Irritable bowel syndrome commonly known as IBS is a chronic disease in nature that has affected millions of people all over the globe. Mainly IBS attacks on the large intestine that leads to serious pain and symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation and cramping. It is important to note that it is a global issue but most of the people still are not fully aware of its symptoms and its characteristics. This comprehensive article is all about. Here we will talk about what actually irritable bowel syndrome is, what are its implications on your health and how to treat it in an effective way. So this article is very important for you. You just only need to stay with us and make your life happier and healthier. Let’s get started.
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. The main thing that makes it complex is its complexity because it is not a single disease but actually a combination of symptoms that normally appears together. When they collectively produce symptoms it can lead to severe pain in the abdomen and becomes the cause of gas, bloating or swelling. Why is irritable bowel syndrome a serious disease? It is because it has long term implications over the quality of life that affects your daily routine matters. One thing that you have to keep in mind is the clarity of mind in case of IBS. However Medical studies show that it does not actually damage the intestine on a permanent basis.
Types of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Due to different characteristics, irritable bowel syndrome is classified into three types or groups. These three different types are as follows..
IBS With Constipation (IBS-C)
First type is IBS with constipation. As the name suggests this irritable bowel syndrome in this type appears along with constipation. In this type of IBS it is observed that at least 25% of hard or thick stools which is excretion of the humans come at time and also less than 25% of loose or watery stool comes at time.
IBS With Diarrhea (IBS-D)
In this type of disease patients primarily observe diarrhea. Patients have loose stools and feel urgent repeated bowel movements. The common symptoms in this case of IBS with diarrhea are at least 25% of loose or watery stools or granular stools less than 25% of the time.
IBS With Mix Bowl Habits (IBS-M)
This type of IBS is a combination of both diarrhea and constipation. In this type patients have different bowel habits from one episode to another. Common symptoms in this type are occurring both hard and lumpy stools. It is also observed that during bowel movement stools are at least 25% watery or loose.
Causes And Reasons
Causes
It is a fact that the exact root causes of irritable bowel syndrome are still not known, but here in the following, we will talk about those important factors that actually play a key role in developing IBS. Let’s have a look.
Abnormal Muscle Contractions
In order to perform functions in a smooth way it is really important that contractions in the intestines must be regular. Stronger contractions in the intestines for a longer period of time can create severe pain, diarrhea or bloating. Similarly on the other hand if the contractions of the intestines become slow it results in constipation due to the slow passage of food.
Nervous System Abnormalities
Issues or abnormalities in the nervous system can also result in Irritable bowel syndrome. Just try to understand what we are trying to say. There is comprehensive signal coordination between the brain and the whole part of your body. And when this coordination disturbs then issues arise. Same is the case here. When due to some issues the coordination between brain and intestine is affected because the brain cannot send proper signals to the intestine. In this way the body cannot perform its normal digestive functions and this eventually creates discomfort and pain.
Inflammation
It is observed that in case of irritable bowel syndrome immune system cells increase in their intestines. So due to the inflammation a patient feels pain and diarrhea.
Severe Infections
In some of the cases IBS can develop due to severe infections which are caused by viruses or bacteria.
Changes in Gut Bacteria
Due to the changes in gut bacteria IBS can develop. There are actually microflora found in our intestines which are considered as good bacteria. These microflora bacterias are crucial for your overall health. Now there is an important thing that you have to understand here. According to the research it shows that there are different types of microflora found in different people. Those people who have symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome have different microflora as compared to normal ones.
Common Reasons
There are actually some common factors that can be the reason for irritable bowel syndrome IBS. For example certain types of foods, hormonal changes and stress.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Management
Here in this part of a very important article we are going to discuss some usable techniques and ways in order to manage IBS more efficiently.
Identifying IBS Responsible Foods
When we talk about managing irritable bowel symptoms, diet comes at number first in this list. With the help of changes in your diet you can manage IBS symptoms to a greater extent. For this purpose it is really important to reduce and even eliminate those foods which are the contributing factors for creating this type of chronic disease IBS. Here are some foods that you have to eliminate from your eating manual.
Dairy Products
If you are facing symptoms of IBS then there are certain dairy products that should be avoided. For example milk, yogurt and Cheese. Especially in that case when lactose is not beneficial for your health.
Gluten
Try to avoid gluten made products. Actually gluten products are those that are manufactured in bakeries. Gluten is mostly found in wheat, rye and barley. It can be the reason for IBS in some of the cases.
FODMAPs
Medical research shows that certain types of carbohydrates are very tough to absorb in the intestines that eventually result in producing gas, diarrhea and bloating. Now the question is what is FODMAPs? It is actually an abbreviation of Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. These types of carbohydrates are not suitable in case of IBS. So it is better to avoid consuming foods that contain these particular carbohydrates.
The Low FODMAP Diet
Another important factor for managing IBS symptoms is the use of a low FODMAP diet. Why is it beneficial in the case of IBS? This is an important question at the moment. The low FODMAP has unique characteristics to reduce or remove high FODMAP foods. Some of the important high FODMAP foods are as follows:
✓fruits such as watermelon, apples, and pears.
✓Vegetables like garlic, onions, and cauliflower.
✓dairy products, including yogurt, soft cheese, and milk.
✓Sweeteners, including artificial sweeteners or high-fructose corn syrup.
✓Some legumes, like chickpeas, beans, and lentils.
Balanced Nutrition
While it is important to avoid those foods that are contributing factors towards IBS, it is also equally important to eat those foods which are full of nutrients. For example fruits and vegetables and whole grains. So with balanced nutrition you can avoid many other chronic fatal diseases to a great extent.
Lifestyle Changes For Managing IBS
Stress Management
Stress can actually increase the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. So it is really crucial to take those measures which are helpful in reducing stress. Some of the common ones are as follows.
✓Mindfulness exercises like yoga and meditation are really very important in order to improve overall health and also in the case of IBS.
✓Nobody can deny the importance of exercising. Physical exercises are not only helpful for your complete health but also helpful in the regulation of bowel movements. Try to make a habit to exercise at least 30 minutes a day.
✓Deep breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation are some of the relaxation techniques which are important and helpful to illuminate stress.
Enough Sleep And Rest
For your quality of life it is important to have a quality sleep. It is not beneficial only in the case of IBS but for your overall health issues. Try to make an atmosphere for quality sleeping. It is better to go to bed regularly according to the schedule. Try to understand here what actually quality environment means here. It means to avoid and reduce all those elements which cause disturbance in your sleeping. If you take stimulants like caffeine then make sure that you do not take them before bedtime.
Regular Physical Activity
When you make a habit to keep yourself involved in physical activities on a regular basis then it overall improves your quality of life. By doing this you can improve your digestive health and reduce stress as well. There are a lot of common but important physical activities that you can do like walking, cycling, yoga and swimming.
Medical Treatments And Therapies
Medications
Medical treatment is also important in some of the cases in order to manage and reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Some common and important medications that are used as a treatment option are as follows:
✓Fiber supplements are used in order to regulate bowel movements.
✓Laxatives are mostly taken in order to get relief from constipation.
✓Besides that, anti-diarrheal medicine has the ability to reduce the symptoms of diarrhea.
✓Antispasmodics medicine is really helpful in order to reduce cramping and abdominal pain.
✓Antidepressants are mostly taken in low doses and help to reduce pain and improve the chances of recovery especially in case of IBS.
Probiotics
In order to remain a balance of gut bacteria you can use probiotics. Probiotics are useful bacteria and they can be helpful in reducing complications and severity in case of irritable bowel syndrome. Probiotics mainly helps in reducing symptoms such as irregular bowel movements, bloating and gas. But remember before taking any probiotic just consult with your professional Healthcare provider and go for a suitable one according to your health condition.
Psychological Therapies
There are some effective psychological therapies for treating irritable bowel syndrome. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of them. The important function of cognitive behavioral therapy is to help in changing the negative thoughts and behaviors. This type of therapy is also equally good to reduce stress as well. Besides that, mindfulness based stress reduction commonly known as MBSR and hypnotherapy can also be taken with the constant of your doctor.
Monitoring And Tracking Symptoms
For proper and effective treatment of irritable bowel syndrome it is important to focus on the symptoms. So there are many factors that you have to monitor such as lifestyle and diet. So keep a notebook or digital app with you and write all the symptoms that monitor. There are some special points in this context that we are going to talk about. Let’s have a look.
✓First important thing that you have to monitor is taking of food. It is important to note what you actually drink and eat and what the portion that you consume is.
✓It is also important to monitor the complexity of symptoms.
✓Try to keep a record of your daily stresses and your response to handle them.
✓It is important to make a schedule of your daily exercises. Also mention what the duration will be on a regular basis to perform physical activities.
✓Quality Sleep as we said earlier is very important especially in case of irritable bowel syndrome. So try to note your sleeping pattern and duration.
Building A Support System
It can be very challenging to live with irritable bowel syndrome. But by implementing some strategies you can definitely get maximum relief and comfort in this whole scenario. Just follow the following instructions.
✓It is important to join support groups for keeping in touch with your friends and family members. This will help you to get emotional and motivational support.
✓Try to educate yourself and your friends and family about what irritable bowel syndrome is. This will help you to get some guidance if required.
✓Build a connection with your doctor. Go for regular checkups and discuss your matters and ask questions which are related to this chronic disease IBS.
Conclusion
Although irritable bowel syndrome is a complex disease, believe me that you can beat it. This actually required a multiple approach. Here actually the means of multiple approaches is to take certain steps towards the improvement of IBS. For example with the help of your changes in diet, modification in lifestyle, medical treatment and psychological support you can get maximum results towards the recovery of this chronic disease.
It is important to avoid those foods in your diet which creates issues in case of irritable bowel syndrome. Be patient in the journey to beat irritable bowel syndrome and stick to your treatment plans. Make sure to visit your physician from time to time.