Diet > Diet Problems & Treatments > Dealing with Diet Related Illnesses - Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Dealing with Diet Related Illnesses - Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IBS is a common gut disorder. Symptoms can vary, including stomach pain, bloating, as well as bouts of constipation and/or diarrhoea. IBS does not have a cure. However, symptoms can be eased through treatment.

What happens with IBS is that the gut’s function gets upset, although even under the microscope everything looks normal. 20% of the UK population suffers from IBS at some point. IBS affects young people, teenagers and women more so than others.

What are the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome?

The sufferer experiences a great deal of pain and discomfort which can occur in any part of the abdomen. The pain 'comes and goes'. How long each bout of pain lasts for can vary. Discomfort is often alleviated when a stool or wind is passed.

A lot of IBS sufferers define the pain experienced as a 'spasm''. There can be experiences of wanting to go to the toilet when nothing passes, especially in the morning.

Other symptoms can include nausea, lethargy, burping, a weak appetite, backache, muscular pains, getting 'full' soon after eating and an 'irritable bladder'.

Some IBS sufferers have slight pain. However, others can experience a lot of pain for long lengths of time. Many sufferers lie between the two groups, having flare-ups on occasion. The passing of blood is not a symptom of IBS. If you are passing blood you need to inform your doctor immediately. No specific test can diagnose IBS.

What Causes IBS?

Overactivity of the gut is the cause of IBS. The gut is the long muscular tube that goes from your mouth to your anus. The small and large bowel (known also as the small and large intestine) are part of the gut which lies inside the abdomen.

Food passes along via regular contractions (squeezes) of the muscles in the gut wall.

Discomfort and pain can develop should the contractions be abnormal or overactive.

Stress and emotional trauma impact on the gut. Over 50% of IBS sufferers relate symptoms to stressful events in their lives. Symptoms get worse during periods of anxiety and stress.

Intolerance to particular foods also affects IBS symptoms.

What Treatments Are Available for IBS?

Some IBS sufferers consider certain foods to worsen IBS symptoms. Food intolerance is a common symptom for IBS sufferers with diarrhoea as a main symptom. Should you think food is a main trigger of IBS symptoms, then try going on a bland diet. Slowly add different foods to check how each one impacts on the symptoms. This way you may be able to pinpoint which foods are problematic.

Foods which are stated to be the most common in relation to triggering IBS symptoms in the UK are wheat (cereals and bread), barley, rye, coffee, tea, cola, onions and dairy products.

Some sufferers state that their symptoms improve when they reduce the amount they drink or smoke. Reduction of stress and other emotions help symptoms in other sufferers.

It is useful to keep dietary diary for 2-4 weeks to check IBS symptoms. Make a note of all that which you eat and drink, when you got stressed, and when you exercised. You will discover triggers, like food, alcohol, or emotional stress. Meditation, yoga and exercise help to reduce and manage stress.

For further information on how to effectively recognise, reduce and control stress refer to www.stressmanagement.co.uk

Treatment for constipation

Constipation can often be a main IBS symptom. So eat foods with lots of fibre and drink at least two litres of water on a daily basis which will help maintain moist stools. Fibre (roughage) is the part of the food which is not absorbed into the body. It remains in your gut, forming the main part of the stools. You can eat a great deal of fibre by eating lots of fruit, vegetables, fruit juice, cereals and wholemeal bread.

You can try natural laxatives like unprocessed bran which 'bulk' your faeces. Sprinkle on breakfast cereals, mix with fruit juices, soups, crumbles, yoghurt, cakes and scones.

Fibre and fluid form bulky stools which make for easy passing. The faeces can become dry and painful to pass out should you not have had enough to drink.

N.B. Do not increase your fibre or bulk-forming laxatives intake should you not be constipated.

Treatment for diarrhoea

An anti-diarrhoea medicine can be useful should diarrhoea be the main symptom. Lope amide is the most frequently used anti-diarrhoea medicine for the treatment of IBS. Lope amide is available at pharmacies and is quite expensive. It is also available on prescription can be more cost effective should you need to take it frequently.

Some people take lope amide regularly or as and when necessary.

Antispasmodics

Antispasmodics help relax the muscles in gut wall. Your GP will be able to advise you as to which one you should have.

There are many types of antispasmodics which work slightly different to each other. They are taken on “as required” basis.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants in the 'tricycles' group are on certain occasions used to treat IBS. They work better if pain and diarrhoea are the chief symptoms. GPs often advise you to take an antidepressant on a regular basis as opposed to “when required'. Thus antidepressants are usually prescribed when there are persistent symptoms, or when the individual has had regular bad flare-ups which have not been assisted by other treatments.

Psychological treatments

Family problems, exams, work stress, recurring thoughts of past abuse can trigger IBS symptoms for certain individuals. Those who get anxious can find symptoms difficult to keep in check. The connections between the mind, the brain, nervous impulses and overactivity of the gut are complex. Some IBS sufferers find stress counseling, relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga psychotherapy, cognitive behaviour therapy and hypnotherapy helpful in the control of IBS symptoms.

Psychological treatments are normally recommended to those with moderate to severe IBS, where other treatments have not succeeded, or when it would appear that that stress or other psychological factors are responsible for triggering the symptoms. All these treatments are not likely to be available locally on the NHS or there could be long waiting lists.

How Long Does IBS Last For?

For most sufferers, IBS symptoms are long term, However, the intensity of symptoms lessen and heighten. There may be long spells where there are no symptoms or where there are only mild symptoms. Treatment often helps ease symptoms when they heighten. In a few cases, symptoms do go away altogether.

IBS does not affect your longevity.