Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the digestive system. It is characterized by abdominal discomfort associated with altered bowel movements.
Its symptoms range from gas to colic, including discomforts such as diarrhea and constipation. And its causes, although unknown, may be related to diet, infections and even emotional state.
Although it is not possible to talk about a cure, there are treatments capable of bringing quality of life to the patient. Keep reading to understand better!
What are the most common symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
IBS symptoms can vary, but the most common ones include:
● Abdominal pain, cramping, or bloating related to a bowel movement. These symptoms usually occur in the lower half of the abdomen and may disappear after a bowel movement;
● Changes in bowel movement;
● Changes in bowel movement frequency (diarrhoea, constipation or alternating between the two);
● Mucus in the stool (with a whitish appearance);
● Excess gas.
For women, these symptoms may intensify during menstrual periods. In fact, they are affected by the syndrome twice as much than men, regardless of age.
How is Irritable Bowel Syndrome diagnosed?
To make the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), doctors need to evaluate the symptoms to find a certain pattern, in addition to analyzing the patient’s medical and family history. In this sense, physical examinations are also performed to rule out other health problems.
What are the causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
The exact cause of IBS is still not known by medicine. Some common triggers of the syndrome include diet, stress, infection, and medications. See below factors that are often associated with the problem:
- Muscle contractions in the intestine: The way the muscles in the intestines contract to move food through the digestive tract can be responsible for causing gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
- Nervous system: Abnormalities in the nerves of the digestive system can cause greater than normal discomfort when the abdomen stretches because of gas or stool.
- Infection: IBS can develop after a severe bout of diarrhea (gastroenteritis) caused by bacteria or viruses;
- Changes in Gut Microbes: Research indicates that the microbes in people with IBS may differ from those in healthy people.
In this sense, many people with the syndrome identify that certain foods make their symptoms worse, but these foods vary from one patient to another. That is, it is not possible to determine a food or preparation that is officially a cause of IBS.
Finally, it is important to emphasize that Irritable Bowel Syndrome can have an emotional cause. People exposed to stressful or traumatic events, especially in childhood, tend to have more IBS symptoms.
Some researchers suggest that the syndrome is the gut’s response to life’s emotional issues. That is, the disease would be psychosomatic – an emotional disorder capable of affecting the body.
What is the treatment for IBS?
There is still no cure for IBS, but it can be successfully managed with treatments tailored to each patient. In this sense, it is essential to identify and avoid trigger factors.
Among the possible treatments, one can mention: diets, medication for pain and cramps, laxatives, anti-diarrheal medication and therapy with a psychologist. Thus, it is very important to consult with a doctor so that, together, you can identify the symptoms and proceed with the best treatment.
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