Irritable bowel syndrome - Symptoms, causes and cures
Afflicting up to 20 percent of all adults, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is often characterized by abnormal muscle contractions in the intestines, resulting in too little or too much fluid in the bowel. Symptoms vary markedly from one person to another. Some people experience urgent diarrhea.
Others experience the type called spastic colon, with alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation, as well as abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, gas, and nausea, particularly after eating. Still other symptoms may include mucus in the stool and feelings 0f incomplete evacuation after moving the bowels. Some people may also complain of fatigue, anxiety, headache, and depression.
There are no tests for IBS, which is diagnosed by ruling out colitis, cancer, and other diseases, Although it may be aggravated by food intolerances or allergies, no specific cause has been established. It may be worsened by stress and emotional conflict, but it is not a psychological disorder. Various dietary factors can play a major role in exacerbating or calming IBS. A doctor may prescribe medications to quell it muscle contractions and alleviate diarrhea.
However, self-care, stress reduction, and dietary modification are the mainstays of therapy. Some recent research suggests that bacterial overgrowth in the bowel may be a cause or cbs. In one study, 78 percent of lBS patients were found to have bacterial over growth in the small intestine, and antibiotics eliminated the disease in half of the patients who got rid of the overgrowth.
