Diarrhea & Constipation Remedies » Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Diet for IBS

Jane — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:56:59 +0000

It’s estimated that 10 to 20 percent of the world’s population suffers from mild to severe Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The typical symptoms associated with this disorder of the gastrointestinal tract include pain, gas, diarrhea, constipation, or bloating. Diet is a major factor in managing the symptoms of IBS. Moderation is key in coping with the effects of IBS.

Those dealing with IBS should refrain from eating meals that are too large. Eating smaller meals throughout the day is preferable to eating a large meal in one sitting. Foods that are high in fat should also be avoided. IBS sufferers should stay away from fast-food meals in general because fried foods can definitely aggravate abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Coffee, alcohol, and caffeine are stimulants and irritants that affect the muscles in the colon. There are several types of sugars which are poorly absorbed by the bowl. Sorbitol and fructose are two examples of these types of sugar. Sorbitol is a sweetener found in diabetic gum, candy, and other foods. Fructose is another sweetener that may aggravate IBS symptoms. Honey and several fruits are high in fructose.

There are many foods that naturally produce gas when consumed. These foods should be avoided if bloating and gas are symptoms that are already present in those with IBS. Some of these foods include cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, onions, beans, raisins, peas, peanuts, and bagels are a few examples of foods that frequently lead to bloating.

It’s critical that individuals with IBS educate themselves about fiber. Insoluble fiber is very necessary for a healthy diet but it can exascurbate IBS symptoms. It’s actually a GI stimulant. Soluble fiber is the type of fiber that’s the least irritating to individuals with IBS. This type of fiber actually offers benefits such as soothing the digestive tract and stabilizes intestinal contractions. A simple search online with the keywords “soluble fiber foods” and “insoluble fiber foods” will yield a list of foods that fall into each category.

In conjuction with added fiber, ensuring the numbers of good gut flora (or probiotics) are within a healthy range can help the symptoms of IBS. Eating natural yoghurt is one way of obtaining probiotics, but there are also a range of probiotic suppliments available from pharmacies which can assist with the condition such as Ethical Nutrients IBS Support tablets.

A good diet for IBS sufferers will vary for each individual but there are general guidelines and groups of foods that are commonly beneficial or detrimental to those combating this disease. A primary health care physician should be involved in making decisions related to an IBS diet so that an individual is assured that their general nutritional needs are being met. Eating healthy is possible and encouraged for those dealing with IBS.

IBS Symptoms

Jane — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:53:08 +0000

Irritable bowel syndrome, often referred to as IBS or spastic colon, affects up to 20% of the world’s population and is a chronic condition that has no cure. While this sometimes devastating ailment cannot be eradicated, the symptoms can most often be controlled through a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, dietary changes and stress management. Each person with IBS will experience varying symptoms and various sensitivities or triggers, as well as varying success with different treatments. Understanding your particular IBS symptoms and determining the combination of tips and treatments that alleviate these symptoms most effectively is an important part of managing irritable bowel syndrome and regaining control of your life.

The most common symptoms of IBS are cramping, bloating, lower abdominal pain, passing mucus, feeling as though evacuation is not complete after passing a stool, feelings of urgency regarding evacuation, and diarrhea or constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome affects the function of your colon, including muscle contractions in the large and small intestines. The reason that both diarrhea and constipation are possible symptoms is because irritable bowel syndrome can either cause these contractions to increase and move waste through the system too quickly, or can cause these contractions to decrease and limit motility.

Irritable bowel syndrome shares symptoms with several other possible ailments, some of which are diseases that may be cause for increased concern. Because of this, it is important to work with your healthcare provider to rule out other possible causes before determining that your symptoms are caused by irritable bowel syndrome. Diseases and conditions that should be ruled out include food allergies, inflammatory bowel diseases (such as Crohn’s disease), gallstones, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, colon cancer, celiac disease, intestinal parasites, infections, bowel obstructions and diverticulosis or diverticulitis. It is particularly important to test for other illnesses if you are experiencing the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome along with additional symptoms, such as fever, blood in stools or weight loss, which are not typically associated with irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, but are indicative of other diseases and ailments.

While standard tests can be used to rule out other conditions and diseases, there is no available test for determining a diagnosis or irritable bowel syndrome; therefore, the standard of care for diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome centers on using the 2006 Rome III Criteria for diagnosis. These diagnostic criteria were initially laid out by a group of experts at a previous 1999 meeting, which resulted in the Rome II Criteria, and only minimal changes were made when developing Rome III; therefore, some IBS patients may hear the diagnostic criteria still be referred to as the Rome II Criteria. The criteria state that a patient must have experienced at least 12 consecutive or non-consecutive weeks of abdominal discomfort or pain in the last 12 months, coupled with two of the following three symptoms: relief with defecation, onset associated with a change in the frequency of stool, or onset associated with a change in the form of stool. Other symptoms that support a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome under the Rome III Criteria include abnormal stool, abnormal frequency of stool, abnormal stool passage, passage of mucus and abdominal bloating.

It is important to note that patients should not try to self-diagnose and should work with a healthcare provider to determine whether or not their symptoms are caused by irritable bowel syndrome. This is an important first step in assisting you in managing your health, and it is essential that other ailments with similar symptoms are ruled out before embarking on the journey of finding what works best for you in terms of managing irritable bowel syndrome.

IBS Medication

Jane — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:51:43 +0000

There is no known cure for Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, once properly diagnosed by a healthcare practitioner, there are a number of medications, as well as dietary and lifestyle changes, that can assist you in controlling the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and managing this chronic condition long term. IBS is caused by a brain-gut dysfunction and, while there are no specific medications that address this dysfunction, symptom-specific IBS treamtment is available that focuses on alleviating diarrhea, constipation, abdominal spasms and, if necessary, depression. Because irritable bowel syndrome affects different patients uniquely, and patients respond differently to IBS medications, most patients will need to work closely with their healthcare practitioner to determine the specific combination of lifestyle changes and medications that work best for them.

Patients who experience diarrhea as one of their irritable bowel syndrome symptoms most often use Imodium or Lomotil to alleviate this symptom. These medications assist in water absorption and slow down the transport of waste through the intestines, which can reduce the need for frequent evacuation and can assist in stool consistency. Imodium is a common anti-diarrheal that is often used daily as a preventive medication and is generally considered safe to use in this manner. Patients who choose to take Lomotil should adhere to their prescribed dosage very strictly and should be aware that this anti-diarrheal medication can be addictive and overdosing can prove fatal.

Patients who experience constipation associated with irritable bowel syndrome should avoid laxative use, as this can lead to colon damage and dependency on laxatives. While there have been attempts to provide prescription medications to address this symptom, these attempts have largely failed to produce a safe medication without serious possible side effects; therefore, it is generally recommended that IBS patients who experience constipation use a combination of exercise, adequate water intake and an over-the-counter soluble fiber supplement such as metamucil or psyllium husks to relieve this symptom. Taking probiotics can also assist in helping regularity as they restore the “good” bacteria in the gut which can often deplete with medications, stress and poor diet.

Anti-spasmodic and low-dose antidepressant medications are often prescribed to irritable bowel syndrome patients to address the common IBS symptom of abdominal pain or cramping. The most common anti-spasmodic medication for IBS includes Bentyl, Pro-Banthine, Levbid, Levsin, NuLev and Donnatol. These medications can be prescribed for everyday use as a preventive therapy, or can be used as needed for abdominal spasms, and patients can choose between medications that are taken orally, or that dissolve under the tongue. Other medications for IBS include low-dose antidepressants that affect serotonin reuptake. These can also alleviate pain and painful spasms associated with irritable bowel syndrome by raising your pain threshold, while also influencing contractions due to the serotonin levels found in the nerves located in the gut. These drugs can be used to either increase or decrease spasms; therefore, they can be effective for patients who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, or with constipation.

Finding the right combination of medications, as well as dietary and lifestyle changes, that best suit your needs and will most effectively assist you in managing irritable bowel syndrome is a long-term process that can often require extensive trial and error. Some patients are able to find the combination that works for them in a very short time; however, if this is not the case in your situation, do not give up. It may take some time to find what works best for you and your particular IBS symptoms, but the relief you will feel when your IBS is properly managed will be well worth the time and effort spent determining the best treatment plan for you.

Spastic Colon

Jane — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:45:38 +0000

Spastic colon, also called IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is a common chronic condition that affects approximately 20% of people around the world. Spastic colon affects people differently and can range from annoying to devastating. Fortunately, while there is no known spastic colon cure, it can be managed effectively with a combination of diet, lifestyle changes and medication, if necessary.

So what is spastic colon? This condition often includes an increase in contractions of the muscles of the large and small intestines. These spasm-like contractions are the reason for this name; however, spastic colon can also include decreased contractions, so this name is not necessarily descriptive of everyone’s experience with spastic colon or IBS. When increased contractions and motility are present, this causes waste to be transported through the colon too quickly, which leads to diarrhea. When decreased contractions and motility are present, the result is most often constipation. Other spastic colon symptoms include cramping, bloating, abdominal pain, passing mucus, urgency and feeling like evacuation is not complete after stool passage.

Living with spastic colon can be a day-to-day struggle that includes trying to determine which dietary and lifestyle changes will allow you to live your life as closely to normal as possible, and finding ways to work around this sometimes devastating condition. The frequent trips to the bathroom that many spastic colon sufferers must endure can be annoying and embarrassing, and can severely limit your ability to participate in regular daily activities. Depending on the severity of symptoms, it can be nearly impossible to take long car trips, participate in outdoor activities where there is no nearby restroom, or enjoy activities that most people take for granted, such as shopping, going out to eat or going on a date.

In fact, symptoms will often worsen during travel, social events or even simple changes in your regular routine, which makes meeting new people, dating and taking road trips even more difficult. Stress also has a strong influence on the severity of symptoms in most spastic colon sufferers, with symptoms becoming much more prevalent as stress increases. Because of this, learning to effectively manage stress and removing as many stressors as possible from your environment is a key component in managing spastic colon. Because depression is often an issue for spastic colon patients and stress can significantly worsen depression, learning to manage stress may assist you in improving both of these chronic ailments. Speaking to your healthcare provider about stress management may provide some insight on simple lifestyle changes or activities that will assist you, such as regular exercise, spending time with friends and partaking in favorite hobbies, which can all be effective stress management tools. Many people also find yoga, meditation and relaxation techniques helpful in managing stress.

Aside from managing stress, those learning to manage spastic colon may want to consider eating several small meals each day, rather than three larger ones, which sometimes prove helpful in controlling symptoms. Drinking plenty of water is also important, regardless of whether your specific spastic colon symptoms include constipation or diarrhea. In the case of spastic colon with constipation, the water can assist in improving motility, while those who have spastic colon with diarrhea need to ensure proper water consumption to avoid dehydration.

The most important thing to remember is that, while there is no cure, there is hope. There are a number of ways to manage spastic colon through diet, lifestyle changes, medication and stress management. The key to controlling your spastic colon is to find the right combination of tips and techniques that works for you.