IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, is a fairly common disease. Symptoms of IBS include acute stomach pain, diarrhea or constipation, and bloating. According to statistics, about 15 percent of all people suffer from this disease, with one man for three women. The disease is not among the dangerous, but can significantly impair the quality of life.
Possible reasons
Whatever the symptoms of IBS, they can be due to a variety of reasons. Do not forget that doctors attribute this disorder to a number of functional ones: the most thorough study may not bring any results. Studies have shown that bowel problems are most often caused by factors such as stress, overwork and a genetic predisposition. In addition, the state of our intestines largely depends on what foods prevail in our diet.
Stress
As noted above, symptoms of IBS are characteristic of people under severe stress. The increase in seizures is usually associated with an unfavorable situation in the family, the loss of a loved one and chronic overwork.
Food
Those who suffer from undiagnosed abdominal pain note their increased frequency after eating the following foods: milk, cereals, eggs, nuts, fatty meat (especially pork). If you notice a connection between digestive problems and any particular dish, you should exclude it from the diet or, in any case, limit its use.
IBS: Symptoms
At the beginning of the article, we already mentioned that irritable bowel syndrome is characterized mainly by pain in the stomach. Let's talk about this in more detail. Most patients describe abdominal pain as “sharp”, “cutting”, “twisting”. In addition, pain occurs quite suddenly and is accompanied by a defecation disorder. In some people, it manifests itself in the form of diarrhea, in others - in the form of constipation. Symptoms of IBS can occur several times a day, but most often they make themselves felt a couple of times a month. It should be noted that they are rarely considered the basis for a visit to the doctor: most people are confident that they have become victims of food poisoning, and are treated with appropriate methods. However, all these signs indicate the presence of IBS; treatment in this case is necessary.
When should I go to the hospital?
Most likely, you need medical attention if:
- traces of blood are found in your stool;
- when passing tests, you have a low hemoglobin level;
- attacks of diarrhea more often occur at night;
- you have a constantly elevated temperature;
- one of your relatives has been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or bowel cancer.
Diet
What can you personally do to alleviate your condition? First of all, pay attention to your diet. Think about it, do you abuse fatty, spicy, fried? If you are tormented by constipation, try to eat more fiber, instead of regular white bread, eat bran bread, drink as much water as possible (namely water, not tea and coffee). Suffer from frequent diarrhea? You will have to completely abandon cabbage and milk. The consumption of dairy products will need to be limited to a minimum.