Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that affects the large intestine presenting a group of symptoms such as the changes with the bowel movement and abdominal discomfort. This is also known as the functional gastrointestinal disorder and is usually a long-term condition. There are four types of this condition that are based on the stool consistency. This includes the IBS with constipation, IBS with diarrhea, mixed IBS and unsubtyped IBS. This condition is estimated to affect around 10 to 15 percent of individuals in the United States.
Causes
The exact cause of the irritable bowel syndrome is not known although various factors can trigger it. Normally, the muscles of the intestinal wall contract in a rhythm to shift the food from the stomach through the intestinal tract. Individuals with this condition may have a strong intestinal muscle contraction that can last longer than normal causing symptoms such as bloating and flatulence. Alternatively, the weak contractions can slow the passage of the food thus causing associated symptoms such as hard stools. Some of the triggering factors of developing the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome include consuming certain food that can be allergic such as milk, carbonated drinks, cauliflower and alcohol. Additional triggering factors include stress, hormonal changes and other illness such as gastroenteritis.
Symptoms
The symptoms of this condition vary among the affected individuals and usually becoming worse after eating. In some of the cases, the symptoms may continue for a few days, improving with time but don’t necessarily disappear. Some of the common symptoms include abdominal pain that may be better after a bowel movement, abdominal bloating, excessive wind (flatulence), urgent need to have a bowel movement and changes in the bowel habits. Additional symptoms can include lethargy, backache, bladder problems, pain during sex, incontinence and feeling sick. It is important to get medical evaluation particularly when addition symptoms are evident such as weight loss, lump in the stomach or signs of anemia as these can be an indication of potentially serious condition.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of this condition is based on the individual’s medical history, the symptoms, a physical examination and various tests. During the physical examination, using the stethoscope, the physician will listen to the sound of the abdomen, check for signs of bloating and tenderness or pain. The blood tests will be required to rule out other possible conditions, the stool tests will check for the presence of blood or parasites and the flexible sigmoidoscopy will look for problems in the lower GI tract. The colonoscopy looks inside the rectum and the colon to evaluate the presence of abnormalities such as swollen tissue, polyps, ulcers or cancer.
Treatment
The treatment for the irritable bowel syndrome can often be managed by making changes in the diet and understanding the condition. The changes in the diet are based on the types of food that trigger the symptoms and varies among the affected individuals. The people with this condition are also advised to modify the fiber content in their diet and to include a special diet called the low FODMAP diet. The FODMAP refers to the fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols which are all the types of carbohydrates that are not easily metabolized by the body.
References
https://medlineplus.gov/irritablebowelsyndrome.html
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Irritable-bowel-syndrome/Pages/Treatment.aspx
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/basics/causes/con-20024578
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/irritable-bowel-syndrome/diagnosis
