Demystifying Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Between three and 20 percent of Americans experience the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. This condition afflicts more women than it does men. Some people suffering from IBS experience minor symptoms that go away with time. However, for others, the symptoms are severe and have significant health effects. Here is a look at what IBS is, the symptoms, the risk factors, and the treatment options for this condition.

What is IBS?

Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder that afflicts a person's large intestine. The three main types of IBS are:

• IBS with constipation: This form of IBS is characterized by discomfort and stomach pain, infrequent or delayed bowel movement, bloating, or hard stool.
• IBS with diarrhea: This form of IBS is characterized by discomfort and stomach pain, frequent bowel movements, an urge to move your bowels, and watery stool.
• IBS that alternates between constipation and diarrhea

What Are the Symptoms of IBS?

Pain in the Abdomen

The most common symptoms of someone suffering from IBS is abdominal pain or discomfort. You are likely to suffer from stomach cramping after you eat a meal. According to the professionals from the "National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases" the abdominal pain and discomfort arises from extra-sensitive nerves in the gut. If you are suffering from IBS the brain processes pain signals coming from your bowel differently.

Bloating

If your stomach is bloated, you may be suffering from IBS. Bloating is when your midsection feels full and tight. Your stomach will usually look visibly swollen.

Flatulence

IBS often results in flatulence or gas. These symptoms are made worse by particular foods and drinks. You are likely to feel flatulence after eating:

• Cabbage
• Beans
• High-fat foods like cheese, animal fats, or deep-fried foods
• Drinks with alcohol, caffeine, or artificial sweeteners

While eating foods rich in fiber can trigger flatulence, fiber may also relieve IBS symptoms such as constipation, bloating, and gas.

Changes to Your Stool

IBS can change your bowel stool including diarrhea and constipation. It may also cause your stool to appear with mucus in it. You may have symptoms of IBS-related diarrhea or IBS-related constipation or they could alternate.

Symptoms of severe IBS include:

• Abdominal pain that comes at night
• Weight loss
• Rectal bleeding

What Are The Risk Factors Of IBS?

You are likely to get IBS if:

• You are young: IBS is more prevalent in people who are under 45 years
• You are female: Studies show that more men than women suffer from IBS
• Genetic factors: Studies suggest that those with a family member who has a history of IBS stand a high risk of suffering from the condition
• Have a mental problem: Depression, anxiety, a history of child abuse, domestic abuse, and personality disorders are factors that increase the likelihood of IBS

How is IBS Treated?

The symptoms of IBS can be managed by a change of lifestyle, diet, and by understanding the nature of one's condition.

Lifestyle Changes

Some of the lifestyle changes include:

• Reducing your consumption of fizzy drinks or alcohol
• Reducing your intake of caffeinated drinks and drinking at least eight cups of water a day
• Exercising: Set a goal of doing aerobic activity like fast walking or cycling for 150 minutes every week.
• Reducing stress through relaxation techniques like meditation exercises. Some other ways of relieving stress include physical activities like tai-chi and yoga
• Attending cognitive therapy sessions

Diet

There is no one-size fit all diet for controlling IBS. The diet that works for one person may not work for the other. The main diets used to relieve IBS symptoms include:

• Fiber rich diets: Fiber diets can either be soluble or insoluble fiber rich foods. Those with constipation will be advised to take a soluble fiber diet while those with diarrhea are recommended to take an insoluble fiber diet.
• Probiotics: These are dietary supplements that have friendly bacteria.
• Low FODMAP diets: FODMAP is the acronym for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols. These are carbohydrates that are difficult for the gut to break down and absorb.

Top 5 Routes for "Irritable Bowel Symptoms"

1. NHS.UK A website dedicated to providing an indepth coverage of health conditions and how they arise, and how they are treated.
2. WebMD.com A website that act as a source of information related to medical research and health conditions.
3. Mayoclinic.org A health resource that covers research on different medical conditions.
4. Healthline.com A valuable resource for all kinds of news and information on health conditions and aimed at physicians, students, and a general audience searching for information.
5. Medicine.net A website that provides health related articles for researchers, students, and a general audience willing to educate themselves about different medical conditions.