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Home Health Health Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Dr. Phil Hariram   
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is very common and in America at least 58 million have or had IBS at some stage in their lives. They frequently complain of abdominal pains, constipation, diarrhoea and bloating. Symptoms vary in individuals and for a sufferer it can vary from day to day. IBS is an illness which seems to strike people down, said Jeffrey Roberts, President of the IBS Self Help and Support Group.
by Dr.PhilHariram


Irritable Bowel Syndrome is very common and in America at least 58 million have or had IBS at some stage in their lives. They frequently complain of abdominal pains, constipation, diarrhoea and bloating. Symptoms vary in individuals and for a sufferer it can vary from day to day. IBS is an illness which seems to strike people down, said Jeffrey Roberts, President of the IBS Self Help and Support Group.

For a diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome your symptoms must be present for 12 weeks in a twelve month period. The symptoms of IBS are characterised by pains in the abdomen and must include at least two of the following three. The gut pain is relieved by opening of the bowels, there is change in the frequency of bowel movements and an alteration of the appearance of stools.

At present no one is sure what causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome or what it actually is. There are, however, things we know about IBS. The large gut is more sensitive than in people without IBS. Hormonal changes can trigger symptoms and explains why 80% of IBS sufferers are women. There is a higher incidence of physical and sexual abuse in the IBS group and it can develop following a bout of severe gastroenteritis. Flare up or symptoms can develop with stressful situations and eating certain foods.

Although Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a distressing condition with abdominal pains, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating and rectal pain, there is no abnormality of the gut. In fact it is not IBS if anything was found during investigation.

See your doctor if you have symptoms of IBS. The family doctor will first exclude serious illnesses by arranging for you to have various test before arriving at a diagnosis. Since the introduction of the Rome Criteria, your family doctor can diagnose IBS with the minimum of tests. There are, however, some red flag symptoms that you must not ignore. See you doctor very soon if you have bleeding from the rectum, loss of appetite, weight loss, anaemia or symptoms that develop after you are fifty years old.

For IBS sufferers who feel that it is all in the head, research has shown that there is a link connecting the gut with the brain. Experts think that the Brain-Gut axis is very important in the cause, symptoms and treatment of IBS. Serotonin also has a role in the symptoms of IBS. High blood level is found in Diarrhoea predominant IBS and low level is found in Constipation predominant IBS.

Here are some things we do know about Irritable Bowel Syndrome. There is no abnormality in the large gut. It does not lead to cancer or any serious gastrointestinal disease. Although no one knows the true figure, it is estimated that as much as 20% of the global population has or had IBS at some stage in their lives.

When you are confronted with a condition where there is no abnormality of the gut, no real cause, no one treatment that works for everyone and there is no cure, life becomes difficult because you know that whatever you try will not be effective because in your mind you know there is no cure. Treatments available are dietary changes, drugs, stress management, behavioural therapy and numerous alternative therapies. It is up to you to find the best treatment that helps and stick with it.

Some IBS patients have severe abdominal pains soon after eating certain foods. This may be because it is a large meal and this can trigger strong gastro-colic reflex. This a very strong peristaltic contraction in response to stretching of the stomach. This can be very painful for a patient with IBS. It is better to have smaller meals and eat frequently. It is important that you do not avoid foods. You need important nutrients to remain healthy.

About the Author:

Do not waste money of products that do not work on Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Dr. Phil Hariram has developed a program for all your IBS problems. The Healing IBS Program will benefit anyone with IBS. Visit his website http://www.healingibs.com and be amazed.

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