IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is one of those common complaints
nobody ever talks about. Studies show that it affects up
to 30 % of the UK population. In the USA it rivals the common
cold for the major cause of absenteeism in industry. Technically
IBS is a functional disorder of the gut where the normal
movement of the gut is hurried along or spasms occur. The
main symptoms are diarrhoea -constipation - variable bowel
habit -alternating diarrhoea and constipation -colicky abdominal
pain, often relieved by passing wind or stools - bloating.
Less frequently there may also be -heartburn - tiredness
- back pain and rumbling in the tummy.
There is no organic
cause for IBS but that doesn't mean it is all in the mind.
IBS may be worse at times of stress. It is not hereditary
but it may run in families perhaps because of a dietary
or environmental link. It may be constitutional, meaning
you
have extra-sensitive gut muscles, or an overreaction to
certain foods and chemicals. Women may find IBS worse after
a period
or after the menopause pointing to a link with oestrogen
production. An estimated 25% of IBS cases are triggered
by a bout of gastro-enteritis or food poisoning. IBS can
be
made worse with certain drugs, such as long-term antibiotics,
which kill off the normal bacteria in the gut, codeine,
laxatives and alcohol. Diagnosis can be a problem because
symptoms
vary. IBS is a disease of exclusion - in other words if
you can rule out all other possibilities IBS is what you
are
left with. TREATMENT
Treatment is aimed at alleviating the symptoms and the distress
they produce. Reassurance and medical review help the patient
to realise that although IBS is life- long it is not life
threatening. Life-style changes such as reducing caffeine,
alcohol and smoking all help. Diet can help if it's a high
fibre one but the overuse of laxatives can make the situation
worse. Treatment with connective tissue
manipulation helps to reduce the tension around the gut,
allowing the normal passage of stools through the system and
more normal function to be restored. See
Connective Tissue Manipulation.
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