Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is alternately known as:

spastic colon,
spastic colitis,
mucous colitis,
nervous stomach, or
nervous diarrhea.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the number one digestive disease in America with 30-50 million sufferers.

Some 22 % of the United States population has Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), either occasionally or persistently.

It is the second most common reason for absence from work or school (common colds are the main cause).

The inflamed colon of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is not a disease; rather, it's a combination of symptoms that do not currently respond well to medications or surgery. The medically descriptive term of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) accompanies Dyspepsia and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) as one of the three major functional intestinal disorders.

Who is affected by Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS affects people of all ages and backgrounds, including children. (Don't be too quick to dismiss complaints of stomach pain by your children - even if they don't like school).

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by some combination of:

abdominal pain,
altered bowel function (either constipation, diarrhea or alternating),
hypersecretion of colonic mucous, and
symptoms of indigestion (bloating, flatulence and nausea).

The symptoms may range from occasionally bothersome to disabling, causing sufferers to always have to have a bathroom location on their minds.

The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can be both uncomfortable and distressing.

Gary Gittnick, Chief of Digestive Diseases at UCLA Medical Center, offers the following assurance, "Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) does not cause permanent harm to the intestines and does not lead to intestinal bleeding or to any serious disease such as cancer" (Freedom from Digestive Distress: Medicine-Free Relief, Three Rivers Press, 2000).

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) shows no physical evidence of its presence on exam by blood test or X-ray. The alteration in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract in Irritable Bowel Syndrome causes malabsorption. This may result in chronic inflammation throughout the body. The inflammation may show up in any organ system.

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

The exact cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is unknown.

There seems to be an underlying abnormality with bowel contractions.

People with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) may have more sensitive digestive systems, responding to stimuli that would not bother most people.

A genetic component may be involved.

In addition, recurrent abdominal pains during childhood may predispose one to developing the disorder.

Regardless, the usual suspects must be taken into consideration. These include poor dietary and lifestyle habits; lack of fiber, emotional stress, food sensitivities, and imbalance of colon organisms.

There are conditions which may mimic Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). These include:

excessive consumption of tea, coffee, carbonated beverages, and simple sugars,
infectious diarrhea from micro-organisms (such as giardia parasites),
inflammatory bowel disease- IBD (a much more serious disorder than Irritable Bowel Syndrome - IBS) and lactose intolerance,
laxative abuse,
diverticular disease,
intestinal candidiasis,
disturbed bacterial flora (dysbiosis),
malabsorption diseases such as pancreatic insufficiency and celiac/sprue,
metabolic disorders such as adrenal insufficiency, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism,
mechanical causes such as fecal impaction,
cancer.

The Diagnostic Criteria for Irritable Bowel Syndrome have been established at International Medical Conferences. They are:

Diagnostic Criteria for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Episodes of abdominal pain with frequent loose stools
Pain relief after defecation
A sense of incomplete rectal evacuation
Mucus with the stool
A sense of abdominal bloating
Constant abdominal pain and altered bowel habits
Presence of symptoms 25% of the time
Constipation with or without pain
Pain associated with bowel movements
Painless diarrhea only
Alternating constipation and diarrhea
Flatulence
Nausea
Vomiting
Headaches
Loss of appetite
Anxiety
Depression
Poor nutrient absorption if diarrhea is severe
Abdominal pain accompanied by abdominal spasms triggered by eating

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Probiotics

The effects of Irritable Bowel Syndrome results in an imbalance of digestive micro-organisms. The preferred ratio is 85% friendly bacteria to 15% pathogenic bacteria. The effects of Irritable Bowel Syndrome disturbs this ratio resulting in excessive pathogenic bacteria and overgrowth of candida, other fungus and yeast. Supplemental use of effective probiotics like OMX Probiotics 12+,Culturelle, Spectraprobiotics, Multi-acidophilus, or VSL#3 assist in correcting the imablance and so reduce the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Additionally, other supplements that reduce symptoms of Irritable Bowel syndrome are: Digestive Enzymes, Essential Fatty Acids, Aloe Vera Juice, Colostrum, Perfect Food and Oreganol.

Evaluation of Irritable Bowel Syndrome - IBS

A comprehensive home stool test can give you more insight into your digestive function and gut microbial ecology. The test offers a non-invasive differential diagnosis between Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The test also includes expanded bacteria, yeast and parasite detection, a reliable assessment of exocrine pancreatic function, and a noninvasive risk assessment for colorectal cancer. If bacteria, yeast or parasites are detected, they are grown out to establish which natural and medical products will inhibit their growth.

Product Ideas for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: