Irritable
Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
What
is it?
Irritable bowel syndrome
(IBS) is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract
that causes abdominal pain, constipation, or
diarrhea. It
is also known as irritable colon or spastic colon.
Who
gets it?
IBS affects women as much as
three times more often than men.
As many as 30% of Americans suffer from IBS
at some time in their lives.
In a majority of cases, symptoms appear
before age 35. You
will be more likely to have IBS if you have other
family members with it.
What
causes it?
The cause of IBS is not
known, but it seems that the gastrointestinal
tract in people with IBS is extra sensitive to
stimuli. During an episode of IBS, the
gastrointestinal tract may contract strongly and
more frequently, causing too much movement.
These contractions cause food and fecal
material to move rapidly through the small
intestine, which causes diarrhea.
Or, the gastrointestinal tract may not
contract enough, causing undigested material to
move slowly through the colon.
This causes constipation. IBS
can be caused by stress, diet, drugs, or hormones.
The types of foods that trigger an attack
of IBS vary from person to person, but some common
triggers include chocolate, milk products, fatty
foods, caffeine, and large amounts of alcohol.
IBS symptoms may get worse during menstruation, so some
researchers believe that female reproductive
hormones are another trigger. Muscle
movement in the colon is controlled by the nervous
system, so stress and depression may also cause
the spasms associated with IBS.
What
are the symptoms?
The main symptoms of IBS are
diarrhea, constipation, and strong abdominal
cramps. Other
symptoms can include gas, bloating, nausea, an
overwhelming and uncontrollable urge to have a
bowel movement, mucus in the bowel movements, and
the feeling that the bowels have not emptied even
after a bowel movement.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe.
For many, the symptoms of IBS come on
suddenly, usually after a meal, and are relieved
by a bowel movement. Symptoms
rarely wake a person during sleep.
How
is it diagnosed?
To diagnose IBS, your
physician will take a complete medical history,
examine your abdomen, and perhaps perform a rectal
exam. You
will be diagnosed with IBS if you have had
continuous or recurring symptoms for at least
three months and other possible conditions, such
as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, are
ruled out. There
is no specific diagnostic test for IBS, but tests
to rule out other causes include the examination
of a stool sample for blood or intestinal
parasites, blood tests, abdominal x-rays, and
barium enema x-ray, a procedure in which a barium
liquid is passed into the colon through the rectum
before x-rays are taken.
Your doctor may also order an colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy,
procedures in which a thin, flexible tube equipped
with a tiny camera is inserted through the anus to
provide a view of the inside of the colon.
A person with IBS will have no sign of any
disease of the colon.
If your doctor suspects your symptoms are
caused by lactose intolerance, he or she may ask
you to try a lactose-free diet for a few weeks.
Most cases of IBS are classified as mild.
About a quarter of the cases are moderate, meaning they
occasionally interrupt daily activities.
Only a small percentage are so severe that they interfere with
daily life and cause psychological problems.
What
is the treatment?
Treatment for IBS varies.
If you are able to identify the foods or
types of stress that cause your symptoms, avoiding
these foods or situations will relieve the
symptoms. Most
treatments for IBS focus on diet.
In general, a low fat, high fiber diet is
effective in treating mild cases of IBS.
If you have problems with bloating and gas,
you should avoid foods that aggravate these
conditions, such as beans and cabbage.
The artificial sweetener sorbitol, as well
as fructose, may also aggravate diarrhea.
If you have IBS and are lactose intolerant,
you should avoid dairy products.
Eating more fiber, such as bran, may help
with both constipation and diarrhea.
Dietary changes may be supplemented by drugs that treat
diarrhea and constipation, and psychotherapy,
especially where stress and depression are
contributors.
Your doctor may recommend that you keep a
diary of your food intake, emotional state, and
occurrences of IBS for a few weeks to help
identify triggers.
Severe IBS is usually treated with a
combination of dietary changes, psychotherapy, and
medication, including antidepressants.
Stress management techniques such as yoga,
biofeedback, yoga, and meditation may also help
with symptoms.
Some people find relief in herbal remedies;
however, you should consult with your doctor about
methods and doses.
Self-care
tips
With knowledge and treatment,
you can lead a normal life with IBS. It causes no
lasting damage to the colon and it cannot cause
other bowel diseases or cancer. You may have IBS
all your life, or the symptoms may gradually go
away. You
can help relieve symptoms by following a healthy
diet, getting plenty of exercise, drinking enough
water each day, learning stress management
techniques, and avoiding the foods that can cause
flare-ups for you.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
|
