Irritable Bowel Syndrome

What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

IBS is an intestinal disorder that causes chronic symptoms, including:

• Abdominal pain
• Cramping
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Excessive intestinal gas
• Mucus-covered stools

Passing stools often brings temporary relief from acute attacks of IBS. Your symptoms might worsen or improve over time, with periods of remission when your IBS is more tolerable, and flare-ups when it can be a struggle to cope.

Most people who have IBS find there are triggers that set off their symptoms or make their symptoms worse. Your triggers might be different, but common ones include menstruation in women, specific types of food, and high stress levels.

What causes IBS?

There's no single cause of IBS. However, some conditions can increase your risk of developing IBS. These conditions include:

• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Food allergies
• Celiac disease
• Intestinal inflammation
• Low levels of beneficial gut bacteria

One possible explanation of IBS symptoms is a disorder of your intestinal muscles. These are the muscles that squeeze food along your digestive tract.

If the waves of muscular contractions slow down or weaken, food takes longer to travel through your digestive tract, leading to constipation. If the muscular contractions get faster or too strong, it can lead to diarrhea.

Alternatively, it could be that the nerves in your intestines are malfunctioning. They could be sending pain messages to your brain when there isn't any tissue damage. Or the faulty nerves could be amplifying normal sensations like needing a bowel movement, so the feelings become uncomfortable or painful.

How is IBS treated?

Before treating your IBS, your provider at Advanced Gastroenterology Associates of SA needs to confirm your condition. This might involve having tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms.

If your provider confirms you have IBS, the emphasis is on addressing the root cause. Treating conditions like SIBO, food allergies, and celiac disease could reduce and even resolve many of your IBS symptoms.

Your provider also creates a management plan for you that includes a personalized selection of treatments such as:

• Diet and lifestyle changes
• Fiber supplements and laxatives
• Anti-diarrheal medications
• Probiotics
• Pain medications
• Stress counseling
• Relaxation exercises
• Bile acid binders
• Anticholinergic medications

Advanced Gastroenterology Associates of SA also uses translational biology-based, state-of-the-art interventions like microbiome manipulation.

Translational biology uses scientific evidence to advance medical knowledge. Microbiome manipulation involves using the latest advances in treatment, including techniques like fecal transplantation to improve your gut health.

With help from Advanced Gastroenterology Associates of SA, you can minimize the effect of IBS on your life. Call today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.