What to Know About Irritable Bowel System: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

You are out enjoying the day with your family and having an amazing time.  All of  a sudden you have a pain in your stomach. You get anxious. You know this pain.  You thought that you would be okay today.  You rush to the bathroom leaving your family with your spouse.  Your irritable bowel syndrome is acting up again and has ruined another beautiful day. You are apart of many people who live every day with irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common disorder that affects the large intestine

The signs and symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome vary, but the usually include the following: painful abdominal pain, excessive gas, constipation or diarrhea - some individuals state they have moments of both of these during their irritable bowel syndrome flare ups, and finally stool with mucus in it

Luckily, irritable bowel syndrome can be managed most of the time with common practices

  These include managing stress, creating a healthy diet.  If you are having more severe symptoms that the above does not help then you can get medication that can help.

You may want to see your primary care physician when there are some severe signs and symptoms.  Some of these signs can be unexplained vomiting, significant weight loss, diarrhea at night, bleeding from the anal area, and pain that is highly uncomfortable that isn't relieved from passing gas.

Unfortunately, there is not a main reason why irritable bowel syndrome occurs

Medical professionals have found many reasons why irritable bowel syndrome may occur.   One of those is inflammation in the intestines.  This inflammation causes pain and diarrhea.  Another thing that can cause irritable bowel syndrome is muscle contradicting in the intestines.  Contracts in the intestines that are fast can cause faster movement which then creates pain and loose stools.  Contractions that are slow also create pain and constipation.   There are many other causes that can create irritable bowel syndrome. Talk to your primary care physician and they can help you pinpoint what may be causing yours. 

Irritable bowel syndrome also has many triggers than can make it flare up for a person

One of the main triggers is food.  Many individuals with irritable bowel syndrome claimed that eating certain foods causes their irritable bowel syndrome to be worse than other times.  Individuals have also stated that when they are stressed it causes their irritable bowel syndrome flair up to be worse than it usually is.  Finally, hormones can be another trigger of irritable bowel syndrome.  Oddly enough it is reported that women actually have irritable bowel syndrome more than men.  Women also state that their irritable bowel syndrome symptoms are worse during their menstrual cycle. 

Like triggers, there are many risk factors that occurs with irritable bowel syndrome

The main one is age.  Individuals under the age of 50 are more prone to have irritable bowel syndrome.  As stated earlier, females are more likely to have irritable bowel syndrome than men.  A family history of irritable bowel syndrome may also be a major risk factor.  It seems it runs in genes.  Finally, if you have mental health problems then you are more prone to irritable bowel syndrome.  Irritable bowel syndrome is brought on a lot by stress and having anxiety and other mental health issues causes stress.

Many individuals with irritable bowel syndrome claim they need treatment to help control their symptoms and to live a better life

One main thing a person can do to avoid irritable bowel syndrome is to stay away from foods that trigger it.  Keeping a food journal is a great tool to use when figuring out what is causing flair ups.  Eating high-fiber foods can also help manage your gut health.  If your condition requires more than just simple lifestyle changes, your primary care physician may provide you medication.  Some of these medications can be fiber supplements, laxatives if your irritable bowel syndrome causes constipation, and even pain medications to control the main that is occurring in your stomach. 

Irritable bowel syndrome is a very common disorder that can really damper someone's day when it flairs up.  About one in five Australians have irritable bowel syndrome!  Thankfully, with proper treatment, whether it's at home home treatment or medications irritable bowel syndrome can be dealt with.