Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a problem that affects mainly the bowel which is also called the large intestine. The bowel is the part of the digestive system that makes and stores stool. The word syndrome means a group of symptoms. IBS is a syndrome because it can cause several symptoms. For example, IBS causes cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation.
IBS is not a disease. It’s a functional disorder, which means that the bowel doesn’t work as it should.
The condition most often develops in people between the ages of 20 and 30 and is twice as common in women as in men. The symptoms, which include abdominal pain, constipation, and/or diarrhoea, tend to be intermittent but typically persist for many years. Although irritable bowel syndrome can be distressing, it does not lead to serious complications.
Causes Of IBS
The precise cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown. It may result from:
- Abnormal contractions of the muscles in the intestinal walls- The colon, which is about 6 feet long, connects the small intestine with the rectum and anus. The major function of the colon is to absorb water and salts from digestive products that enter from the small intestine. Two quarts of liquid matter enter the colon from the small intestine each day. This material may remain there for several days until most of the fluid and salts are absorbed into the body. The stool then passes through the colon by a pattern of movements to the left side of the colon, where it is stored until a bowel movement occurs. Colon motilityis controlled by nerves and hormones and by electrical activity in the colon muscle. Movements of the colon propel the contents slowly back and forth but mainly toward the rectum. A few times each day strong muscle contractions move down the colon pushing fecal material ahead of them. Some of these strong contractions result in a bowel movement.
- An increased sensitivity to certain foods, such as fruit, sorbitol (an artificial sweetener), and fat, may also contribute. Chocolate, milk products, or large amounts of alcohol are frequent offenders. Caffeine causes loose stools in many people, but it is more likely to affect those with IBS. In some cases, simply eating a large meal will trigger symptoms.
- The disorder sometimes develops after a gastrointestinal infection.
- Heredity: The problem can run in families, which suggests that genetic factors are involved. There are certain ethnic groups, such as Ashkenazi Jews, who are more likely to have the condition than others. And finally, there’s been a recent discovery of a gene called the nod-2 gene, which is twice as likely to occur in Crohn’s patients than in patients who do not have the disease.
- Stress, anxiety, and depression are associated with the syndrome and can make symptoms worse.
- Researchers also have found that women with IBS may have more symptoms during their menstrual periods, suggesting that reproductive hormonescan increase IBS symptoms.
In fact, the bowel can overreact to all sorts of things, including food, exercise, and hormones.
Symptoms
The symptoms are typically intermittent but usually recur for many years and often persist into old age. They vary widely among people and with each episode. The main symptoms include :
- Abdominal bloating combined with excessive quantities of wind.
- Abdominal pain, often on the lower left side, that may be relieved by defaecation or passing wind.
- Diarrhoea, which may be most severe on waking and sometimes alternates with bouts of constipation that may produce “rabbit pellet” stools.
- Feeling that the bowel has not been emptied completely.
- Passage of mucus during defaecation.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Feeling of fullness and difficulty in finishing meals.
Many people have symptoms unrelated to the digestive tract, such as tiredness, headache, back pain, and an increased urge to pass urine. In women, sexual intercourse may be painful, and symptoms may be worse before menstrual periods.
You should consult your doctor if the symptoms are severe, persistent, or recurrent of if you have unexpectedly lost weight. If you are over 40 when the symptoms develop, you should seek medical advice so that serious disorders with similar symptoms, such as colorectal cancer , can be ruled out.
How It Diagnosed?
There is no single test to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome. Instead, your doctor will want to make sure that you have no other serious condition. The type and number of tests used to investigate the disorder depend on your age.
If your symptoms suggest that you may have an inflammatory bowel disorder such as Crohn’s disease or if you are over the age of 40, your doctor will probably want to investigate your symptoms further.
- Physical exam
- You may have a blood test to check for inflammation, which can indicate the presence of Crohn’s disease.
- X ray of the bowel: This x-ray test is called a barium enema or lower GI (gastrointestinal) series. Barium is a thick liquid that makes the bowel show up better on the x ray. Before taking the x ray, the doctor will put barium into your bowel through the anus.
- Endoscopy: The doctor inserts a thin tube into your bowel. The tube has a camera in it, so the doctor can look at the inside of the bowel to check for problems.
- You may also have tests to exclude food intolerance and lactose intolerance , which cause symptoms similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome.
Treatment
Although the symptoms can be distressing, irritable bowel syndrome is not a serious condition. You should usually be able to control your symptoms with a combination of a change in diet and relaxation techniques. However, if symptoms are troublesome enough to interfere with daily routines, you should consult your doctor for advice on treatment.
In terms of the medical treatments, the first group of drugs is called the aminosalicylates, or 5-ASA agents. These include drugs such as sulfasalazine, mesalamine, balsalazide and olsalazine, and they’re good for treating mild to moderate disease. When the disease becomes more severe, often steroids are used. Steroids can be given intravenously or orally. The traditional oral drug had been prednisone, but more recently a new medication called budesonide was released which had similar efficacy but fewer side effects than prednisone.
You may be given antispasmodic drugs to relax the contractions of the digestive tract and help to relieve abdominal pain . Your doctor may also prescribe antidiarrhoeal drugs to help to alleviate diarrhoea, especially if you have diarrhoea on waking. If you regularly have problems with constipation, bulk-forming agents may help.
Alosetron hydrochloride (Lotronex) has been re-approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for women with severe IBS who have not responded to conventional therapy and whose primary symptom is diarrhea.
If you have psychological symptoms such as anxiety in addition to irritable bowel syndrome, you should ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist for advice on how to control anxiety.
Irritable bowel syndrome tends to be a long-term disorder, often lasting into old age. However, attacks usually become less frequent and severe with time.
Living With Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Some people learn to control the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome by making dietary and lifestyle changes. The symptoms may improve if you follow a diet that is high in fibre and low in fat . You may need to try several different approaches before finding one that helps you. Try the following:
- Keep a food diary. Try to eliminate any food or drink that seems to bring on an attack of irritable bowel syndrome.
- Avoid large meals; spicy, fried, fatty foods; and milk products.
- If constipation is a problem, try gradually increasing your fibre intake. If bloating and diarrhoea are particular problems, reduce your fibre intake.
- Cut out or reduce your intake of tea, coffee, milk, cola, and beer.
- Eat regular times.
- Stop smoking.
- Try relaxation exercises to alleviate stress, which is often a contributing factor. Meditation, exercise, and counseling are some things that might help.
Diet Modifications:
Take Plenty Of:
- Fresh fruit and vegetables, which provide soluble fibre
- Water – at least 1.7 litres (3 pints) a day
- Live natural yoghurt, which contains beneficial bacteria
Cut Down On
- High-fibre breakfast cereals
Avoid
- Bran
- Foods that are known to produce wind, such as peas, lentils and beans.
Until very recently, bran was recommended as part of the treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Some authorities now believe that, far from being a cure for the complaint, bran is in fact an irritant that can make the condition worse. Avoid bran and cut down on high-fibre breakfast cereals which may contain it. Gas-producing foods, such as pulses (peas, beans and lentils) can also exacerbate IBS and are best avoided. The daily diet should include 18g of fibre obtained from ordinary foods – not concentrated bran or bran tablets. Most of this fibre should be in soluble form, found in apples, pears, dates and most other fruits and vegetables, as well as in oats, barley and rye.
High intakes of the sugar substitute sorbitol, and an intolerance to lactose (a sugar found only in milk) may also sometimes cause the illness. In cases where a food intolerance is suspected, an exclusion diet may be a useful pointer .
Eat regular, moderate-sized meals and drink at least 1.7 litres (3 pints) of water daily. Include plenty of live natural yoghurt which will maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut. When antibiotics are prescribed for other illnesses they have the side effect of destroying beneficial bacteria in the gut, which can cause symptoms similar to IBS. Eating live YOGHURT should help to counteract this problem.
For More Information:
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
P.O. Box 170864
Milwaukee, WI 53217
Phone: 1-888-964-2001 or (414) 964-1799
Fax: (414) 964-7176
Email: [email protected]
Internet: www.iffgd.org
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.