Your Online Resource for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Archive for September, 2008

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment

Friday, September 26th, 2008

Treatment depends on the severity of your condition. Your physician will also look at how long you’ve been suffering from this condition before deciding which treatment is appropriate for you. There are four ways of addressing the problem: through supplements, alternative therapies, stress management and prescription medications.

To find out which one is most suitable for you, thoroughly discuss your situation with your doctor. Tell him or her when this started, what you felt during each “attack,” and other information you feel are useful. These will help the physician in assessing your condition, as well as in choosing the best mode of treatment for you.

However, more than any other treatment, what you should be paying attention to is your diet. This is the most crucial factor in managing your condition because irritable bowel syndrome is oftentimes triggered or aggravated by consumption of certain food and liquid.

Among the things you should avoid are food high in fat and liquids containing caffeine. These have been identified to worsen the symptoms of the syndrome because these are irritants, or food and beverages closely associated with gastrocolic reflex.

You are advised to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and increase your intake of fiber. For a more effective regimen, complement this diet with lots of water intake to prevent gas or constipation.

Description of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Thursday, September 25th, 2008

What You Need to Know About Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder of the colon, the part of the digestive tract that serves as a depository of stool. Its symptoms include cramping, bloating, diarrhea and constipation, each one signaling that the digestive tract is not functioning properly.

There many ways of treating and managing this disorder, even if doctors have yet to find out what really causes it. What we know is that there are certain factors that trigger the onset of irritable bowel syndrome and worsens its symptoms.

Symptoms

Oftentimes, symptoms will differ from one individual to another. Some may feel abdominal pain and discomfort, which can be relieved by bowel movement. In other instances, signs pointing to the onset of irritable bowel syndrome are chronic diarrhea, constipation, and swollen or bloated abdomen. This disorder is also associated by the presence of whitish mucous in the blood.

If ever you start experiencing these symptoms, visit your doctor. With the help of certain tests, he or she will determine whether you are really afflicted with this disorder.