IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

Hello Friends!

Hope you are getting information from my previous posts. Today we will talk about IBS that is Irritable Bowel Syndrome because it is affecting millions of people due to changing life style, more consumption of junk food, obesity, acidity etc. We all know that “80% of our immune system is located in our digestive tract, making a healthy gut a major focal point if we want to achieve optimal health.” Let’s talk about IBS Syndrome in detail.

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome):

IBS is a common disorder that affects both small and large intestines. IBS if not treated at an early stage will increase risk of colorectal cancer. It is the most prevalent disease that affects functioning of gastrointestinal tract. In America around 15% population suffers from IBS and in Asia around 25% population suffers from IBS. People can control symptoms of IBS by eating healthy diet, changing lifestyle habits and managing stress.

Causes of IBS:

1. Inflammation in Intestine: When any type of infection be it bacterial or E.Coli in intestine then inflammation occurs in intestine. It affects our digestive tract and person starts experiencing symptoms of IBS.

2. Bacterial Infection: Bacterial infection is usually spread by consuming contaminated food and water or food of animal origin. Certain bacterial infections like Campylobacter, Salmonella and Shigella worsens the symptoms of IBS.

3. Growth of Bacteria in Gut: Growth of Bad bacteria in gut causes IBS that is acute infectious gastroenteritis. Some bacterial pathogens also have adverse affect on functioning of gastrointestinal tract.

4. Muscle Contraction in Intestine: Muscle contraction in intestine that is colon spasm is also associated with IBS. Colon is part of large intestine. Colon spasm means muscles lining the colon contract it in an unorganized way and results in worsening of symptoms.

Early Signs of IBS:

1. Abdominal Pain: In case of IBS, person feels pain and cramps in abdomen that is nearby area of gut and pelvic pain. Sometimes person feels pain in upper abdomen. Upper abdomen means horizontal line about the level of umbilicus.

2. Diarrhea or Constipation: Another sign of IBS can be reoccurring symptoms of chronic diarrhea or constipation. IBS affects the functioning of bowel movement that results in watery stools or constipation.

3. Mucus in the Stool: IBS patients sometimes produce large amount of mucus. Mucus in stool can be due to bacterial infection, obstruction in bowel movement, Crohn’s disease (A chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects lining of the digestive tract).

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

If you experience any of the following symptoms then consult your doctor…..

1. Weight Loss: If you are continuously losing your weight without any dietary intervention then consult with your doctor because IBS affects the digestive tract by causing obstruction in bowel movement.

2. Vomiting: Recurrent vomiting is another symptom of IBS. If you feel nausea then consult with your doctor. In case of IBS vomiting usually lasts more than two days and person feels nausea after meal and feels full by eating little.

3. Abdominal Pain: Abdominal Pain is another symptom of IBS mainly pain in upper abdomen. Because bacterial infection in case of IBS affects the functioning of digestive tract.

4. Difficulty in Swallowing: Difficulty in swallowing arises from the throat or esophagus. Esophagus spasm results in difficulty in swallowing. There is poor movement of bowel and intestine in case of IBS. Thus poor motility causes indigestion and symptoms start worsening.

5. Rectal bleeding: Rectal bleeding means when bright red blood passes from anus and got mixed with stool. Mainly rectal bleeding comes from Colon, Rectum, Anus. If you feel constipation then consults with your doctor because constipation sometimes causes tear in your anus and results in bleeding.

6. Anemia: It is that condition in which there is deficiency of Red Blood Cells in blood. Patients with IBS suffer from chronic anemia because IBS affects the functioning of digestive tract and problem in absorbing nutrients. Patients are not able to absorb iron or Vitamin B12 from food and symptoms start worsening.

Diagnosis:

Doctor will start treatment with medical history. No specific test to diagnose IBS. Additional tests to diagnose IBS are following:

1. CT Scan: Contrast CT Scan is used to check abdomen and pelvis. Contrast material means a dye is inserted in vein. Oral dye is also given by mouth. CT Scan checks bowel movement, colon and other internal organs to rule out IBS.

2. Endoscopy: It is a procedure used to examine a person’s digestive tract. A flexible tube with camera on one end and an endoscope on other end is inserted in abdomen through throat. Endoscopy checks Gastrointestinal tract up to Duodenum Part II.

3. Sigmoidoscopy: Flexible sigmoidoscopy is used to detect IBS. It examines large intestine from rectum through nearest part of colon that is sigmoid colon.

4. Stool Test: Stool Test checks bacterial infection, an intestinal parasite or blood in stool.

5. Complete Blood Test: CBC is done to check for anemia because Red Blood Cells start decreasing in case of IBS.

6. Colonoscopy: It is rarely needed in case of IBS because risk of polyps are rare in case of IBS. Doctors prescribe colonoscopy when there are symptoms of unexplained weight loss or anemia or bleeding from gastrointestinal tract. Colonoscopy checks the large intestine that is Colon and Rectum. It also examines rectal and intestinal bleeding or changes in bowel habits.

7. CT Enterography: (Latest Techinque) One and half hour before the test a contrast material is given through mouth. It highlights the lining of intestine. Doctors compare it with report of colonoscopy while doing the test. CT enterography checks any kind of inflammation in intestine. This test is used to rule out any abnormality in small bowel, colon and other internal organs if patient shows worsening symptoms like pain, nausea, constipation etc.

8. Gluten Intolerance Test: This test is recommended when person shows symptoms of IBS with diarrhea. This test rules out any type of food allergy like allergy from wheat. People with Celiac disease (An immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye) also prescribed for this test.

Who is at higher risk of IBS?

1. Family History of IBS.

2. Mental Health issues like anxiety, depression.

3. More common among women under age 50.

Natural Remedies:

1. Manage diet and lifestyle.

2. Stress Management.

(Also Read: Stress Management: Distortions of Thinking)

3. Eat fiber enriched fruits like Pomegranate, Guava, Papaya and Apple etc.

4. Eat green leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach and capsicum etc.

5. Drink plenty of Lukewarm Water.

6. Regular exercise.

7. Have enough sleep.

8. Cut your carbohydrate diet.

Hope you like this article. To live a healthy life worry less and work more because “Healthy mind lives in a healthy body”. Do regular exercise, drink plenty of fluids and make efforts to keep our environment neat and clean, plant more trees as we get fresh oxygen from them.

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