IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
What is IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the intestines with symptoms that include colicky pain, gassiness, bloating of abdomen and changes in bowel habits. An individual with IBS may have constipation (difficult or infrequent bowel movements) or diarrhea (frequent loose stools, often with an urgent need to move the bowels), and some experience both. IBS does not cause permanent harm to the intestines and does not lead to cancer. For many people, eating a proper diet and living a healthy lifestyle may lessen IBS symptoms.
IBS Triggers
Many people report that their symptoms occur following a meal. Eating causes contractions of the colon. Normally, this response may cause an urge to have a bowel movement within 30 to 60 minutes after a meal. In people with IBS, the urge may come sooner and may be associated with pain, cramps and diarrhea. Certain foods may trigger spasms in some people. Sometimes the spasm delays the passage of stool, leading to constipation. Certain food substances, like complex carbohydrates and caffeine, fatty foods, or alcoholic drinks, can cause loose stools in many people, but are more likely to affect those with IBS.
How is IBS diagnosed?
IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion. The doctor excludes organic and pathological diseases before labelling the symptoms due to IBS. This is done by taking a good history and clinical examination followed by blood tests, stool tests and diagnostic endoscopy.
Treatment of IBS
Dr. Mehul Choksi provides Irritable bowel syndrome treatment in mumbai along with treatments for other diseases as well.
Diet: Eating a proper diet and avoidance of eating a large amount of food items at once helps avoid IBS symptoms. Changes in the diet can be made by avoiding the food item which leading to symptoms for example dairy products. Eating small portions more frequently helps.
Recent attention has been drawn to the FODMAP (FODMAP= fermentable oligo-, di- and mono-saccharides and polyols) concept; this relates to avoiding the ingestion of fermentable sugars, such as fructose or lactose, sorbitol, and fructans. These food items, if poorly absorbed, are broken down by bacteria to produce symptoms of gaseousness, bloating, abdominal discomfort and diarrhea, which are seen in IBS.
Pharmacological treatment: Constipation is treated by prescribing stool softners, polyethene glycol and fibers which increase intestinal fluid and help in easy passage of stool. Probiotics and antibiotics are used to treat bacterial overgrowth which can trigger IBS symptoms. Antidepressant drugs are used when abdominal pain is more severe, because they can help reduce visceral sensitivity and brain-gut dysfunction that contribute to the symptoms.
Psychological treatment: There are several psychological treatments that can help reduce the symptoms of IBS. These include cognitive-behavioral treatment, hypnosis, stress management, meditation and relaxation methods. These treatments seem to reduce abdominal discomfort and the psychological distress associated with IBS symptoms, improve coping skills, and help patients adapt to their symptoms.
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