Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic intestinal condition that can impact so many areas of your life, including your mood, energy levels, relationships, and your career! IBS is also known as spastic colon, irritable colon, mucous colitis, and spastic colitis. The emotional side of IBS can be draining. On average, it takes more than 6 years from symptom onset to diagnosis.

April is IBS awareness month. 10-15% of people or 1 in 7 worldwide have IBS. It affects 1 in 5 adults and twice as many women as men are affected by it. It’s more than 1 billion people. IBS is a chronic disorder that you will need to manage long-term. Although IBS is not life-threatening, the impact it has on the lives of those affected is life-changing.

What Causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Though the exact cause of IBS is unknown, possible causes include

1. An overly sensitive colon or immune system.

2. Previous bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract.

3. Slowed or spastic movements of the colon, causing painful cramping

4. Abnormal serotonin levels in the colon, affecting motility and bowel movements

5. Mild celiac disease that damages the intestines, causing IBS symptoms

When the bowel is unbalanced you can feel very lethargic. It affects the balance of energy in the body due to a build-up of toxins or poor absorption of nutrients needed within the body.

The main symptoms of IBS are stomach pain or cramps (usually worse after eating and better after bowel movement), bloating (your bowel may feel uncomfortably full and swollen), diarrhea (you may have a watery stool and sometimes need to empty bowel suddenly). Most of us sometimes face these symptoms that don’t mean we have IBS. Those symptoms might be triggered due to last night’s meal or what you had in the last meal.

Managing your diet when you have IBS may take a little extra time but is often worth the effort. Modifying amounts or eliminating certain foods such as dairy, fried foods, indigestible sugars, and beans may help to reduce different symptoms.

For some people, adding spices and herbs such as ginger, peppermint, and chamomile has helped to reduce some IBS symptoms.

Unfortunately, there is no test to definitively diagnose IBS or permanent cure except changing your current eating pattern and food choices. Your doctor is likely to start with a complete medical history, physical exam, and tests to rule out other conditions, such as celiac disease. Changing your diet, mindset and exercising are all proven ways to ease symptoms

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Abdominal pain, cramping or bloating

• Cramping or bloating

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Flatulence

• Nausea after eating

• Mucus in the stool

• A feeling of incomplete bowel movements

• Weight loss

What Can Help to treat IBS?

• Hot water bottle or a heating pad

• Comfy pants to relieve the pressure

• Peppermint oil capsules. The research is mostly on peppermint oil capsules, but some people report relief from peppermint tea for bloating as well (Check with your medical provider if this is suitable for you)

• Hot bath

• And of course, a management plan, including identifying your food triggers, can help to reduce the frequency and intensity of flare-ups so there are fewer days spent in the bathroom and more days doing the things you love.

For more information, please call AMA Medical Center at (781) 581-6181 or contact us online. Schedule your consultations with the best doctors in Lynn, MA!