irritable bowel syndrome and ibs symtoms

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Your Journey into Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a disorder characterized most commonly by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.

As its name indicates, Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a syndrome. That is, IBS is a combination of signs and symptoms, but not a disease. IBS is classified as a functional disorder. A functional disorder refers to a condition where the primary abnormality is an altered physiological function (the way the body works), rather than an identifiable inflammatory, infectious, structural, or biochemical cause.

Research also indicates that IBS is a multi-faceted disorder. For example, the symptoms of IBS result from what seems to be a disturbance or imbalance in the interaction between the intestines, the brain, sensory function, and the autonomic nervous system that alters regulation of bowel motility (motor function).

The articles on this site are provided to help you to better understand Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and your options for relief of these symptoms.

Click Here right arrow For a Special Report on the causes and treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Treatment Options for Irritable Bowel Syndrome


Treatment Options for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Having Irritable Bowel Syndrome can cause discomfort and pain. Often times, this will get in the way of your normal, everyday functioning. If you believe that you have IBS, there are several steps that you can take in order to help solve the problem. Knowing what the treatment options are one of the steps to take for getting rid of IBS.

The first step that you can take to treat IBS is to educate yourself on the symptoms and why they are occurring. There are several different parts that are related to IBS. By knowing why IBS occurs and what it is associated with, you will know what you need to do as an individual to get the right treatment for your IBS. There are several places that you can look into on the Internet or in books that state what the problems and treatments for IBS are.

From this point, you can determine which steps to take. Several will consult with a doctor, while others will try to find ways for self-help. Depending on how severe your IBS is and what it includes, you can find the right resources to turn to. If you decide to consult with a doctor, make sure that they understand the problem and how long it has been occurring. Consulting with others is a good way to find the right treatment option. These will help you in finding ways to solve your IBS problem.

If you decide to find a treatment option by yourself, then a good place to begin is by looking into the foods that you eat. Often times, IBS is a result of eating habits. Not receiving enough fiber or vitamin supplements will often times cause IBS to be a reaction. After monitoring your diet, you can find the changes that need to be made either through your food variations or through supplements that you want to add to your diet.

Another consideration that you can make is finding medications as a treatment option. There are several over the counter medications as well as doctor prescribed medications. If your IBS is severe, and other options aren’t working for you, then finding the right types of medications can serve a purpose in helping your digestive tract to get on the right track again.

Another treatment option that several have said works for them is finding ways to de-stress. The nerves in the brain are connected through the rest of the body. Having too much anxiety or stress in your system may often times cause problems with your lower intestine. Exercise, physical activities, or time taken off of your daily activities can all add value to your treatment. This will help your lower abdomen to relax and begin stretching, which will then move it back to normal functioning.

Being able to define and gain knowledge about the changes and needs that you have will help in changing the functioning of your digestive tract. By knowing exactly what your needs are, as well as defining possible resources for treatment, you can move back into normal activities without the discomfort. If IBS is throwing you off of your everyday life, then you can put it back on by looking into treatment options.


For information on a number of other common health problems, be sure to check out our home page at Common Health Problems.

Health problems are becoming more common as the "baby boom" generation gets older and will continue to do so for the next 20 years or so. Bowel problems are no exception.

 

Risk Factors for IBS

The main risk factors for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) include:

  • Sex
  • Family History

For example, you are far more likely to have IBS if you're young and female. In fact, two to three times as many women as men have the condition.

In addition, IBS does seem to run in families, possibly suggesting a genetic cause for the condition.

However, at the current time, the precise cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is not known.

New Irritable Bowel Information

  • Celiac Disease
    ~Celiac Disease~

    Celiac Disease is a disorder caused by an intolerance to gluten, or similar proteins in wheat, oats, barley and rye. It is estimated that celiac disease affects 20% of Americans. This digestive disease causes damage to the mucous lining of the intestine whenever food products are consumed that contain gluten. Celiac disease impairs the body's ability to absorb nutrients, which can cause serious problems because of the loss of vitamins and minerals, resulting in malnutriti ...
    Author: Patricia Valle
    CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE

  • Cybill Shepherd and the Irritable Bowel
    Cybill Shepherd has revealed that she suffers from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The star of Moonlighting and Taxi Driver says that she has struggled with her symptoms for many years, and is now hoping to raise awareness of IBS and encourage sufferers to talk more openly with their doctors.

    She says: “For years I have been battling recurring constipation, abdominal pain and bloating. Go ahead and laugh. We laugh because we're embarrassed. In order for us to get relief, we have to talk a ...
    Author: Sophie Lee
    CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE

  • Desperately Seeking Perfection
    A working understanding of temperament styles (personality types) will have a profound impact on the way you perceive yourself and will greatly enhance all of your relationships. If you are a salesperson, this information will significantly increase your sales effectiveness by enabling you to build trust and rapport quickly with your prospects and customers. Business owners and managers find this knowledge invaluable. It can improve the way you supervise your employees and allow you to recruit m ...
    Author: John Boe
    CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE

    IBS in the News


    12/22/2011
    $6.75M Awarded To Case Western Reserve To Study IBD
    Investigators at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine received a $6.75 million Program Project Grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to study the role of innate immunity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)...

    more IBS info


    12/01/2011
    Risk Factors For Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency Are Similar To Risk Factors For Developing Multiple Sclerosis: UB Study
    Summary: A vascular condition called chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI), which has attracted global attention as possibly being correlated with MS has, for the first time, been studied for the presence of risk factors in subjects who do not have a neurological disease...

    more IBS info


    11/22/2011
    Probiotics For Gut Health: VSL#3 Has Designations For Specific GI Issues
    As clinical studies continue to validate the use of probiotics to help promote general gastrointestinal health, a growing U.S. market1 for probiotics indicates that the U.S. healthcare community and consumers alike are recognizing the value of these beneficial microorganisms...

    more IBS info


    11/02/2011
    Targeted Antibiotic Drug Safest Among Recommended Treatments For Irritable Bowel Disease
    Among the most commonly used treatments for irritable bowel syndrome which affects as many as 20 percent of the United States population a targeted antibiotic was shown to be the safest in a new study by Cedars-Sinai researchers, based on an analysis of 26 large-scale clinical trials. The study, for presentation at the American College of Gastroenterology annual meeting in Washington, D.C...

    more IBS info


    11/01/2011
    Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea Responds To Probiotics
    'Good bugs' look promising as anti-inflammatory agent for patients with ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, chronic fatigue syndrome In four different studies presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 76th Annual Scientific meeting in Washington, DC, researchers explored the effectiveness of probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea; as an anti-inflammat...

    more IBS info

  • 10 Step Detox Program By Dr. Janet Hull
    Detoxification program for Radiation, Heavy Metals, Mercury, and Food Chemicals such as Aspartame!

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