Irritable Bowel Syndrome - WaysTo Reduce IBS Symptoms Stomach Pain Constipation Diarrhoea
Posted: Wednesday, April 07, 2010
by Kacycarr
http://www.spotthepimple.com
What is IBS? (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) Should I be concerned if diagnosed with having IBS, meaning, am I likely to die? No, IBS is a gut condition that's more likely to cause discomfort, stress, and for some folk more of an embarrassment issue (wind.). So there you have it, there's no need to contact an undertaker.
Symptoms of IBS can vary in different people and their symptoms can be mild or severe.
Vulgar questions to be asking I know, but for "any" GP to determine a condition/disorder they have to be asked. No matter how embarrassing you have to reveal all.
Okay I agree, having to disclose personal details about your bits or whatever can give cause for a hot flush if you like, or your heart to maybe miss a beat, but, if a doctor is to give an exact diagnosis then he/she needs to know everything. It's silly to hold back information regardless of the condition. If you want to get better then speak out. Why make things more difficult when they don't have to be. Keeping stum will complicate matters for the medic: For instance: Hey Doc I'm here because of my head' what good is this? How, can anyone possibly know what's up from so little info? Be more specific: Hey Doc I'm here because of my head, I fell and bumped it, and now it pains like hell.'
What is IBS? (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
Irritable bowel syndrome is a gut condition which affects about one in ten people. Common among people aged between 25 and 45. IBS is more known in women than men.
Symptoms of IBS include:
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating and wind
- Constipation, Diarrhoea or both
- Passing mucus with bowel movement
- Incomplete feeling after already passing stools
- Nausea and vomiting
- Depression, anxiety and stress
Approx one third of IBS patient's primarily have issues with diarrhoea while the same amount suffer constipation. The number left over have both loose and hard motions and others switch between types.
IBS is not a life-threatening disorder and doesn't develop into bowel cancer
Causes and risk factors of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
As it is with a lot of sicknesses their cause unknown, this goes for IBS also. IBS is a gut condition that "can't" be prevented. Not to panic. It's disturbing to know this; however making some changes IBS symptoms can be reduced to make coping more bearable. Unbeknown to you some things you either do, or don't do, might be the reason for a bad attack.
Stress, specific foods, irregular eating times, and, in some cases a lack of dietary fibre are common causes. This list is only a few to mention that could be responsible for stomach pain, flatulence, or reason why you need to run back and forth to the toilet.
Some study is pretty certain IBS patients have a colon (large bowel) that is super-sensitive. What they say is backed by the fact that some individuals suffer IBS following gut infections and food poisoning, signifying that the sicknesses have somehow changed the gut and made it more receptive.
The full length of the bowel is worked by a nervous system, which transports signals back and too amid the gut and the brain, controlling features like how fast food is shoved through the intestines. Research behind IBS thinks the 'enteric' nervous system is defective in people with IBS. In IBS, the bowel reacts with mighty contractions or spasms to stimuli that wouldn't normally irritate other folk, for instance, eating food.
I know of IBS having being diagnosed with it myself. There wasn't a morning went by without waking up with stomach pain, so severe at times was the pain, it left me with no choice but to see a doctor. What was the cause of my agonizing stomach pains? After keeping check on what I ate and drank over a period of time, it apparently turned out to be milk that triggered the pain. I'm gutted (excuse the pun) to say the least as milk is my all time favourite drink. Why could it not have been any other drink because then it wouldn't have been so bad having to do without.
How did I know it was milk?
Every evening I'd relax and curl up on the couch with a full litre of milk (UHT) if not more "honest" catching up on the soaps, on TV. This one night I decided to swap milk for water and noticed my stomach had bettered, however there are times I brave the storm and take a drink, only to hear myself say the next morning, never again, but for every morning there's an evening and I just can't seem to resist, and then suffer the consequences.
You're not to get alarmed but there is no IBS treatment, and because of this IBS is controlled...not cured.
Things to do to make life easier and reduce IBS symptoms
Watch what you eat (Diet)
Try to fathom out how your eating habits connect to your symptoms, by comparing what you have eaten with bad attacks. I did and it worked.
The gut typically reacts to food by contracting, and the force of the reaction seems to be connected to the amount of fat in the food. Be sensible and avoid fat in your diet. Be careful with fat-rich food, such as dairy products "milk." (Don't I know having found out the hard way?) Drink skimmed or semi-skimmed to help prevent an attack. Use only a minimal amount of fat for cooking. Throw out the frying pan/ roasting dish. Best cooking methods in to bake and steam.
To avoid sparking off a spasm eat meals in small portions.
Fibre is a good source to help reduce IBS symptoms. A lot of people differ and what helps one person control their IBS may not help another. So don't be a copy cat or you could worsen the problem. People can respond differently to fibre. Be wary of different types of fibre and the quantity you eat.
Fibre can make solid and slow down passing of stools in someone with diarrhoea. Whereas them that suffer constipation can experience the opposite affect...softer stools.
It's a catch 22 situation because fibre can actually aggravate both, constipation and diarrhoea. To play it safe consider taking soluble fibre. Soluble fibre is found in vegetables, such as potatoes, and different fruits, dried beans, oats and barley. If you're constantly constipated then insoluble fibre can be gotten from wheat bran, whole grains, cereals, seeds and the skins of particular fruits and vegetables.
Visit an herbal shop/chemist and ask about fibre supplements. It's not rare to see an increase in gas and bloating at first, but after time things calm down.
Blood is not an IBS symptom. During bowel movement and you pass blood then see a GP as this is not something normal in irritable bowel syndrome.
Relieve abdominal pain with peppermint oil and antispasmodic. Anti-diarrhoea medication will stop diarrhoea. For constipation increase your fluid and fibre intake. Ask the doctor about laxatives if you have a serious case of constipation.
There's no need to suffer any more than you do. About IBS Symptoms
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