Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Filed in archive Digestive Health on February 28, 2007

If irritable bowel syndrome has your intestines tied up in knots, the reason might be anxiety or over-exertion during a bout of indigestion related illness. Wikipedia describes it this way:

In gastroenterology, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or spastic colon is a functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits which are not associated with any abnormalities seen on routine clinical testing.

Lower abdominal pain, and bloating associated with alteration of bowel habits and abdominal discomfort relieved with defecation are the most frequent symptoms.

An article in WebMD Health states:

Roughly one in five Americans has IBS, a chronic condition characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and either constipation, diarrhea, or both, according to the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG).

Four out of five cases occur among women, and symptoms usually begin in late adolescence or early adulthood.

Though the disorder remains a mystery, previous studies have shown that acute gastrointestinal illness, such as a bout of food poisoning, seems to trigger IBS in some people.

If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS for short, what can you do to relive your discomfort? The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearoing House has these suggestions:

IBS has no cure, but you can do things to relieve symptoms. Treatment may involve

• diet changes
  


• medicine
  


• stress relief

You may have to try a combination of things to see which works best for you.