Jacob Mabille asked:


Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder which causes the bowels or the gut to be oversensitive. This increase in sensitivity causes a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, which includes excessive gas, stomach cramps and pains, bloating of the abdomen, constipation, and diarrhea. Obviously, these symptoms do not exactly make for the ideal life.

Unfortunately however, a large portion of IBS sufferers find that their condition cannot be fully cured. The medical profession has been unable to pinpoint exactly the causes of the syndrome. Thus, a cure has not been developed. In the absence of such a cure, however, the best thing and IBS sufferer can do is to get the best medical help available, as well as make relevant lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes may not be able to make IBS go away completely, but they will make the symptoms easier to cope with.

A change in diet is often necessary for IBS sufferers. By eating more fiber-rich foods such as apples, peaches, cabbage, and broccoli, an IBS sufferer can reduce the impact of both constipation and diarrhea. Food items such as carrots, peas, whole-wheat bread, and pineapples are good choices as well. On the other hand, alcohol and caffeine-rich beverages should be avoided.

Aside from changes in diet, one of the most important things an IBS sufferer can do is to get some regular exercise.

Exercise is vital to the IBS sufferer for two specific reasons. First, exercise makes your body stronger. Exercise strengthens the immune system, making it less likely that other illnesses or disorders will occur.

Second, exercise is a good way to relieve stress. Many doctors believe that IBS has psychological origins. When a mind is under unusual amounts of stress, it is more prone to mental problems. Mental problems, in turn, lead to physical problems. The symptoms of IBS often begin when a person is exposed to too much stress. Stress has not been proven to cause IBS; but it certainly makes it worse. Because of this, anyone with the syndrome should do his utmost to reduce his stress levels. Exercising, of course, is one of the finest ways to accomplish this.

People who exercise regularly report a feeling of well-being after their sessions. What happens is this: the brain releases endorphins. Endorphins are natural painkillers and antidepressants, so anyone in physical or mental pain will benefit from their release. Exercise isn’t only good for you; it makes you feel good as well!

Eddie Hudd asked:


A health condition that is often considered to be most disruptive to daily living is IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome. As one can tell from the term itself, IBS is a disorder of the bowels that is most commonly characterized by frequent bowel movements, irregular bowel activity patterns and a great deal of discomfort. One of the primary symptoms of IBS is severe abdominal pain, which should be reported to a medical professional.

Other symptoms that are common to IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome include things such as having excessive gas and bloating in the abdominal area, and often a sensation that the elimination of the stools was incomplete. Doctors have reported that IBS is the most common complaint that they receive in terms of people dealing with intestinal issues.

IBS is a condition that is more likely to affect women than it does men. Furthermore, it is most prevalent in the thirty to fifty years age bracket, but seems to impact all races equally. Irritable bowel syndrome has been classified as a functional disease of the intestines, since it interferes with and limits the ability of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract to perform correctly. IBS is a condition that cannot be diagnosed with x-rays or blood tests and anybody who has dealt with it can testify to the reasons why a healthy colon is so important.

IBS is typically referred to as functional bowel syndrome, irritable colon (since the large intestine is also known as the colon), spastic colon and spastic bowel. However, IBS is not the same condition as Crohn’s disease, which is an inflammatory bowel disease. One of the frustrations with this condition is that it is often difficult to pinpoint the reason for the discomfort, making it difficult to treat. Oftentimes a person with IBS will have a colonoscope done only to discover that there is no indication of a physical problem.

Many doctors and health care professionals consider that IBS is caused by abnormal functioning, or a dysfunction, of the muscles in the gastrointestinal tract or in the nerves controlling the area, or both. However the root cause of this dysfunction remains a mystery in the majority of cases, which leads many folks to look for alternative remedies, such as doing a colon detox program or trying out colon cleansing pills.

However, there have been several reports of these steps actually making the condition worse, so they should be used with caution. This is particularly true of folks who have serious health concerns, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and migraines, to name but a few.

There are also many people who insist that IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a result of the poor eating habits to which Americans have become accustomed. They advocate a change in diet to more natural and healthier foods, combined with a gentle, herbal colon cleansing formula that can help to restore the proper functioning of a clean colon.