Understanding Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Effective Ways to Manage It

Even common triggers like carbonated drinks or conflicts with colleagues can upset your digestive system.

What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition that remains not fully understood by medical science. It causes irregularities in the functioning of the large intestine, leading to various digestive problems.

IBS is one of the most widespread gastrointestinal disorders globally, affecting approximately 10–15% of adults.

The challenge with IBS lies in its often vague and intermittent symptoms. Many individuals may not realize they have a chronic digestive issue and, as a result, do not receive appropriate treatment.

How to Recognize Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IBS symptoms vary but commonly include:

• Abdominal cramps and pain, typically occurring after meals and easing after bowel movements.
• Bloating of the abdomen.
• Excessive gas production (flatulence).
• Alternating diarrhea and constipation.
• Presence of mucus in stools.
• Occasional unexplained nausea.
• Difficulty with urination and bowel movements, often feeling incomplete evacuation.

Most people with IBS experience fluctuating symptoms. If you notice these signs recurring, consulting a healthcare provider, such as a general practitioner or gastroenterologist, is advisable to confirm the diagnosis.

What Causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Try to track lifestyle changes linked to your symptoms. Although the exact cause of IBS remains unclear, several factors may contribute:

• Neurological issues that disrupt communication between the brain and gut, causing the body to overreact to normal digestive processes.
• Abnormal intestinal motility: the muscles lining the intestines may contract too long, causing cramps, gas, and diarrhea, or relax excessively, leading to slow transit and hard stools.
• Autoimmune responses where immune cells mistakenly attack healthy gut cells, resulting in pain and diarrhea.
• Innate differences in gut microbiota: people with IBS often have a distinct bacterial composition in their intestines compared to healthy individuals.

Additionally, IBS symptoms can worsen due to:

• Consumption of foods that trigger intolerance, such as caffeinated drinks, sodas, fatty or fried foods, gas-producing items (beans, cabbage, carrots, whole-grain bread and cereals), lactose, or gluten.
• Stress, anxiety, and depression, which frequently accompany IBS, though it is unclear whether stress triggers IBS or IBS heightens stress.
• Hormonal fluctuations, especially in women, where symptoms intensify during menstruation and lessen after menopause.

Treatment depends on the specific triggers affecting your body.

How to Treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Unfortunately, there is no cure for IBS. Treatment primarily focuses on managing symptoms through three main approaches:

1. Diet and Lifestyle Management

A gastroenterologist may suggest:

• Keeping a detailed food diary to identify foods that worsen symptoms.
• Avoiding foods that trigger flare-ups.
• Systematically eliminating soda, gluten-containing foods, dairy, fried and fatty foods to observe symptom improvements.
• Maintaining adequate hydration.
• Getting sufficient sleep.
• Engaging in regular physical activity.

2. Stress Management and Psychotherapy

Since emotional distress can exacerbate IBS symptoms, learning to manage stress and emotional responses is crucial.

You can try stress reduction techniques independently or seek help from a psychotherapist who can guide you toward healthier coping strategies.

3. Medication

Medications can alleviate certain IBS symptoms. Your doctor might prescribe:

• Antispasmodics to reduce abdominal pain and normalize intestinal motility.
• Fiber supplements to relieve constipation.
• Laxatives.
• Anti-diarrheal agents.
• Adsorbents to reduce gas and bloating.
• Calming agents and antidepressants to lower stress levels.
• Prescription pain relievers for severe abdominal discomfort.
• Specific drugs that regulate intestinal fluid secretion to ease stool passage.

When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Do not hesitate to consult a gastroenterologist promptly if IBS-like symptoms are accompanied by:

• Rapid unexplained weight loss without dieting or increased physical activity.
• Nocturnal diarrhea episodes.
• Blood in stools.
• Diagnosed iron-deficiency anemia.
• Unexplained vomiting.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Persistent abdominal cramps that do not improve after passing gas or bowel movements.

These signs may indicate more serious conditions, including colorectal cancer.

If you suffer from abdominal pain, bloating, or bowel irregularities due to IBS, a medication like Mebeverine from Northern Star Pharmaceuticals can help. It relieves spasms and restores normal intestinal transit without disrupting peristalsis. The recommended dosage is one tablet three times daily, 20 minutes before meals. If a dose is missed, simply resume the regular schedule with the next dose.

Consult a healthcare professional before use, as contraindications may apply.

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