Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is what is known as a “functional” bowel syndrome. What this typically means is that the symptoms of the condition or disorder transpire without the prescribed discovering of an anatomical or biochemical basis or cause for those specific symptoms. In other words, “they can’t find a cause why you are reacting this way.” ebiochem.com

With IBS, those symptoms customarily involve mild to relentless abdominal soreness, general uneasiness, bloating and considerable variation of bowel habits. Some frequent and common signs are diarrhea and/or constipation. Often diarrhea will show up one day and constipation the next. When this bowel habit swinging happens, the IBS is classified as either IBS-D, which means “diarrhea,” IBS-C, which means “constipation” and IBS-A which means “varying between diarrhea and constipation.” ebiochem.com

IBS most often initiates when an infection or a traumatic event has occurred in life. It is not uncommon to have re-occurrences every time that a stressful occasion occurs.

While no cure exists for IBS, it can be restricted to a bit of an extent. {Treatments|Therapies|Therapeutics} are available that are designed to actually take the edge off the symptoms. Some of these treatments include dietary adjustments and restricted IBS diets. Certain foods cannot be allowed during episodes of IBS exacerbation while different foods actually help restrain the symptoms. ebiochem.com

Not all conditions with comparable symptoms are IBS. Several of the IBS symptoms imitate other conditions and diseases such as celiac syndrome, infections, parasites and additional inflammatory bowel diseases. A few of these are chronic functional abdominal pain and chronic constipation. ebiochem.com

In regard to the “functional” definition of the disease, when standard clinical tests are carried out the outcomes reveal modest or no anatomical abnormalities. Often, the only changes from typical are that the bowels display an increased sensitivity to specific stimuli. No one knows the exact cause of IBS. There is a common theory that the brain and the gastrointestinal tracts have a malfunctioning interaction, and as a result the deficiency of communication causes symptoms even though there is the definite possibility that the good bacteria (flora) inside the gut is irregular or something is going on with the immune system. ebiochem.com

IBS Symptoms

The most commonly occurring symptoms with IBS are abdominal irritation and pain, accompanied frequently by diarrhea and/or constipation. Sometimes the bowel movements may be urgent. The bowel may not feel as though it has been fully cleared and abdominal bloating and/or distension could transpire. It is not at all exceptional for IBS people to furthermore suffer from acid reflux disease or GERD. Other symptoms may be comprised of headache and/or backache, fibromyalgia and some psychological troubles. ebiochem.com

Treatment of IBS

The treatment may be a bit different for each case. Each form of etiology requires a specific therapy. It has been demonstrated that there are higher rates of success in resolving IBS symptoms when specific treatments are utilized for each unique case, depending on the patient and the practitioner’s experience and knowledge. The practitioner will need to direct a succession of tests in order to settle on the specific cause of the IBS. There are a recognized array of causes and the tests will settle on the most liable underlying cause of the IBS. ebiochem.com

The directed education of the patient is very important in managing or relieving the IBS. If patients are non-accommodating, the conclusion is usually poor.

Diet In the Treatment of IBS

IBS patients must undergo a number of modifications in order to avert the overreaction of the gastocolic response and reduce the pain, discomfort and universal dysfunction of the bowels. Some of these changes are extreme to what the patient is consuming at the time of the diagnosis. Several of these changes involve the replacement of milk products with soy or rice products, focusing on vegetables and fruits that are high in insoluble fibers, consuming abundant small meals each day in contrast to the normal three meals per day and learning the diverse and uncommon foods and beverages that are to be steered clear of or minimized. A few of these specific products consist of oily or fried foods, red meat, milk products, coffee, chocolates, alcohol and caffeinated beverages. Also some artificial sweeteners are to be shunned. The list is extensive but critical to controlling the IBs effectively. ebiochem.com

Determining the plentiful dietary matters is completed by the medical professional by performing different tests for the psychological effects of specific foods. Some foods set off a reaction in a number of patients and this testing may determine whether or not there are some nutritional deficiencies that are secondary to the diet and that may play a part in the total course of action. ebiochem.com

At this time, no substantiation shows that absorption of nutrients or food digestion is a setback for IBS patients at rates a lot different than non-IBS patients. It has been demonstrated, however that the simple act of eating or drinking can bring about an overreaction of the gastrocolic response in IBS associated folks because of amplified visceral sensitivity. This problem can cause abdominal pain, constipation and/or diarrhea. ebiochem.com

A few well respected studies indicate dietary triggers in IBS patients that are hypersensitive to fats and fructose. Fructose being a “sugar” that is located in all fruits.

Also, a number of people are more sensitive to certain foods than other people and as soon as these foods are determined to be a cause of IBS symptoms these foods must be avoided.

One plan that works with the various foods to establish which ones work well together to purge symptoms of IBS is called Great Taste, No Pain. They have had some very respectable results.ebiochem.com

Fiber and IBS

Patients who are not agonizing from the diarrhea prominent variety of IBS should include soluble fiber in their diet. It has been shown that 20 grams of soluble dietary fiber per day can drastically diminish IBS symptoms although not the pain. ebiochem.com

Many people erroneously think that fiber therapy is only used for constipation problems. The reality of the matter is that soluble fiber is able to function as a counterbalance for treatment of both constipation and diarrhea, simply by holding fluids in the bowel and also by absorbing less water for the treatment of diarrhea. ebiochem.com

By: Jorgi Vanderhaven