Combat IBS With a Good Diet
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a painful condition that causes one or more of these symptoms within the abdomen; diarrhea, constipation, cramping and bloating. IBS affects the Large Intestine where stool is stored. Although IBS is very painful, it is not a disease. It is called a functional disorder, which means that the Large Intestine is not functioning properly, which causes the discomfort within the abdomen. Women are known to show the symptoms of IBS more than men. Some of these women may notice an increase in their symptoms during their menstral cycle.
IBS symptoms are many and are often accompanied with or include abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, or a feeling of incomplete bowel movement. There are four different classifications of IBS, which have slightly different symptoms. IBS-D has diarrhea as its predominant symptom. IBS-C is characterized by constipation as its primary symptom. Thirdly IBS-A is named for the acute pain a patient feels as the most predominant of the IBS symptoms. Lastly IBS-PI is named for the fact that the onset of IBS symptoms closely follows an infectious disease the patient has had. Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or a positive stool culture often characterizes this last form of the disease.
Normal digestion occurs when the muscles in the intestines contract to move food and waste through the body. Irritable bowel syndrome is usually caused by those muscles contracting harder and longer than in a normal person without the syndrome. Doctors usually diagnose a person with irritable bowel syndrome after several tests have ruled out more serious problems.
Although there is no cure for IBS, there are treatments. These treatments may include diet changes, medicines, and stress relief. Your doctor might be able to help you with a treatment plan to see what works best for you. Some things that work for one person do not always work for another.
In our current age of high stress careers and long work days, its no wonder doctors believe as many as one in five Americans sufferer from IBS. Yet, stress is only one theory as to how weve become a population suffering from IBS. Other popular theories include diet, gender, and illness.
IBS is not generally considered to be a life threatening disease and is one that can be treated quite successfully when properly diagnosed. It has been shown when treatments are specifically tailored to the specific form of IBS the IBS symptoms can normally be resolved. A specific diagnosis of the disease, therefore, is the most important factor in helping a patient cope with IBS and its symptoms.
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