IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not much fun…

and is characterized as a disorder of the lower intestinal tract. Really what is occurring during  IBS, is  the intestinal nerves and muscles are not functioning optimally. Quite often, IBS is confused with inflammatory Bowel Disease ( IBD) which makes up crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Symptoms:

• Stomach pain and cramping
• Bloating and gas
• Bowel movements: either constipation or diarrhea
• Possibly mucous in the stool

But what is the root cause? Is it just a sensitive stomach? And if that is the case, why is the digestive system so sensitive?

A few things come to mind when people ask me about IBS…

• Diet
• Lifestyle: stress, anxiety  & the type a personality
• Irregular sleep patterns
• Recent illness

However, I would not say that one of the above is the the sole root cause, rather they all contribute to some degree, the viscous cycle people with IBS symptoms are in. For example, a person may have been on a recent trip to a third world country and developed an infection ( possibly parasitic). They were put on many conventional medicines that compromised ( threw it off balance )  their digestive tract. This possibly lead to some stress and anxiety, maybe poor food choices which all created & contributed to the symptoms of IBS. Once this occurs, the digestive system begins working super hard to heal itself and begins to cry out, with symptoms, that it needs some help.

This is the time to be aware of your body – take action and be proactive in your health. I suggest to most people to create a diet and symptom diary. This shows the cycles and patterns that occur. Next is to evaluate diet, heal the intestinal lining, and finally create ways to handle daily stress.

Treatment

• Diet: Elimination diet and re introduction of foods
• Supplements: Probiotics and essential fatty acids ( fish oil)
• Stress relief: Hypnotherapy, yoga, deep breathing, exercise

I highly suggest that if you have any of the symptoms from the above that you consult a physician to help determine the best treatment plan is for you. In most cases, simple daily lifestyle changes can make profound difference in your life.

Be well,

Image credit: Hill Creek Pictures

Tagged as: diet, digestive system, irritable bowel syndrome, nutrition, probiotics, stress