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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

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Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Ragiinii Sharma

Written By Srujana Mohanty
on May 15, 2022

Last Edit Made By Srujana Mohanty
on Mar 18, 2024

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Symptoms , Causes and Treatment
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A review based on 53 studies from 38 countries reported that the global prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is 9.2%. IBS is a prevalent disorder that affects the normal functioning of the large intestine.

The condition is reportedly more prevalent in women than men. Although the condition commonly inflicts very mild symptoms, it can impose progressively worse symptoms. Besides IBS, the condition is also known as Spastic colon or Mucous colitis.

In tis article we will look into Irritable Bowel Syndrome, its common symptoms, causes, and the available treatment options.

What is IBS?

As we have discussed already, IBS is a chronic disorder that affects the normal functioning of the large intestine. Along with the most above mentioned complications, IBS involves a series of symptoms associated with the intestines.

IBS can inflict mild to severe symptoms, depending on the extent and severity of the disorder. Some individuals experience short-lived symptoms, while others can experience prolonged and chronic symptoms that interfere with one’s quality of life.

Although IBS doesn’t contribute to the risks of intestinal cancer, it might inflict prevalent damage to parts of the intestine, especially in patients with severe symptoms.

What are the Causes of IBS?

The exact causes behind irritable bowel syndrome are still unknown at this point. However, a few associated risk factors contribute to the gradual deterioration of the condition.

For your reference, we have accumulated a list of all the probable IBS causes and risk factors that contribute to IBS:

Infection in the GI tract

Severe infections are one of the most common reasons behind IBS. Most patients with a recent diagnosis of gastroenteritis and diarrhea are at risk of developing IBS in the later days after recovery.

Besides that, patients with excess bacterial remnants in the intestine after an active infection can also experience IBS for a few days.

Muscle Contractions and Irregularities

Any abnormalities in the body functions lead to risks of disorders in our bodies. With IBS, the faster or slower contraction of the intestinal muscles could be contributing factor to the condition.

When the intestinal muscles are contracting at a breakneck pace or for a prolonged period can lead to causes of bloating, diarrhea, etc. Similarly, a lagging intestinal muscle contraction can lead to the delayed passage of the food through the intestine, leading to hardened stools.

Issues with the Nervous System

The impaired nervous system affects the brain and motor functions and equally delays the intestinal functions in the body. People with abnormal nerve function can experience pain and discomfort when the abdomen stretches while passing gas or stool.

The overactive nervous system can also make the digestive tract overreact to the ingested food, leading to constant discomfort.

Stress

Although there are not many conclusive studies yet, a few researchers indicate a correlation between early childhood stress and the possibility of IBS in adult life. People with such issues often exhibit alarming and severe symptoms.

Altered Gut Environment

Our gut has a range of different elements to it, all of which contribute to the digestion of food. Any sudden change to the gut microbiota can often lead to potent symptoms of IBS in the patient. A lack of good microbiota in the gut will eventually impair the process of digestion and food absorption through the intestine.

Genetic Predisposition

If you have a family history of IBS, wherein people in your family have a confirmed diagnosis for it, you are more at risk of having IBS as well. Gene does contribute a lot to the onset or possibility of having irritable bowel syndrome in a person.

Another worthy standout factor worth noticing is the trigger factors. Food allergies are directly proportional to IBS. Most people who are allergic to wheat, gluten, dairy, beans, cabbage, citrus fruits, etc., are at risk of experiencing IBS.

What are the Complications associated with IBS?

Besides the common causes and the trigger factors associated with IBS, there are a few highlighted complications that people should be aware of.

People with IBS, especially ones showcasing severe symptoms, often complain about the poor quality of life. The prevalent and painful bowel symptoms often hamper a patient’s day-to-day life, making it challenging to keep up with the standard progress.

IBS patients also develop mood disorders, mainly due to the constant pain and discomfort due to the disorder. Depression and anxiety are very prevalent in IBS patients.

What are the Symptoms of IBS?

IBS is more prevalent in women than in men. It is also noted that women tend to experience more severe symptoms than men.

One of the most common misconceptions about IBS symptoms that most people have is thinking that the disorder only causes diarrhea. That isn’t the case at all. Instead, IBS patients often experience bouts of diarrhea and constipation as well.

Some of the standard symptoms include:

  • Bloating
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Abdominal pain and discomfort
  • Cramping

In women, the IBS symptoms often flare up during the menstrual cycles, further worsening the symptoms. The symptoms also increase during pregnancy and tend to mellow down as a patient reaches menopause.

In men, the symptoms are comparably mild and don’t affect their quality of life as drastically as in women.

Additionally, IBS patients often experience relief from the pain after their bowel movements. They also notice tangible changes in the frequency of bowel movement throughout the day.

When should One See a Doctor with IBS?

Once you are diagnosed with IBS, your doctor will like to prescribe dietary restrictions and IBS medication to cope with the pain, discomfort, and other symptoms.

However, as we said before, IBS symptoms can eventually worsen in most patients and demand immediate medical interventions before it takes a turn for the worse. You might have to seek medical help if you experience:

  • Unexplained and rapid weight loss
  • Diarrhea at night
  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • Difficulty swallowing food
  • Persistent abdominal pain
  • Rectal bleeding

Ensure that you don’t take the symptoms for granted and get the help you need before the symptoms turn for the worse.

How is IBS Diagnosed?

There are no specific diagnostic tests that detect IBS. However, a range of accessory tests, paired with a medical history and physical symptoms, can ascertain what’s wrong before opting for a treatment route.

Your doctor will first ask for your symptoms, the duration and frequency, and past medical history. Depending on these answers, they will prescribe the first stage of diagnosis, including:

Rome criteria – measures and analyzes the abdominal pain and discomfort that last for a minimum of once a week for three months straight.

Types of IBS – depending on the symptoms, your doctor will assess whether you have a constipation-predominant, diarrhea-predominant, or mixed type of IBS.

Besides these, some of the other in-depth diagnostic tests include:

Colonoscopy – analyzes the entire length of the colon to look for lesions, damage, or inflammation.

Imaging tests – X-ray and CT scan of the abdominal region can assess if there are complications with the shape, size, and functions of the intestine and other parts of the GI tract.

Upper endoscopy – the doctor inserts a thin and flexible tube with a camera at one end down the patient's throat to view the GI tract and then collect a tissue sample from the intestine, which is then sent for biopsy to rule out possibilities of cancer.

Some patients with IBS often experience the same due to food allergies, especially lactose and gluten intolerance. Your doctor will prescribe tests to confirm those allergies before putting you on a treatment regimen.

How is IBS Treated?

Unfortunately, IBS doesn’t have a complete cure. Most of the treatment regimen involves symptoms management. Most patients who experience little to no symptoms of the disorder are advised to introduce lifestyle and dietary changes.

This includes:

  • Eating an IBS-friendly diet
  • Avoiding all the trigger foods of IBS
  • Focus on keeping optimal hydration
  • Indulge in regular exercising
  • Stress management and getting quality sleep

For safe said, your doctor will also advise taking out foods like carbonated beverages, alcohol, etc., that cause bloating. Since gluten acts as a trigger food, it isn’t surprising that most IBS patients have to cut out gluten from their diet entirely. Food groups called FODMAPS (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) are also a big NO with IBS.

Depending on the symptoms, the IBS diet often involves elements like fiber supplements, laxatives, and anti-diarrheal medications. Although not familiar, patients experiencing severe pain and discomfort usually take pain medications to alleviate the symptoms.

Since IBS patients are at risk of developing depression and anxiety, it isn’t surprising that the treatment regimen often involves antidepressant medications. However, they aren’t mandatory or standard for every IBS patient.

Medications formulated with Alosetron, Eluxadoline, Rifaximin, Lubiprostone, etc., are commonly prescribed for IBS treatment to manage bloating, diarrhea, constipation, pain, etc.

What kind of Lifestyle Changes are Important with IBS?

Irrespective of the severity of the symptoms, IBS requires a lot of lifestyle changes for optimal symptom management. Once you are diagnosed with the disorder, the last thing you want to do is make the symptoms worse than they already are.

Some of the notable lifestyle changes involve:

  • Switching to an active lifestyle involves more and more daily exercise.
  • Avoid poor habits that trigger IBS, including smoking and alcohol.
  • Switch to smaller and lighter meals throughout the day instead of eating three big meals.
  • Try relaxation techniques to calm down the symptoms and tackle mood disorders.
  • Most IBS patients are advised to maintain a food journal to keep track of the foods that cause an IBS flare-up.

Besides these, your doctor will also ask you to eat more foods enriched with probiotics. If none of the symptoms improve, your doctor needs to assess the issues further before switching the treatment plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How do I get rid of IBS permanently?

    IBS doesn’t have any known cure at present. However, with proper treatment and dietary habits, the condition can be managed to keep the symptoms minimum.

  2. Are bananas good for IBS?

    Since bananas are low in FODMAPs, they are considered permissible food to include in the IBS diet.

  3. What are the three types of IBS?

    The three major types of IBS include IBS with constipation (IBS-C), IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D), and IBS with mixed bowel habits (IBS-M).

Conclusion

IBS is a lot more common than you realize. Although it is a chronic disorder with no tangible cure, the condition isn’t fatal. It can be managed with correct treatment options, so consult your doctor for a comprehensive diagnosis before reaching conclusions. Sometimes, the severity is very mild so that the condition won’t affect your quality of life. Avoid self-diagnosing or treatment because that can contribute to bad flare-ups.

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