medication - Doctors may also recommend fiber supplements or laxatives to treat constipation and anti-diarrheal medications to treat diarrhea. Patients must use laxatives with caution to avoid dependency. Drugs that slow the movement of food through the digestive system operate by controlling muscle spasms in the colon. Patients experiencing depression and chronic pain may find relief in anti-depressants.

New drugs are in clinical trial that show promise in treating IBS. Some of these drugs work by their action on nerve cells or nerve transmission.


P R E V E N T I O N

Doctors can't recommend any preventive measures since they don't know what causes IBS. However, they do know that diet and stress seem to be involved in triggering the disease.

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