How do you get IBS and how to treat it?

How do you get Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

The 6 main reasons of IBS are
1.Emotional stress
2.Imbalance of bacterial flora in intestine
3.Eating habits
4.Excessive gas
5.Female hormones in women
6.A weakened immune system

Five facts about IBS
1. IBS is the second most common reason for loss of days for work or school.The first one is common cold.
2. IBS does not cause cancer orulcerativeclts.
3. IBS may cause inconsistency in urination.People with IBS may experience temporary or long term leakage of urine.
4.Women are more prone to get IBS than men. 2/3 of IBS patients worldwide are women.
5. IBS do not cause rectal bleeding like other diseases such as  Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease

How to find if you have IBS?

A person with IBS experience the following symptoms
1.Abdominal pain or cramps that are off and on.The pain is mild and often ignored by many people.
2.Constipation or diarrhea or alternating periods of both
3. Excessive gas and bloating
4.Pain under the left rib cage
5. Incomplete emptying of bowels(Need to empty 2-3 times)
6. Stool that is sticky or slimy ( Sticks to toilet bowl)
7.Stool that has unusual bad odor

What are the symptoms of IBS?

 IBS symptoms can be divided into three categories

1.Gastrointestinal symptoms
2.Non GI symptoms
3. Other reported symptoms

1.Gastrointestinal symptoms:The common symptoms of IBS related to GI includes Diarrhea or constipation or alternating periods of both,abdominal pain or pain under left rib,nausea,heartburn and acid reflux.

2. Non GI symptoms related to IBS include headaches,backpain ,frequent urination and bad breath

3.Other related symptoms are reported in few patients which include muscle pains, difficulty in sleeping,clammy and trembling hands,pounding heart,dizziness and nausea.

What are not symptoms of IBS?

1.Blood in stool
2. Anemia
3.Unexpected weight loss
4.Fever

How do i treat IBS?
IBS can be completely treated by making few diet and life style changes.

1. Diet changes:People with IBS should increase their fiber content in their diet. Even though fiber increases gas and bloating in the beginning it gradually helps to relieve the symptoms.Take fiber rich foods such as rye bread,whole wheat bread,pears,apples,mangoes,almonds,pistachios,pea nuts,pop corn,sweet peas etc.

For a full list of high fiber foods visit this page.
http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/063008p28.shtml

High fiber also helps in relieving the symptoms by preventing drying up of stools. IBS patients should also take plenty of water to prevent constipation.Fiber supplements such as metamucil and Citrucel can also be used.
Bloating can be reduced by avoiding high gas producing foods.Carbonated beverages, dairy products, salads,vegetables such as cabbage ,cauliflower and broccoli should be avoided.

2.Stress management:Anxiety is the main reason for IBS. Anxiety due to deadlines, exams or illness of a family member may cause IBS. Issues with money and career also triggers IBS. Even though it is not entirely clear how emotions and IBS are related, doctors have found that 60% of IBS cases are related to psychological stress. Regular exercise and meditation are two things one can do to relieve stress.Getting good sleep and eating good foods filled with nutrients also help to relive stress.

Natural cures for IBS

Peppermint is one herb you can count on to get relief from the symptoms of IBS. Research studies have shown that peppermint oil is more effective in giving relief from IBS than other forms.

Heather's Tummy Tamers Peppermint Oil Capsules are proven to cure IBS. These capsules are rated 4/5 by 140 customers that bought from amazon.

Click here to get Heathers peppermint oil from Amazon.

Probiotic yogurt is filled with billions of gut friendly bacteria and when taken regularly can improve the IBS symptoms.They can also be taken in pill forms.
Probiotic yogurt can be bought in the local stores but they are expensive to buy regularly.Starting your own probiotic culture may save you hundreds of culture and you make your yogurt with out any chemical preservatives added to it.Here is a yogurt starter kit i found on amazon for an affordable price.This kit is rated 4.3 out of 5 by the amazon customers.

Why IBS patient's stool is green?

The green color of the stool is due to bile produced by liver to digest fats.In normal people it turns yellow as it passes through the intestines.People with IBS pass the contents of the intestine too fast so ,there is not enough time for the bile to change its color to yellow.Bacterial overgrowth, medication for IBS and laxatives can also cause green stools in IBS patients.

What are the other diseases that have the same symptoms of IBS?

Celiac disease,colon polyps,diverticulitis,inflammatory bowel disease and lactose intolerance are other diseases that have same symptoms of IBS.
You may have celiac disease if you have the following symptoms in addition to the symptoms of IBS
1.Anemia
2.Osteoporosis(loss of bone density)
3.Skin rashes and/or Itchiness
4.Head aches and fatigue
5.Numbness and tingling in the feet
6.Joint pains
7.Acid reflux and heart burn

You may have colon polyps if you have any of the following additional symptoms
1.Rectal bleeding
2.Blood in the stool
3.You are above the age of 50

Diverticulitis disease has the following symptoms
1.Fluctuating intensity of pain in lower abdomen
2.Fever
3.Nausea and vomiting

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is a term used to collectively describe ulcerative colitis and Crohn's deisease. This disease is characterized by inflammation close to rectum area,rectal bleeding,bloody diarrhea,reduced appetite and weight loss.
Lactose intolerance is associated with diarrhea,nausea,cramps,gas and bloating.

What should I eat when i have IBS?

People with IBS should increase intake of certain foods and eliminate some.High fiber foods help in the bowel movement and slows down the quick passage of stools.So, include fiber rich foods in your diet.

What type of foods you should avoid when you have IBS?

Spicy foods and dairy products should be avoided.

Chinese medicine for IBS:

Western medicine for IBS uses anti spasmodic medication,antibiotics,stress management and diet modification for treatment.Chinese medicine uses acupuncture,massage,Chinese herbs,nutrition and movement exercises to treat IBS. Chinese medicine looks at bringing the whole body into balance and treat the symptoms of IBS.
According to Chinese medicine IBS is not just disease of small and large intestines.It involves liver,spleen and kidney too. Acupuncture is used to treat these areas based on the symptoms.
Few researchers have studied the effectiveness of Chinese herbs to treat IBS. They found patients that are given individualized herbal treatments showed maximum results.

Ayurvedic (Indian) treatment for IBS:
This disease is called Grahani in Sanskrit and is described as passage of undigested food by intestines due to weak digestive system.Ayurveda recognizes four types of Grahani or IBS.
1.Vata Grahani( IBS predominant with Constipation)
2.Pitta Grahani(IBS predominant with Diarrhea)
3.Kapha Grahani( Dysentery predominant)
4.Tridosha Grahani(Complex IBS)

Ayurvedic method of treatment involves fasting,drinking warm water and using various medicinal plants.An Ayurveda specialist will only able to help you with this. Dietary modifications are also suggested with emphasis elimination of hard to digest foods and gas producing foods.
Treatment with butter milk i suggested in Ayurveda to treat IBS. Buttermilk is the liquid left after churning the butter out of yogurt(curd).This method involves drinking of buttermilk along with asafetida, cumin, and rock-salt powder. I couldn't find the exact method of buttermilk therapy in terms of number of days and amount of buttermilk to comsume. If any of the readers know please post it in the comments.
The following herbs/medicinal plants are used in ayurveda to treat IBS
Ginger,clove,fennel,cumin,and cinnamon to stimulate digestive enzymes


References:
http://balfourhealing.com/?page_id=107
http://ayurveda-foryou.com/treat/irritable-bowel-syndrome.html