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What
is irritable bowel syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
is a common disorder that may affect up to 30 percent of all men and women at
some time during their lives. The disorder has many names, including nervous
colon, spastic colon, spastic bowel, mucous colitis and spastic colitis.
IBS is a syndrome, a pattern
of symptoms such as pain and bloating that tend to occur together. It is not a
disease and it cannot be caught or transmitted from person to person as a cold
can nor can it be cured by an operation or medication. It is not
life-threatening.
What
are the symptoms of IBS?
People with IBS may experience
constipation, diarrhoea, or a combination - constipation at some times and
diarrhoea at other times. In addition, IBS may produce cramps, urgency, or a
gassy, bloated feeling in the abdomen. Mucus, sometimes seen in bowel movements,
is also a symptom of IBS. Rectal bleeding is never caused by IBS, and any
rectal bleeding must be properly and thoroughly evaluated.
What
causes IBS?
The underlying cause of this
disorder is an abnormality in the way the intestinal muscles contract. These
muscles, which form the outer layer of the intestine, work automatically to move
food products along the intestine to the rectum and out the anus. IBS is a
disorder of the function of the intestinal muscles. Even when the muscles appear
normal under a microscope, they may not function normally, contracting too
forcefully or weakly, too slowly or rapidly, at certain times.
What
role does stress play in IBS?
Emotional stress may
contribute to IBS. The brain and the intestine are closely connected by nerve
fibers that control the automatic functioning of the intestinal muscles, and
many people may experience nausea or diarrhoea when nervous or anxious. While we
may not be able to control the effect stress has on our intestines, reducing the
sources of stress in our lives - high pressure jobs, family tensions, etc. - may
alleviate the symptoms of IBS.
How
is IBS treated?
Simply understanding that IBS
is not a serious or life-threatening condition may relieve anxiety and stress.
Increasing the amount of non-digestible, bulk-forming foods ("roughage") in the
diet may be all that is needed to relieve symptoms. When the major complaint is
constipation, additional water should be provided in the diet. Sometimes,
caffeine, milk products or alcohol can make symptoms of IBS worse. Your
physician may recommend avoiding foods that contain significant amounts of
caffeine - coffee, tea, chocolate and cola drinks, for example - and alcoholic
beverages, including beer, wine and "mixed" drinks. Your physician may also
recommend that you avoid dairy products. In addition, smokers should beware: IBS
symptoms may be aggravated by nicotine.
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