What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome is a group of symptoms that affect the digestive system due to various causes.
As a chronic health problem, irritable bowel syndrome can be controlled with lifestyle changes.
Since it does not depend on a specific cause, it can be affected by multiple factors.
You can find answers to curious questions about irritable bowel syndrome in our article.
What are the Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), also known as irritable bowel syndrome, is a group of symptoms affecting the gastrointestinal tract.
Some changes in the digestive system can cause uncomfortable symptoms.
These symptoms include irregular bowel movements, alternating diarrhea and constipation, and cramps.
In IBS, the gastrointestinal system may be more sensitive than normal, and the contraction periods of the intestinal muscles may vary.
This series of symptoms tends to occur without any damage to the digestive system.
It manifests itself in recurrent attacks and the severity of flare-ups can vary.
IBS, which is common among digestive system problems, is not due to specific causes.
Usually, a direct or indirect relationship between the gut and the brain can be responsible.
There are also triggers or risk factors that can affect the digestive system.
These factors can vary from person to person.
Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome can combine many different methods.
These include lifestyle and dietary changes, medication and therapies.
Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome may occur periodically.
Mild or severe IBS symptoms may occur during an exacerbation of the disease.
After an exacerbation, the symptoms may subside and then recur.
The onset of symptoms can occur in adolescence and from the 20s onwards.
Symptoms may be irregular and may be triggered by various stimuli.
Less commonly, they may develop in late adulthood.
Some individuals may experience symptoms severe enough to wake them up from sleep. The answers to the question of what are the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are often as follows:
- Abdominal pain or cramps,
- Diarrhea, constipation or constipation and diarrhea at the same time,
- Excessive gas accumulation and bloating in the abdomen,
- Feeling that the bowels do not empty after defecation,
- Presence of mucus in the stool,
- Indigestion
In addition, some individuals may experience symptoms outside the gut.
Fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, chronic headaches, sleep problems and fibromyalgia are common.
Exacerbations may become more frequent in the presence of risk factors that can cause changes in bowel movements.
Symptoms may persist for several weeks or months.
In restless bowel syndrome, blood in the stool and involuntary weight loss are conditions that require medical intervention.
How Does Irritable Bowel Syndrome Go Away?
Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome can involve a variety of approaches and can be planned individually.
In some cases, more than one treatment method may be used.
The preferred methods for relieving and preventing symptoms are the following:
- The FODMAP diet, which eliminates hard-to-digest carbohydrates,
- High fiber and low gluten diet,
- Fiber supplements,
- Laxatives and antidiarrheal medicines,
- Pain medication,
- Anticholinergic drugs,
- Antidepressants
- Probiotic supplement,
- Increasing physical activity,
- Cognitive behavioral therapy,
- Stretching and relaxation exercises, meditation and yoga.
There is no definitive cure for IBS yet.
Chronic progressive IBS can be alleviated by managing severe and disturbing symptoms.
Combined treatment methods may be preferred within the scope of controlling symptoms.
For the question “What happens if irritable bowel syndrome is not treated?”, severe exacerbations can be predicted.
What Causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Specific answers to the frequently asked question “What causes irritable bowel syndrome?” cannot be given.
Although the cause of IBS is not yet known with certainty, possible factors can be considered.
IBS can be considered as a neurogastrointestinal system disorder that explains the relationship between the gut and the brain.
There may be disruptions in the coordinated functioning of the brain and the intestines at the same time, and this may lead to IBS.
Problems may occur in the contraction of the digestive system muscles.
This condition, called dysmotility, can lead to cramps and convulsions.
Large intestine muscles may tend to contract more in individuals with IBS.
In addition, hypersensitized nerves can occur in the digestive system under the name of visceral hypersensitivity.
People with irritable bowel syndrome may therefore have a lower pain tolerance.
The digestive system can become sensitized and tolerance to pain can decrease.
Other risk factors that can trigger a flare-up of irritable bowel syndrome include
- Infections of the digestive system,
- Food intolerance,
- Changes in intestinal flora,
- Menstruation period,
- Hormonal fluctuations,
- Consumption of foods such as gluten, milk and dairy products,
- Childhood stress (physical and emotional abuse),
- Presence of depression and anxiety disorders.
Increased risk of IBS may bring along a number of health problems.
Diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome and pelvic pain, fibromyalgia may develop in parallel with IBS.
What is Good for Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Some practices in managing irritable bowel syndrome can help reduce the severity of the disease. “What is good for irritable bowel syndrome?” are the main answers:
- Fiber foods, vitamins and minerals, probiotics can be added to the daily diet with the doctor’s recommendation.
- Foods that can cause gas or intolerance in the digestive tract can be limited.
Grains such as wheat and rye, milk and dairy products, legumes can cause bloating and gas formation. - Maintaining regular meal times may be recommended.
Eating at the same time every day may help regulate bowel function.
In the presence of diarrhea, meals can be kept in small portions and frequent feeding can be provided. - The importance of regular physical activity in reducing physical and psychological symptoms should be considered.
Stimulation of the digestive system muscles and alleviation of stress and depression can be possible with an appropriate exercise program. - Some aromatic oils can be effective in relaxing the smooth muscles of the digestive tract and reducing intestinal spasm.
Peppermint oil is often recommended for irritable bowel syndrome.
Peppermint oil can be effective in reducing abdominal and intestinal pain, bloating, pain during defecation.
Regulating circadian rhythm and nutrition, quality sleep and reducing stress conditions play an important role.
Which Doctor to Go to for Restless Bowel Syndrome?
For the question “Which department deals with irritable bowel syndrome?” referral is made to the Gastroenterology department.
In the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, family history, medical history, medication use, food supplements, exercise and other health problems are evaluated.
Taking family history is important in detecting health problems such as infection, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, depression.
Physical examination can check for bloating, tenderness, bowel sounds, stool characteristics and other symptoms.
Symptoms lasting more than 6 months and symptoms at least once a week in the last 3 months are considered in making the diagnosis.
Other symptoms not associated with IBS are also considered.
Rectal bleeding, anemia, black stools and involuntary weight loss may not be among the symptoms of IBS.
Blood, urine, hormone and stool tests may be preferred to diagnose existing health problems.
Blood tests can provide information about infection, anemia, digestive system diseases.
Stool tests can also help check for infection, bleeding, inflammatory diseases in the intestines.
In addition to the physical examination, a rectal examination can be performed and bleeding can be checked.
Celiac disease, lactose intolerance and colon cancer profiles may need to be excluded to make a definitive diagnosis.
A hydrogen breath test can be used to diagnose lactose intolerance and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy can be used to evaluate celiac disease.
Colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease can be diagnosed by colonoscopy.
What is the Restless Bowel Syndrome Diet?
The irritable bowel syndrome diet is one of the effective ways to prevent exacerbation of symptoms.
This diet, which is created with the guidance of a dietitian, can be based on changing eating habits.
It is important to gradually include fiber intake in the daily diet in the formation of eating habits within the scope of restless bowel syndrome treatment.
Especially fresh vegetables and fruits, cereals, legumes, dried legumes, nuts are foods rich in fiber.
Constipation, one of the symptoms of IBS, can be alleviated by increasing fiber.
However, excessive fiber consumption in a short time can lead to gas accumulation in the digestive system.
People with irritable bowel syndrome tend to be sensitive to gluten.
It is therefore recommended to eliminate wheat, barley and rye from the daily diet to determine whether they affect symptoms.
Some vitamins and minerals may need to be taken as supplements, as well as avoiding foods such as cereals and pasta.
The commonly recommended FODMAP diet involves eating fewer carbohydrates that are difficult to digest.
Milk and dairy products, wheat and rye, artichokes, asparagus, cabbage, beans, cauliflower, lentils, peas, mushrooms, candies and gums, fruits and juices such as apples, cherries, apricots, blackberries, mangoes, plums, etc.
fruits and fruit juices.
Drinking plenty of water and keeping a food diary are important in the irritable bowel syndrome diet.
Does Restless Bowel Syndrome Cause Nausea?
Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome may include a combination of gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal symptoms.
Some individuals may also have more rare symptoms.
Nausea, a common symptom of the digestive system, is not often included in the accepted symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
However, approximately 20% of IBS patients may develop nausea.
Nausea is usually a reaction to another cause.
In case of prolonged constipation, feces can get stuck in the colon and block the intestine.
Hard feces may not be emptied from the intestine and this is called fecal impaction.
This can cause nausea and vomiting.
There may also be an increased likelihood of headaches and fatigue.
In addition, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), migraine and dyspepsia (indigestion) are among the health problems that can trigger nausea with IBS.
