Common Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms and Best Natural Treatments

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), known as mucosal colitis or spastic colitis, is a chronic disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. In other words, this means that the intestines are working abnormally without any symptoms of the disease. In the United States, irritable bowel syndrome affects 10 to 15% of adults, which significantly impairs quality of life.

What is the cause of IBS?

Health experts are still finding it difficult to answer unequivocally for what reasons bowel upset occurs. When the patients with IBS were examined, no obvious lesions were found. It has been shown that stress, anxiety, poor diet, and impaired carbohydrate absorption can contribute to IBS.

Some people get IBS due to infection. Bacterial gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract when bacteria cause an infection in the intestines.

Studies have shown that 3% to 36% of these infections lead to long-term symptoms of IBS. However, many people with IBS have never had bacterial gastroenteritis. It follows that there must be other reasons as well.

Another theory is that IBS may be caused due to an imbalance in the gut axis. The gut axis is a biochemical system of two-way communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. This means that if there are disorders in the intestines, then the cause of the disease may not be in it at all. The brain can send the wrong signals to the intestines.

Imagine a faulty GPS system telling you to turn left towards a lake. The car drives as it should, but confusion results from incorrect information.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms

The classic symptoms of IBS are different for everyone. Even one particular person can experience different symptoms over several weeks. Some people have constipation and others have diarrhea. Depending on the dominant symptom, approximately three types of IBS are distinguished: with a predominance of constipation (IBS-C), diarrhea (IBS-D) or mixed type (IBS-C). To make a correct diagnosis, IBS symptoms must be present for at least three days a month for three months.

There are also a number of secondary symptoms of IBS. These include:

Abdominal pain
Stomach cramps
Colic
Bloating
Gassing
Stool problems
Mucus in stool
An urgent need to empty your bowels after sleeping or eating

Psychological consequences, including anxiety and depression, often accompany IBS. It is not uncommon for people with intestinal disorders to have low serotonin levels. However, it is not yet clear whether low serotonin levels are the cause of IBS or if IBS lowers serotonin levels.

Since the food consumed does not pass through the gastrointestinal tract regularly, nutrients may not be absorbed properly. If you have irritable bowel syndrome, then you are probably not getting the nutrients you need from your meals.

Who is at risk

While anyone can experience this disease, some groups of people are at higher risk. There are about twice as many women with IBS as men.In addition, young girls also suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms usually appear before age 45. Other risk factors include genetic predisposition, increased sensitivity to food and certain medications. Stress also plays an important role. However, there is still no firm rationale as to whether stress causes IBS or vice versa.

Same disease symptoms

The difficulty in making a correct diagnosis is that many diseases have similar symptoms. Such diseases can be:

Diverticulosis
Bowel cancer
Viral infections
Intestinal parasites
Food poisoning
Food allergy
Menstrual pain
Hypothyroidism
Crohn's disease
Flu
Bowel obstruction
Bacterial Overgrowth Syndrome (SIBO)
Reproduction of yeast in the intestine
Anemia
Increased intestinal permeability

This is only a partial list, but there are many other potential causes of IBS. Please note that some diseases lead to serious consequences. Do not self-medicate, but rather contact your doctor and get tested to identify the cause of the disease.

Difference between IBS and IBD

IBS is often mistaken for another disease - inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBS is quite serious, but IBD is much more dangerous. IBD is a general term that includes a variety of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Unlike irritable bowel syndrome, IBD causes inflammation, ulcers, and other visible damage to the intestines, making it easier to diagnose.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Triggers

IBS symptoms vary from person to person, but some are common triggers. Eating certain foods can trigger IBS. Avoid dairy products, caffeine, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, sugar substitutes, fried foods, and alcohol. Processed foods such as chips and instant foods have a negative effect on the intestines.

IBS triggers include:

Sedentary lifestyle
Stress and anxiety
Menstrual cycles
Chewing gum
Certain medications, including antibiotics and antidepressants
Folk remedies for the treatment of IBS

Traditional medicine tends to focus on treating the symptoms of IBS rather than identifying the root cause of the disease. It offers many drugs, but the benefits of pharmaceuticals in treating IBS are, at best, ineffective. Doctors sometimes recommend taking antidepressants, which may not always work. Given the side effects of these drugs, they are unlikely to be the ideal solution. Fortunately, you can simply change your lifestyle to reduce your risk of IBS.

Change your diet

Since certain types of foods cause IBS, it is very important to change your eating habits. Don't eat large meals on the grounds that they cause cramps and diarrhea. Instead of three large meals, eat 4-5 small meals a day.

Eat healthy foods. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and other high fiber foods are good for your gut. There are two types of fiber, soluble and insoluble, that can help relieve IBS symptoms. Aim to add about 20 grams of fiber to your diet every day.

Numerous studies have proven that a gluten-free diet improves bowel function. If you have a sensitivity to gluten (plant protein), then eliminate it from your diet.

Keep a food diary

Based on the fact that the symptoms of IBS are not pronounced, the trigger foods will differ from person to person.Your triggers may change every month. It is not that simple. To keep things simple, keep a food diary.

Take a small notebook and keep it with you at all times. A notepad app on your phone will do just as well. Write down everything you eat and drink, taking into account the date and time. Be careful with your food choices, even seasonings can trigger IBS. Each day, write down your IBS symptoms and how you feel, both mental and physical. Even a certain ingredient can cause IBS, so look for foods that may contain it. For example, pasta, crackers and soy sauce, at first glance, seem to be unrelated foods. However, they usually contain wheat. A negative reaction of the body to all three foods means that gluten is the source of problems.

Improve hydration

Your bowels will not function well if your stool is hard and dry, so drink plenty of water for this reason. Are you drinking enough water? If you are the majority of people, then most likely you will show signs of dehydration. Remember how your mom told you to drink eight glasses of water a day? She was quite right. Eight glasses of water is a good start, but it's best to calculate and drink half your weight in ounces each day. In other words, if your weight is 200 pounds, drink at least 100 ounces of water. Beneficial liquids like coconut water and cleansing water are designed to improve hydration. Dehydrating liquids such as coffee, soft drinks, and alcohol will not work.

Drinking plenty of water is necessary for more than just preventing constipation. Hydration is also important for diarrhea. Because you lose a lot of water with each bowel movement, the risk of dehydration becomes much higher.

Go in for sports

Physical activity promotes muscle building and fat burning, and is the best way to maintain gut health. Exercise relieves stress and maintains gastrointestinal function. Sign up for a yoga class. As a result of research, it turned out that if you do yoga twice a day, the bowel function is normalized. Yoga belongs to the traditional methods of treating IBS.

Overcome stress

Obviously, there are psychological reasons for the development of IBS. Although stress does not appear to be the cause of IBS, excessive stress can impair gastrointestinal function and exacerbate symptoms. Everyone is stressed. The question is what tools are available to effectively deal with stress. Find the method that's right for you. It is recommended that you practice meditation to relax your body and mind.

Photo by ang-kay

Take probiotics

The intestine is home to beneficial microorganisms that make up its microflora. A healthy microflora has a positive effect on bowel function. Eat probiotic foods such as kimchi (spicy Chinese cabbage dish), sauerkraut and tea mushroom... Take probiotic supplements to maintain healthy gut flora. Researchers have found that a species of bacteria called Bifidobacterium infantis (bifidobacteria) is especially useful for IBS.

Cleanse your colon

After changing your diet and lifestyle, try to cleanse your colon. The large intestine is the main source of waste disposal. A blockage in the large intestine can lead to a build-up of waste products that can worsen the condition. When combined with diet, hydration, and exercise, regular colon cleansing helps remove toxins from the body and normalizes bowel function.

reference Information

Treatment results may vary. This information has been prepared for educational purposes and is not intended to override the advice of your PCP.The Global Health Center does not advise, prescribe drugs, or diagnose illness. Opinions and nutritional advice do not preclude a medical examination. If you have a serious illness or health problem, see a specialist.

N.V. Naumchik