Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

IBS, the disorder basically affects your colon (large intestine). Irritable bowel syndrome normally causes bloating, abdominal pain, cramping, gas, constipation and diarrhea. The condition is chronic, thus its management is long term.

A small percentage of individuals with IBS experience severe symptoms. By managing stress, lifestyle and diet, few people tend to control their symptoms. However, others opt for counseling and medication to treat irritable bowel syndrome.

What are the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

IBS symptoms can vary from individual to individual. Few common among them include:

Constipation or diarrhea.
Gas.
Bloated feeling.
Abdominal cramping or pain.
Mucus in stool.

The condition is chronic for many people, though the symptoms can be mild to severe from time to time.

What are the causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

What exactly cause IBS is yet unknown. However, as per the health experts, the incorrect communication between your intestinal tract and brain is the underlying cause. Many individuals suffering from irritable bowel syndrome appeared to have sensitive intestines. Individuals with IBS may begin experiencing symptoms due to a single or more factors:

Stress.
Eating.
Psychological issues for example depression and anxiety.
Certain medicines for example antibiotics.
Hormonal changes for example during your menstrual cycle.
Digestive tract infection. (assalmonella).
Genetics.

What are the risk factors of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Numerous individuals experience occasional symptoms of the condition; however one is at a greater risk to develop irritable bowel syndrome in case:

You are young (under 45).
You are a woman.
IBS runs in your family.
Have mental illness.

What are the complications of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Constipation and diarrhea, both the IBS signs can worsen hemorrhoids. Furthermore, the impact of the condition on one’s quality of life is the major complication.

How is Irritable Bowel Syndrome diagnosed?

In case you doubt you have IBS, immediately consult your doctor to verify your symptoms. In order to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome, the doctor will use the following methods:

Stool tests.
Blood tests.
Sigmoidoscopy.
Colonoscopy.

How is Irritable Bowel Syndrome treated?

No special diets or medications can cure irritable bowel syndrome. The basic preventive measures tend to spot and avoid every trigger. In addition to this, the treatment options include:

Considerable increase in the dietary fibre, plus with excessive clear fluids.
Eliminating or reducing common foods that produce gas such as cabbage and beans.
Antidiarrhoeals for example lomotil or imodium.
Pain-relieving drugs.
Treatments or drugs in order to treat constipation.
Tricyclic antidepressants for treating pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome.
Antispasmodic drug to ease cramping.
In case stress is the underlying cause of attacks, stress management is needed.
Avoid abrupt routine changes.
Create proper eating routines.
Avoid junk foods such as heavy burgers and spicy foods. Consume healthy foods prepared at home.
Consume iron enriched fruits.