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IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The term ‘syndrome’ denotes the occurrence of health condition characterized by group of symptoms. When the gastrointestinal tract develops functional abnormality such a medical condition is termed as ‘Irritable Bowel Syndrome’. Abdominal discomfort in conjunction with abnormalities in bowel function, constipation and/or diarrhea and recurrent abdominal pain for considerably longer periods (which may be for few weeks to even some years) are the main characteristics of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is one of the common health conditions in America. About 3 million people visit their health care providers with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. The occurrence of this medical condition is more in women than that of men. More than 70% of the total sufferers are women.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is also referred to as IBS in medical terms. IBS is ranked high in the common abnormalities in the United States and approximate 15% of the American population suffers from this abnormality.
Mucous colitis, spastic colon, irritable colon, nervous stomach and spastic colitis are some of the other common terms used for referring irritable bowel syndrome.
Irritable bowel syndrome is usually considered as function disorder. The term ‘functional disorder’ denotes the disease or abnormality where the basic abnormality is developed due to alteration to original way body functioning (physiological function). There may not be noticeable biochemical or structural cause behind the primarily abnormality.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Common Symptoms
Irritable bowel syndrome is a medical condition in which the sufferer experiences multiple symptoms associated with the abdominal disorders like increased bowel frequency, changed bowel pattern (loose motion), constipation and/or diarrhea. Following are some of the most common symptoms. |
- Abnormality of bowel frequency. It can be more than three times in a day or less than 3 times in a week.
- Changed stool form (loose and watery stools or lumpy and hard stools)
- Abnormality of stool passing like urgency, feeling of incomplete evacuation or straining
- Presence of mucus in stools
- Experiencing abdominal distension or bloating
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Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome
There are number of remedies available for treating Irritable bowel syndrome. The selection of treatment depends upon the nature (whether severe, mild or moderate) of symptoms.
Relation between Diet and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Appropriate and proper diet surely helps you in obtaining relief from irritable bowel syndrome. You have to maintain record of foods which triggered the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. This will help you in avoiding such food when you change your current diet and plan new diet for you. A dietitian or your health care provider will able to guide you on this aspect.
Diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Following three features play a greater role in diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. However, these features help in diagnosing the IBS only if the patient has abdominal pain or discomfort at least for 12 weeks in the previous 12 months. |
- If such pain relieved after defecation or/and
- Change in stool frequency was the factor behind disorder or/and
- Onset related with change in appearance of stool.
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