Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms

Posts Tagged ‘irritable bowel syndrome symptoms’

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Symptoms

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Symptoms

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is tagged as such since it is characterized by having certain symptoms. It varies from person to person and a doctor is the only one capable of determining and diagnosing that indeed a patient is experiencing such problems.

However, most people do not even need to call a physician if they do experience it, simply because the symptoms are just too mild. In fact, most people blame food instead of IBS.

Irritable bowel syndrome can cause interference and discomfort in one’s life. Some symptoms range from diarrhea to severe abdominal pain. This could cause one to lose focus and suffer if they just let it go on.

Finding relief from irritable bowel syndrome:

1. Think about the symptoms you are experiencing. In order for you to control them, you need to know what to watch out for when it happens. The symptoms always vary depending on the individuals; some may feel constipation while other may feel bloated or abdominal pains.

Knowing what symptoms are possible raises your awareness of the problem. You can then take steps to stop these symptoms from happening.

2. Choose the right diet for you. What you eat always affects your health. Once you know what symptoms to watch out for, you can start eliminating them by properly taking care of your health. You can do this by eating the right kinds of food. You can choose foods that will help soothe your stomach, but this would of course depend on the symptoms that you experience.

Choose wisely, since what you eat will eventually affect your digestive tract. You don’t really need to experiment about the kinds of food that you can eat. Just keep in mind that eating food with fat content, food that has alcohol or anything dairy infused, will likely cause irritable bowel problems.

3. Relaxing is a good way to beat IBS. People who stress too much are likely to develop bowel problems, so it is better to find activities or just simply take the time off to de-stress and relax.

Stressing out triggers a reaction in your gut and it causes a release of acid and certain enzymes in your stomach. Thus, leading to a very irritated bowel; for this same reason, therapeutic practices such as acupuncture are now being sought by those suffering from IBS. Relaxing helps make your digestion become a smoother process.

If you follow these guidelines, you can be sure to alleviate some of the discomfort of irritable bowel syndrome. By following them, at least you are keeping the symptoms at bay. Even though there is no cure for it yet, it doesn’t mean you have to keep up on suffering from it.

However, most people do not even need to call a physician if they do experience it, simply because the symptoms are just too mild. In fact, most people blame food instead of IBS.

Finding relief from irritable bowel syndrome:

1. Think about the symptoms you are experiencing. In order for you to control them, you need to know what to watch out for when it happens. The symptoms always vary depending on the individuals; some may feel constipation while other may feel bloated or abdominal pains.

Knowing what symptoms are possible raises your awareness of the problem. You can then take steps to stop these symptoms from happening.

2. Choose the right diet for you. What you eat always affects your health. Once you know what symptoms to watch out for, you can start eliminating them by properly taking care of your health. You can do this by eating the right kinds of food. You can choose foods that will help soothe your stomach, but this would of course depend on the symptoms that you experience.

3. Relaxing is a good way to beat IBS. People who stress too much are likely to develop bowel problems, so it is better to find activities or just simply take the time off to de-stress and relax.

Tags: IBS Symptoms, irritable bowel disorder, irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, symptoms of irritable bowel disease
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Intestinal Gas Among The Many Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome varies from one person to another, both in intensity and types. However, there are commonly appearing symptoms that are almost always present with all patients regardless of the mildness or aggravation of the condition.

Intestinal gas or bloating is among the many symptoms that may manifest if you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. To better understand why this usually occurs among patients of IBS, let us discuss here conditions that are closely associated with intestinal gas.

Belching

Belching or betterly known as burping is the ability to expel intestinal gas through the mouth. This is usually caused by a bloated or distended stomach due to swallowed air.

This swallowed air will then cause abdominal discomfort, which will then be relieved through belching. Most patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome often experience abdominal bloating which in a way causes the aggravation of the condition through creating stress from painful stomach.

Aerophagia, on the other hand, is the excessive intake of air through rapid gulping of water or food and frequent intake of carbonated beverages.

Belching is somehow used to find relief for bloated individuals. However, there are many possibilities as to what causes the real ill concerning the intestine. If belching proved to be unhelpful, then this is a sure sign that something must be wrong in your intestinal tract. Excessive belching alone would not help determine the presence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome since it is usually associated with any other kind of abdominal disorders.

Bloating

While there may be some significant similarities between bloating and distention, it is still important to know that they are two different conditions.

Bloating is the subjective feeling that the stomach is quite larger than normal. Distention on the other hand is the actual experience of actual enlargement of the abdomen. Thus, both are closely related to any forms of abdominal discomfort.

It is, however, true that in many cases of distention, bloating may manifest.

There are three basic ways on which distention may arise: increase in abdominal tissue, air and fluid inside the abdominal tract. There are various diseases though that will trigger any of these three.

Flatulence

Farting or flatulence is gas passing through the anus. The gas that is concerned in here only has two sources: one is from the intestinal bacteria that thrive in the colon and the other is the swallowed air. The latter though rarely causes flatulence.

This intestinal bacteria produces gas after digestion of food (specifically the polysaccharides and sugars) that were not properly digested in the small intestine. The three most commonly maldigested sugars are sorbitol (common sweetener for low calorie foods), lactose (sugar found in milk which itself is considered as problematic food among irritable bowel syndrome sufferers) and fructose (sugar from fruits that is normally used as sweetener for drinks and candies).

Intermittent Abdominal Distention and Bloating

Apart from the bacteria that causes the production of intestinal gas, excessive and regularly-occurring bloating and distention can also be caused by physical obstruction.

Blockages in the intestinal tract can appear virtually from the rectum to the stomach. This may be due to scarring of the pylorus which can obstruct the complete emptying of the small intestine as the digested food passes through it towards the colon. This results to distention.

It may also be due to functional distraction, which by the way is the main reason why Irritable Bowel Syndrome occurs. This is due to the abnormality in the coordination of the intestinal muscles which causes further pain in the abdomen.

Tags: abdominal bloating, distended stomach, excessive belching, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
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Treatment Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Saturday, November 22nd, 2008

The Different Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatments

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a disorder affecting the gastrointestinal. The origin of this disorder is still unknown. But its symptoms include bloating, gassiness, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and constipation. And since it is still not clear what’s causing IBS, all the treatments for this disorder are just intended to control the symptoms.

Ways of Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Changing Diet
IBS is a disorder that involves the colon and mainly focused on the bowel movement. Since IBS caused constipation and diarrhea what most people do is to change their diet. Modifying diet may control symptoms of IBS but without the proper guidance of a doctor its effect may not last for long.

Why? Because you need to be properly diagnosed by a doctor before you change your diet. You see there are certain foods that are not advisable for IBS patients and your doctor can tell you exactly the foods that you have to avoid and eat. Take for instance, without a doctor to diagnose your condition you may mistook lactose intolerance for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Medical Treatment
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a problem that only happens occasionally but there are also some IBS patients that experience much lasting symptoms and often entails for medications.

One of the most common treatment prescribe is eating fiber-rich foods. The main objective of this is to help the digestive tract to expand in order to reduce the possibility of spasm while food is being transmitted and digested. Plus fiber is known for promoting regular bowel movement reducing constipation.

However, it is very important to add fiber to the diet slowly since it may worsen IBS symptoms like bloating and gassiness. Stress is another factor that triggers IBS. Doctors may advice ways on how to reduce stress like eating a well-balanced meal and of course exercising.

Smoking was also found out to worsen Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. IBS smoker patients are advised to quit smoking or suffer the consequences. It is also advisable for IBS patients especially those with food intolerance, to keep a food journal to help them determine foods that they have to avoid and foods that they can eat.

Medications
There are antispasmodic medicines that are given to IBS patients to control or slow down the action of the digestive tract to reduce spasms. However different people react to medicines in different ways so it may work for some but not for others. For those who may not have a good reaction to this type of medicine there are other available treatments that may be applied to control symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Anti-diarrhea medicines are also prescribed to IBS patients that are experiencing severe loose bowel movement. There are lots of over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medicines that can be bought even without a doctor’s prescription. This is all right for simple diarrhea cases but for IBS you need to consult your doctor before you try to purchase any medicine.

Antidepressants are also very effective for controlling Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms especially when taken in small doses. There are also new types of medications that are especially made for patients that do not react favorably with the aforementioned medicines. Consult your doctor for medicines that will help you to control IBS symptoms. Do not self-medicate since it may do you more harm than good.

Tags: abdominal cramps, fiber rich foods, IBS Symptoms, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, proper guidance
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Symptoms Of Irritable Bowel Disease

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

Diagnosing Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Disease

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is one of the most common disorders that people experience. Usually people experiencing IBS has intestines that either squeezes too hard or to too slowly which makes the food move out of the body too quickly or too slowly. The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects people starting the age of twenty and are more predominant among women.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is also known in other names such as a functional bowel syndrome, spastic bowel, spastic colon and irritable colon. IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not likened to Inflammatory Bowel disease like for instance ulcerative colitis.

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The most common symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome include:
1. Bloating and gas,
2. Presence of mucus in the stool,
3. Constipation,
4. Diarrhea that happens frequently in the morning,
5. Feeling that you have not fully completed a bowel movement after you have one,
6. Strong feeling or urge to move bowel
7. Abdominal pain
8. Cramping that often go away after a bowel movement

Different person exhibits different Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. Some people may experience constipation while others may have diarrhea or both. Straining or cramping is common among IBS patients who cannot properly eliminate stool. Their inability to have a complete bowel movement caused them too much discomfort and pain.

And in case that they were able to have a bowel movement, traces of mucus are visible on the stool. For patients with diarrhea, they usually have that urgent feeling or urge to have a bowel movement. There are also some IBS patients that have both constipation and diarrhea.

The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome sometimes subside and then return again after a while. There are also cases of IBS that worsen over time.

How to Diagnose Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
It is very important that you consult a doctor if you suspect that you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This is vital for the early detection of IBS symptoms. The diagnoses that are usually conducted to check Irritable Bowel Syndrome are based on a patient’s comprehensive medical history or record, which contains descriptions of symptoms.

And since Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a disorder that affects the colon or the large intestines it is only logical that you visit or consult a gastroenterologist since it is an expert in treating diseases pertaining to the digestive system. Generally, gastroenterologists would perform colon test called colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy which makes use of an equipment that is consist of a flexible tube that has a camera at the end. This equipment is inserted in the anus to enable the doctor to see the inside of the colon better.

Likewise, physical examination results are also needed to diagnose IBS symptoms. The truth of the matter is that there are no really specific tests for IBS. The diagnostic tests that are performed are just to rule out the possibilities of other diseases. The tests for IBS include x-rays, stool sampling and blood testing.

If ever the tests results show negative the next thing that doctors do is to refer to their list of IBS symptoms to make their diagnosis. In addition there are some symptoms that may seem to connote Irritable Bowel Syndrome but in reality are symptoms of a different illness. Some of these symptoms may include bleeding, weight loss, severe pain and fever can indicate inflammation but definitely not Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Tags: irritable bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, mucus in the stool, symptoms of irritable bowel disease, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome and its Effects on Cats

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not only common among humans but also among animals particularly cats. Basically, the IBS that is experienced by people is the same type that cats also feel.

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome among cats is the same gastrointestinal disorder that is also felt by human. The large and/or small intestines are also affected.

IBS in cats usually affects the contractions of the digestive tract resulting to irregular bowel movement. Aside from that, IBS also interferes with the normal distribution of food and waste material inside the cat’s body resulting to the accumulation of toxins and mucus in the cat’s intestines.

These accumulated toxins often obstruct the normal function of the digestive tract. In the process gas and stool are trapped causing bloating, constipation and distention.

It is also surprising to note that the same IBS factors in human have been identified to cause the same effects among cats. Factors causing IBS such as stress, overuse of antibiotics, poor eating habits, bacterial, and viral infection, parasites and food allergies were found to affect cats as well.

Likewise, a blockage is also very common among cats since they love to chew as well as swallow objects. This too can trigger IBS symptoms.

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Cats

It would be surprising to note that cats and humans exhibit the same Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. And here are some of them:

• Constipation among cats is just like in humans. It is also exhibited by hard, small, pebble-like stools, which make bowel movement very difficult.
• Diarrhea is a more frequent bowel movement wherein the stool is often soft and watery. Cats with IBS usually experience successive loose bowel movement alternating with constipation.
• Abdominal pain is also common among cats with IBS. The pain can range from mild to severe.
• The presence of mucus in the stool is also a common sign of IBS.
• Another symptom of IBS that may be observed in cats is vomiting and nausea.
• Gas pain or flatulence is also an indication of IBS in cats
• Bloating
• Intolerance to certain types of foods
• Anorexia which most of you may think is only common to us human but surprisingly is also exhibited by our feline friends.

Treating Your Cat’s Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Since Irritable Bowel Syndrome involves many factors, it is very important that you have your cats examined by a veterinarian.

This way you will know what’s triggering IBS symptoms in your pet cats. In case you prefer to apply natural methods in controlling your pet’s IBS symptoms still it is better to consult first a veterinarian before applying any type of IBS treatment to your cat to avoid further complications.

A change in your cat’s diet is also a good way to control Irritable Bowel syndrome. However make sure that you consult a veterinarian or a nutritionist to provide your cat with a personalized diet and program.

Feeding your cat with the right type of food is still the best way to control your cat’s Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Cats like humans prefer different types of foods. There are some cats that like eating raw food while there are some that prefers home cooking or canned food.

It is very important that you try to experiment with foods that work for your cat. If you can keep a food journal in which you can jot down foods that your cat needs to avoid then so much the better. This will guide you on the proper food to give your cat and in turn keeps IBS symptoms in control.

Tags: frequent bowel movement, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, loose bowel movement, mucus in the stool, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
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Posts Tagged ‘irritable bowel syndrome symptoms’