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Tuesday, March 17, 2009

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

By Katie A. Price

Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder of the colon, wherein the patient experiences episodes of abdominal cramping, constipation and diarrhea, and a feeling of fullness. The exact mechanism of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown but it is most likely linked to intake of dairy products because symptoms usually occur after ingesting dairy products. Although irritable bowel syndrome causes these discomforts, it doesn't pose as a serious disease.

People who are diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome should not worry much about their condition because it is not a major health threat. However, they should be aware that symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome bring discomfort and can disrupt their activities of daily living. An example of a symptom that causes disruption in performing activities of daily living is diarrhea.

People with irritable bowel syndrome who experiences symptom of diarrhea will often feel the urge to move their bowels. This urge is often uncontrollable. Usually, the stools are watery and loose. People who are experiencing diarrhea can also experience episodes of alternating diarrhea and constipation. This is a more difficult situation because the episodes are unpredictable. Because of this, patients with irritable bowel syndrome often have complications such as hemorrhoids due to straining in constipation.

Medical professionals often say that the colon of a person with irritable bowel syndrome is very sensitive especially to some foods. The reason for this sensitivity is not yet known but they have linked it to foods that normally cause irritability like dairy products. Medical professionals have also deduced that those with lactose intolerance are also prone to develop irritable bowel syndrome.

There is no specific procedure to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome. A diagnosis is purely based on the patients manifestations of signs and symptoms. This is why irritable bowel syndrome can't be treated as a serious medical condition; rather, it is called a syndrome because of the groups of signs and symptoms showing up. The medical term itself can be literally translated to how the person feels when symptoms occur.

A major diet modification has to be implemented to patients with irritable bowel syndrome since it mainly affects the digestive system. Foods associated with its occurrence are often limited or eliminated in the diet. Some of these foods include milk and milk products such as cheese and also fatty foods or foods that are high in cholesterol.

A high fiber diet can be achieved by ingesting fruits and vegetables. These foods are very rich in fiber that aids in the process of digestion. A high fiber diet is recommended for patients with irritable bowel syndrome because of the manifestations of constipation and diarrhea. With fiber, it cleanses the colon and promotes bulk in the stool, relieving diarrhea. As for constipation, since fiber aids in digestion, adequate water intake should also be included in the high fiber diet to soften the stool and relieve constipation.

Upon the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, you need to know that you have to change a lot of things in your lifestyle. If you're the type of person who would rather eat fast food than eat healthy foods, then you better start eating nutritious foods now because this will be very helpful to you to avoid experiencing the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. - 17274

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