Irritable bowel syndrome

 

                             
Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder that affects the bowel movements of a person. It is a physiological disorder and not a disease. A person with this syndrome usually experiences pain or discomfort in the intestinal track while passing stool. Women are more likely to develop IBS than men.

Irritable bowel syndrome is caused when colon absorbs too much or too little water from the digested food passing through the colon from small intestines causing diarrhea or constipation. Symptoms to identify irritable bowel syndrome include bloating or cramping pain in the abdomen, constipation and diarrhea. The pain or discomfort tends to get worse during menstrual cycle in women. There might be a change in the consistency of stool from time to time in people suffering from this syndrome. A person suffering from this syndrome experiences discomfort when there is some change in the regular diet or when he/she has taken large meals during the day.

IBS is diagnosed when symptoms last for about six months. Irritable bowel syndrome is believed to be caused when the brain is unable to send proper signals to the colon resulting in irregular movements of the colon, but the actual cause is unknown. To diagnose this syndrome stool and blood test are done usually to rule out the probability of a person suffering from other gastro intestinal diseases that may show the same symptoms.  Mental conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress are also known to trigger the symptoms of IBS.

Irritable bowel syndrome can be treated with some changes in diet, like eating more fiber rich foods like whole grain, vegetables and fruits. Fibers should be added in the small quantities at a time in the diet, as eating too much fiber may trigger the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. People with this syndrome should avoid foods that contain high fat, caffeine and alcohol and they should also avoid eating foods such as cabbage and beans which may worsen the symptoms.

People with this syndrome should also avoid intake of too much milk but should increase the intake of yogurt as it contains probiotics – a bacteria which helps improving the digestion. Medications such as anti-depressants are used to treat IBS caused by mental conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Since stress also worsen the symptoms of IBS it is necessary to manage stress, especially for those who are already suffering from this condition. Meditation, exercise, adequate sleep etc, are few methods followed by many to manage stress and these methods also help in reducing the symptoms of IBS.