Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Specialist Questions and Answers

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common disorder that many deal with, it affects the large intestine. Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic condition which the patient will need to deal with long-term. Chronic diseases are conditions that have lasted a year or longer and require ongoing medical care or is limiting your daily activities or both.

There are a few chronic diseases that are as common as irritable bowel syndrome. Many chronic diseases like irritable bowel syndrome are caused by this shortlist of risky behaviors:

– Tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure
– Poor nutrition can include diets that do not get sufficient amounts of fruits, vegetables and are high in sodium and saturated fats
– Minimum physical activity or no physical activity
– Excessive alcohol consumption

Irritable bowel syndrome is a group of intestinal symptoms which typically occur at the same time. These symptoms can vary in severity and duration with each individual that experiences it. Usually, the symptoms last at least three months or as little as three days per month. In some cases, irritable bowel syndrome can cause intestinal damage.

If you are unsure if you have irritable bowel syndrome, the symptoms typical for this chronic condition include:

– Cramping
– Abdominal pain
– Constipation
– Bloating
– Gas
– Diarrhea

It’s pretty common for patients dealing with irritable bowel syndrome to have episodes of not only constipation but diarrhea as well. Depending on the severity of irritable bowel syndrome, the symptoms can be persistent to resolve then come back again, or they can be continuous.

It has been seen that women tend to have more symptoms around their time of menstruation, and menopausal women have fewer symptoms than those who are menstruating.

At this point in time, there is no exact main cause of irritable bowel syndrome; however, doctors do believe there is a mix between issues with your gestational tract which can commonly lead to irritable bowel syndrome. Other health problems which can lead to irritable bowel syndrome include:

– Stress
– Mental health issues
– Reaction to food or beverages consumed
– Increase or even a change in the bacteria in your small intestine
– A bacterial infection located in the gestational tract
– Abnormal nerves located in your gestational tract that are sensitive
– Issues processing foods

A breakdown in how the brain sends signals to the intestines

Many women even with a medical diagnosis have trouble managing their irritable bowel syndrome. However, if your doctor requires all of the testing and lab results and they come back as inconclusive or negative, women and men can manage their symptoms and irritable bowel syndrome by themselves. With the help of research and information from healthcare professionals.

The treatment plan may need to take into consideration any physical triggers as well as any environmental changes. Some great areas to start working on to help treat irritable bowel syndrome include:

Diet
More traditional therapies will include dietary changes like fiber, especially to help treat episodes of constipation. While fiber can help with patients dealing with constipation by decreasing the time it takes for food to be digested and for a bowel movement to occur, it also decreases the pressure on the colon. However, not all patients will do well with dietary fiber intake, particularly if they are having episodes of diarrhea. This is due to the bacteria breaking down faster in the colon which can produce gas, and even cause bloating to be worse.

Medications
Some drug therapies that may be suggested by your doctor may include: Antispasmodic anticholinergics

– Antidiarrheals
– Bulk laxatives
– Alosetron
– Tricyclic antidepressants
– Selective serotonin
– Anti-anxiety
– Lubiprostone

For more information about IBS and its treatment, contact Columbia Clinic Urgent Care today! We serve patients from Portland OR, PDX, Tigard OR, Milwaukie OR, Cedar Hills OR, Cedar Mill OR, Lake Oswego OR, Oak Grove OR, Vancouver WA, Aloha OR, Minnehaha WA, Gladstone OR, Tualatin OR, West Linn OR, Fairview OR, Oregon City OR.