1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), often confused with other disorders, is a functional gastric disorder.
2. It leads to no identifiable physical changes and shows up only in lapses of function.
SYMPTOMS
1. The symptoms are abdominal pain and altered bowel habits.
2. Patients may have constipation or diarrhoea or both.
CAUSES
1. While it affects all age groups, the cause is unknown and the symptoms usually are a result of the disturbance in the way the gut, brain and the nervous system interact.
2. While diet does not cause IBS (usually genetics is at play), what you eat can aggravate the symptoms, making discomfort worse.
TREATMENT
1. There are no diagnostic tests for IBS.
2. A doctor will take your medical history, physical exam and tests to rule out other conditions to reach a diagnosis.
3. There is no universal treatment as well, no one fit for all, and treatment is individualised that focuses on managing symptoms.
PREVENTION
14. Also avoid eating while you work or drive, eating too quickly, and chewing gum.
15. Do not skip meals and try to eat at the same time daily.
16. Potion size is of utmost importance.
17. Sometimes smaller amounts of trigger foods may not elicit symptoms.
18. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day as it can help you prevent constipation and ease stress.
19. Drinking enough fluids each day helps improve IBS symptoms, and soothes the stomach.
20. Chamomile tea’s anti-inflammatory properties help relieve muscle spasms associated with intestinal disorders, and relax the stomach muscles.
DE-STRESS
1. There’s a connection between IBS and stress, as your pulse quickens, your blood flow increases and your pain threshold drops, and for most people, it affects their gut.
2. It leads to no identifiable physical changes and shows up only in lapses of function.
SYMPTOMS
1. The symptoms are abdominal pain and altered bowel habits.
2. Patients may have constipation or diarrhoea or both.
CAUSES
1. While it affects all age groups, the cause is unknown and the symptoms usually are a result of the disturbance in the way the gut, brain and the nervous system interact.
2. While diet does not cause IBS (usually genetics is at play), what you eat can aggravate the symptoms, making discomfort worse.
TREATMENT
1. There are no diagnostic tests for IBS.
2. A doctor will take your medical history, physical exam and tests to rule out other conditions to reach a diagnosis.
3. There is no universal treatment as well, no one fit for all, and treatment is individualised that focuses on managing symptoms.
PREVENTION
1. Maintaining a food diary helps to identify and remove trigger foods from the diet.
2. Everyone needs to work out their own triggers, but staying away from sugary foods, alcohol, caffeine and high fat meals helps, as these are common triggers.
3. Food and drinks with chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, fructose, or sorbitol are to be avoided.
4. Often sensitivities to corn, soy, eggs and dairy occur in those with IBS.
5. Quite often gluten sensitivity exists hand in hand with IBS, and in such cases, a gluten-free diet may reduce symptoms.
6. Avoid eating gas producing foods like broccoli, onions, cabbage, lentils and beans.
7. Usually, insoluble fibre found in corn or wheat bran does not help IBS patients, whereas insoluble fibre found in oats, barley, fruits and vegetables helps.
8. Eggplant, okra, carrots, sweet potato, turnips are all foods with good soluble fibre content.
9. Fruits like grapes, berries (strawberries, blueberries), oranges, banana and guava are all good.
10. All nuts except cashews and pistachios are a good bet, and so are seeds like flaxseeds, chia and sunflower seeds.
11. It is important to increase fibre intake slowly as increasing too much too soon may worsen the symptoms.
12. Avoid the skin of fruits and vegetables, and also fruit juices as they may aggravate diarrhoea and bloating.
13. Don’t eat foods at opposite temperatures, such as ice-cold water and steaming hot soup, in the same meal. 14. Also avoid eating while you work or drive, eating too quickly, and chewing gum.
15. Do not skip meals and try to eat at the same time daily.
16. Potion size is of utmost importance.
17. Sometimes smaller amounts of trigger foods may not elicit symptoms.
18. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day as it can help you prevent constipation and ease stress.
19. Drinking enough fluids each day helps improve IBS symptoms, and soothes the stomach.
20. Chamomile tea’s anti-inflammatory properties help relieve muscle spasms associated with intestinal disorders, and relax the stomach muscles.
DE-STRESS
1. There’s a connection between IBS and stress, as your pulse quickens, your blood flow increases and your pain threshold drops, and for most people, it affects their gut.
2. In fact, very often stress is a significant culprit behind IBS woes, and enough research points to this connection.
3. When one suffers from IBS, lowering stress levels always provides relief.
4. Psychological counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy and hypnotherapy help, so do lifestyle changes that can help tone down stress.