| According to the National Institute of Diabetes and | | | | addition, people with IBS frequently suffer from |
| Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Irritable Bowel | | | | depression and anxiety, which can worsen symptoms. |
| Syndrome is a disorder characterized most commonly | | | | Similarly, the symptoms associated with IBS can cause |
| by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and | | | | a person to feel depressed and anxious. |
| diarrhea. IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and | | | | Researchers have reported that IBS may be caused |
| distress, but it does not permanently harm the | | | | by a bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract. |
| intestines and does not lead to a serious disease, such | | | | Studies show that people who have had |
| as cancer. Most people can control their symptoms | | | | gastroenteritis sometimes develop IBS, otherwise |
| with diet, stress management, and prescribed | | | | called post-infectious IBS. |
| medications. For some people, however, IBS can be | | | | The following have been associated with a worsening |
| disabling. They may be unable to work, attend social | | | | of IBS symptoms: |
| events, or even travel short distances. | | | | � large meals |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is the most common | | | | � bloating from gas in the colon |
| gastrointestinal disorder seen by GI Doctors. IBS may | | | | � medicines |
| affect up to 20 percent of Americans, or 54 million | | | | � wheat, rye, barley, chocolate, milk products, |
| people. IBS appears fairly equally in people of all races, | | | | or alcohol |
| but it tends to affect women more than men, in fact | | | | � drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, or |
| three times as many, however, men may be less likely | | | | colas |
| to report the problem. | | | | � stress, conflict, or emotional upsets. |
| The onset of IBS usually begins to occur in late | | | | Researchers have found that women with IBS may |
| adolescence or in early adult life. It rarely appears for | | | | have more symptoms during their menstrual periods, |
| the first time after age 50. For many, the condition is | | | | suggesting that reproductive hormones can worsen |
| chronic, and symptoms can appear for months, then | | | | IBS problems. |
| disappear, then reappear again. | | | | How is IBS diagnosed? |
| For some, the symptoms are mild and for others, the | | | | IBS is generally diagnosed on the basis of a complete |
| symptoms can be quite severe and even debilitating. | | | | medical history that includes a careful description of |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder | | | | symptoms and a physical examination. There is no |
| of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by abdominal | | | | specific test for IBS, although diagnostic tests may be |
| pain, excessive gassiness, bloating, and irregular bowel | | | | performed to rule out other diseases. These tests |
| movements. Some people can control their symptoms | | | | may include stool sample testing, blood tests, and x |
| with diet, stress management, and prescribed | | | | rays. |
| medications. For some people, however, IBS can be | | | | Typically, a doctor will perform a sigmoidoscopy, or |
| disabling. They may be unable to work, go to social | | | | colonoscopy, which allows the doctor to look inside the |
| events, or even travel short distances. | | | | colon. This is done by inserting a small, flexible tube |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome may also be referred to as | | | | with a camera on the end of it through the anus. The |
| spastic colon, mucous colitis, spastic colitis, nervous | | | | camera then transfers the images of your colon onto |
| stomach, or irritable colon. IBS is difficult to diagnose | | | | a large screen for the doctor to see better. If the tests |
| with traditional medicine, as it cannot be discovered | | | | results are negative, the doctor may diagnose IBS |
| through physical examination, x-rays, or blood tests. It | | | | based on symptoms, including how often a patient |
| occurs more often in women than in men, and it begins | | | | may have had abdominal pain or discomfort during the |
| before the age of 35 in about 50 percent of people. | | | | past year, when the pain starts and stops in relation to |
| IBS patients seem to fall into two categories: | | | | bowel function, and how bowel frequency and stool |
| 1. Those who report that they have had symptoms | | | | consistency have changed. |
| since childhood. | | | | Many doctors refer to a list of specific symptoms that |
| 2. Those who report the onset of symptoms after an | | | | must be present to make a diagnosis of IBS. |
| illness, accident or specific situation. | | | | Symptoms include: |
| What causes IBS? | | | | � Abdominal pain or discomfort for at least 12 |
| Researchers have yet to discover any specific cause | | | | weeks out of the previous 12 months. These 12 |
| for IBS. One theory is that people who suffer from IBS | | | | weeks do not have to be consecutive. |
| have a colon (large bowel) that is particularly sensitive | | | | � The abdominal pain or discomfort has two |
| and reactive to certain foods and stress. | | | | of the following three features: |
| The immune system, which fights infection, may also | | | | � It is relieved by having a bowel movement. |
| be involved. research indicates that: | | | | � When it starts, there is a change in how |
| 1. Normal motility, or movement, may not be present in | | | | often you have a bowel movement. When it starts, |
| a colon of a person who has IBS. It can be spasmodic | | | | there is a change in the form of the stool or the way it |
| or can even stop working temporarily. Spasms are | | | | looks. |
| sudden strong muscle contractions that come and go. | | | | Certain symptoms must also be present, such as: |
| 2. The lining of the colon called the epithelium, which is | | | | � A change in frequency of bowel |
| affected by the immune and nervous systems, | | | | movements |
| regulates the flow of fluids in and out of the colon. In | | | | � A change in appearance of bowel |
| IBS, the epithelium appears to work properly. However, | | | | movements |
| when the contents inside the colon move too quickly, | | | | � Feelings of uncontrollable urgency to have a |
| the colon looses its ability to absorb fluids. The result is | | | | bowel movement |
| too much fluid in the stool. In other people, the | | | | � Difficulty or inability to pass stool |
| movement inside the colon is too slow, which causes | | | | � Mucus in the stool |
| extra fluid to be absorbed. As a result, a person | | | | � Bloating |
| develops constipation. | | | | � Bleeding, fever, weight loss, and persistent |
| 3. A person's colon may respond strongly to stimuli | | | | severe pain are not symptoms of IBS and may |
| such as certain foods or stress that would not bother | | | | indicate other problems such as inflammation, or rarely, |
| most people. Serotonin and the GI Tract Recent | | | | cancer. |
| research has reported that serotonin is linked with | | | | What is the treatment for IBS? |
| normal gastrointestinal (GI) functioning. Serotonin is a | | | | Unfortunately, many people suffer from IBS for a long |
| neurotransmitter, or chemical, that delivers messages | | | | time before seeking medical treatment. Up to 70 |
| from one part of your body to another. Ninety-five | | | | percent of people suffering from IBS are not receiving |
| percent of the serotonin in your body is located in the | | | | medical care for their symptoms. No cure has been |
| GI tract, and the other 5 percent is found in the brain. | | | | found for IBS, but many options are available to treat |
| Cells that line the inside of the bowel work as | | | | the symptoms. A doctor will give share the best |
| transporters and carry the serotonin out of the GI | | | | treatments available for particular symptoms and |
| tract. | | | | encourage ways to manage stress and make |
| People with IBS, however, have diminished receptor | | | | changes to diet. Medications are an important part of |
| activity, causing abnormal levels of serotonin to exist in | | | | relieving symptoms. Hypnotherapy is non intrusive, safe, |
| the GI tract. As a result, people with IBS experience | | | | comfortable and a cost effective and complementary |
| problems with bowel movement, motility, and sensation, | | | | to use along side mainstream medicine. |
| having more sensitive pain receptors in their GI tract. In | | | | |