Irritable and bowel and syndrome and diet
Around twice as many women are affected as men. A few times each day, strong muscle contractions move down the colon pushing fecal material ahead of them. The person with IBS has a colon that is more sensitive and reactive than usual, so it responds strongly to stimuli that would not bother most people. Doctors call it a functional disorder because there is no sign of disease when the colon is examined. These problems rarely improve without treatment and your GP can recommend treatments such as antidepressants or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which can help you cope with IBS, as well as directly treating the condition. With appropriate medical and psychological treatment, you should be able to live a normal, full and active life with IBS. Vikas Sharma MD 466 Comments CRAMPS, BLOATING AND CHANGES IN BOWEL HABITS MAY POINT TO IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME, SAYS. Because doctors have been unable to find an organic cause, IBS often has been thought to be caused by an emotional conflict or stress. The major function of the colon is to absorb water and salts from digestive products that enter from the small intestine. You may find some of the symptoms of IBS ease after going to the toilet and opening your bowels. Some of these strong contractions result in a bowel movement. IBS is thought to affect up to one in five people at some point in their life, and it usually first develops when a person is between 20 and 30 years of age. While stress may worsen IBS symptoms, research suggests that other factors are also important.
Normal bowel movements range from as many as three stools a day to as few as three a week. You may go for many months without any symptoms, then have a sudden flare-up. IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, but it does not cause permanent harm to the intestines and does not lead to intestinal bleeding of the bowel or to a serious disease such as cancer. Researchers have found that the colon muscle of a person with IBS begins to contract after only mild stimulation. Two quarts of liquid matter enter the colon from the small intestine each day. Your GP may be able to identify IBS based on your symptoms, although blood tests may be needed to rule out other conditions. Some people with IBS have constipation while others have diarrhea and experience both intermittently. This material may remain there for several days until sorbed into the body. The condition is often lifelong, although it may improve over several years. The colon (part of large intestine), which is about 6 feet long, connects the small intestine with the rectum and anus. IRRITABLE Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the intestines that leads to cramps, bloating, and changes in bowel habits. Many people with IBS will experience feelings of depression. They tend to come and go in periods lasting a few days to a few months at a time, often during times of stress or after eating certain foods. Other IBS is just a mild annoyance, but for some people it can be a disabling.
