Coping With ( IBS )
Irritable bowel syndrome or spastic colon Is considered as a functional bowel disorder. Two of the most common manifestations are abdominal pain from cramps and apparent changes In bowel habits. Some of the principal signs of this syndrome are pain In the lower abdomen and a sensation of being bloated. For a healthy colon food high In fibre will provide the foundation, although there are numerous things you can do to maintain your colon. Some are more effective than others. And some taste better. Eating wisely for a healthy colon doesn't have to taste bad! Diagnosing Irritable Bowel Syndrome The cause of Irritable bowel syndrome Is not fully known. And because of this, there are no specific laboratory tests that would be able to detect whether a person Is positive. Its diagnosis consists of different methods, which Include observing the signs and symptoms and then categorizing them accordingly. Since the signs and symptoms are very general, guidelines In the diagnosis of this syndrome have been set. Basically the purpose of these guidelines Is to ensure that every other related disease has been ruled out through different tests and examinations. There have also been cases of misdiagnosis because the etiology of Irritable bowel syndrome Is not that well defined. Most of the common misdiagnoses are lactose Intolerance, celiac disease, and other Infectious diseases.
The etiology of Irritable bowel syndrome has had Its fair share of discussions In the medical world. Until today, Its etiology Is still not that well established. In the 1950s, there was a medical journal that tackled Irritable bowel. In this study, a patient Is categorized as having Irritable bowel If he or she Is experiencing diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal pain. Unfortunately, doctors and other researches found no Infective agent that may cause these symptoms. Because of this fact, most of them theorized that having an Irritable bowel means having a mental disorder. At that time, IBS was considered a psychosomatic Illness. In the early 1980s, another publication stated that It would be beneficial for patients with Irritable bowel syndrome to undergo psychotherapy. Another angle In which the medical world sees the etiology of IBS Is through the body’s Immune system. In the 1990s, research publications came out with Information stating that there are Indeed biochemical changes In the body of a person with Irritable bowel syndrome. This has been evident through tests like serum samples and biopsies of tissues. This new Information led to another belief that IBS has an organic cause as opposed to the old theory that Its cause Is psychosomatic. In the course of this study, different changes In the body were noted through a battery of tests of the Immune system. The results of these tests were quite significant for them to believe that the Immune system Indeed plays a role In the development of Irritable bowel syndrome. Also, there Is discussion that Irritable bowel syndrome can be caused by an Infective agent. Recent studies show that symptoms can be relieved by the antibiotic, Rifaximin. Since this has been a very strong angle In the quest to know more of the etiology of IBS, many researchers are tackling this side of the square. Most of the partial results of the research point to a single celled organism as the causing agent. These results, however, have not yet been fully accepted and established. Even today, research still continues. It shouldn’t be long until these diligent researchers will be able to find the answer to this question of etiology and will make It easier to combat Irritable bowel syndrome. What Causes IBS? Just like every other disease, It Is critical that you know what causes It not just for the sake of knowledge but also for the protection of your health as well as the health of the people you care about. The gastrointestinal tract Is the bodily system more commonly known as the digestive system. It Is a system of organs that are mainly concerned In taking In food, digesting It, getting nutrients and releasing waste. So basically, the function of the GI tract Is to digest and excrete. The organs composing the upper GI tract are the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and stomach. The mouth contains the buccal mucosa that has the tongue, the teeth and the salivary glands and this Is where the first process of digestion begins. The organ that comes after the mouth Is the pharynx. It Is considered as a hollow passageway that leads to the next organ of the upper GI tract the esophagus. This Is where food, water and saliva pass by after entering the mouth and Is pushed to the stomach to be digested properly. That movement of food or bolus In the upper GI tract Is called peristalsis. The lower GI tract Is composed of two organs: the small Intestines and the large Intestines. After being digested In the stomach, the food moves along to the small Intestines. In the small Intestines, the digested particles are processed where nutrients are absorbed by fingerlike structures called scillia. The small Intestine Is also considered the longest organ In the body since It Is approximately 7 feet long. It has three parts that are called the duodenum, jejunum and Ileum.
Since nobody Is really sure what causes Irritable bowel syndrome, doctors and researches alike have some pieces of advice to people regarding IBS. Even though they are not yet too sure on what causes this syndrome, they advise to always have a good and balanced diet. You should also have proper eating habits. Both of these will help maintain equilibrium In your GI tract.
IBS flare ups * It has, throughout the years, been believed that emotions are a strong trigger to set off flare ups. Some even believe that these emotions are also the cause of Irritable bowel syndrome Itself. The wall of the Intestines are lined with nerve cells that are connected to the brain. Strong emotions or stress can cause the muscle of the Intestines to spasm. This can lead to either constipation or diarrhea that are two of the symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome. * Another risk factor that may set off IBS flare ups Is the kind of food that you eat. It has been believed that there are certain foods that can cause IBS or worsen the condition. Fructose, artificial sweeteners, fatty food, alcohol, chocolate, sodas, and dairy products are just some of the types of food considered to cause or aggravate Irritable bowel syndrome. * It Is also believed that eating habits also play a role In setting off IBS flare ups. Eating your meals too quickly or eating a large meal will make your digestive system work harder than normal. This puts stress on your stomach thus setting off flare ups. * Last but not the least It Is also believed that poor nutrition can lead to flare ups. Malnutrition can lead to poor absorption of different types of vitamins that could have been of good help In the suppression of the symptoms of IBS. When Should You See a Doctor? Despite the variety of reasons we have discovered for this Illness, It all falls down to one thing and that Is the malfunctioning of the bowel. The symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome may differ from patient to patient. It could vary from diarrhea, constipation, abdominal cramping, abdominal pain, and changes n the pattern of bowel habits. Aside from manifestations of symptoms In the gastrointestinal area, there can also be other physiological changes In the body. A patient suffering from Irritable bowel syndrome may also experience dizziness, headaches, pallor, limb pain and anorexia. Weight loss may also be observed In some cases. Although, weight loss Is not directly related to the disease Itself. Some patients suffering from this condition would want to avoid eating as much as possible to prevent occurrence of symptoms especially those that would cause pain.
The most critical thing that you should do Is to assess the situation and answer the question “are the symptoms you are experiencing affecting your everyday life?” If the answer to this question Is yes, then It would be best for you to see the doctor. Their Is a lot more Information on this syndrome available In my eBook "Coping With Irritable Bowel Syndrome" If you suspect you or someone close to you may have this disorder the book Is well worth reading. You can get your copy of the book HERE
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Even though Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, Is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders encountered by doctors, a lot of people still do not know much about the Illness. This could probably be due to the fact that It Is not given as much attention when compared to other Illnesses. It could also be that Irritable Bowel Syndrome Itself has not been properly defined and explained to people.
Etiology Of IBS
After absorbed for nutrients, what Is left Is the waste that goes to the large Intestine. Its main function now Is to absorb any water left In the waste and excrete It through the anus. Just like the small Intestines, It Is also divided Into 3 parts which are the cecum, colon, and rectum. Rather a gruesome procedure, but the good nutrients are absorbed and the rest Is then removed from your body.
But since these symptoms can occur normally and be passed off as just a simple case of diarrhea or a simple case of abdominal cramping, when should you decide to see a doctor?