What Are IBS Causes & Symptoms?
Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
There is currently no known specific cause of irritable bowel syndrome. Doctors seem to think that those people suffering from IBS show extra sensitivity in the nerves and muscles of the bowel. Despite the fact that it has never been proven, it has been suggested that it is caused by some dietary allergies or food sensitivities. Many health care experts seem to believe that the causes of the symptoms of IBS are a result of faulty communication between the brain and the intestinal tract.
Contributors to IBS may be psychological stress, immune dysfunctions, hormones, and neurotransmitters that appear to interfere with the messages between the brain and the bowel. This miscommunication can lead to abnormal muscle contractions which habitually cause painful cramping. These contractions can either speed the passage of stool, resulting in diarrhea, or cause it to slow down, which results in bloating or constipation.
Symptoms of IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome affects each sufferer differently. The most notorious symptom of this condition is abdominal discomfort. Other common symptoms of IBS include abdominal cramping that is relieved after a bowel movement, bloating, passing mucous from the rectum, abdominal swelling, alternating periods of diarrhea and constipation, changes in the frequency and/or consistency of stool, and flatulence.
Due to the fact that irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic condition these symptoms have been known to occasionally return from time to time. They have also been known to be influenced by many factors including stress, diet, and other environmental factors. It is important to know that if you are suffering from any of these symptoms you should schedule a visit with your doctor to determine if you have IBS.
Treatments for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Once diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome there are many common treatments. The most common treatment is the addition of fiber into your diet. A gradual increase in fiber has been known to expand the inside of the digestive tract. The addition should be gradual because it is possible that it can worsen the symptoms of bloating and flatulence. This allows a reduction in the chance of spasms or contractions as it transmits and digests the food. Fiber is also used to reduce constipation by promoting regular bowel movements.
Because stress can play such an important part in IBS doctors typically offer specific advice on reducing stress. Some common ways suggested, to alleviate stress and other IBS problems, include eating balanced meals and exercising. It is also recommended that if you smoke to quit because smoking can worsen the symptoms. Another suggestion is to keep a food diary to help identify foods that seem to make IBS worse. For more great tips on controlling your IBS symptoms with dietary changes, please read our article, Diet for IBS: Foods to Avoid.
There are also medications that can be prescribed including antispasmodic medicines that are used to slow the actions of the digestive tract and reduce the chances of spasms. Anti-diarrheal medications are prescribed when diarrhea is the major feature of IBS. Tegaserod is prescribed when constipation is the main symptom; it is used to stimulate the digestive tract to decrease the risk of developing constipation.
It is important to keep in mind that just because you are suffering from IBS it doesn’t mean you just have to deal with it, there are options to help make things more manageable.
