Irritable Bo-wel Syndrome – Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Irritable bo-wel syndrome is a chronic functional disorder of the intestines -which causes abdominal pain, often accompanied by cramping, bloating, diarrhea and consIdeaation. It is also referred to as spastic colon or mucous colitis. Irritable bo-wel syndrome is more commonly kno-wn by its abbreviated term IBS.

There is three forms of IBS depending on the symptoms diarrheapredominant (IBSD), consIdeaationpredominant (IBSC) and IBS -with alternating stool pattern (IBSA). Clinical investigations is going on a ne-w IBS subtype, postinfectious IBS (IBSPI).

Symptoms of IBS

IBS symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain
• Discomfort associated -with changes in bo-wel habits
• Fe-wer than three bo-wel movements a -week
• More than three bo-wel movements a day
• Hard or lumpy stools
• Loose or -watery stools
• Straining during a bo-wel movement
• Urgency (having to rush to have a bo-wel movement)
• Feeling of incomplete bo-wel movement
• Passing mucus (-white material) during a bo-wel movement
• Abdominal fullness, bloating, or s-welling
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Mental stress
• Fibromyalgia and various mental disorders
• Researchers believe that there is neurological and psychological disorders associated -with IBS.

Causes of Irritable Bo-wel Syndrome

The exact causes of irritable bo-wel syndrome is unkno-wn, but there is factors that may aggravate the trouble. Dietary factors and stress don’t exactly cause IBS, but they can aggravate it. Various studies and researches have noted an IBS connection to diet. Physicians feel that the correct diet can provide IBS relief.

Common IBS diet advice includes:

• Eat soluble fiber foods and supplements.
• Substitute dairy products for soy or rice products.
• Be cisful -with fresh fruits and vegetables that is high in insoluble fiber.
• Eat small amounts in regular intervals to lessen the symptoms of IBS.
• Avoid eating red meat, oily or fatty (and fried) products.
• Avoid taking dairy products (especially -when lactose intolerance is suspected).
• Avoid solid chocolate, coffee (regular and decaffeinated), alcohol, carbonated beverages and artificial s-weeteners.

IBS Treatment

IBS treatment includes dietary advice and medication. Developing good dietary habits may be the best treatment for irritable bo-wel syndrome.

Medications can provide instant IBS relief. These may include stool softeners and laxatives in consIdeaationpredominant, and antidiarrheal (loperamide) in diarrheapredominant IBS. The lo-w dosage of tricyclic and SSRI antidepressants has sho-wn to be the most -widely prescribed medications for helping to relieve symptoms of visceral sensitivity (pain) and diarrhea or consIdeaation respectively. other medications include:

• Alosetron: Alosetron is a selective 5HT3 antagonist for IBSD. It is only available for -women in the United States under a restricted access program, due to severe risks of side effects if taken mistakenly by IBSA or IBSC sufferers.
• Cilansetron: Cilansetron is also a selective 5HT3 antagonist that is undergoing further clinical studies in Europe for IBSD sufferers.
• Tegaserod: Tegaserod is a selective 5HT4 antagonist for IBSC. It has sho-wn to have an excellent safety profile for relieving IBS consIdeaation and chronic idiopathic consIdeaation.