Irritable bowel syndrome—IBS—can be painful. It can cause changes in bowel movements from gassy diarrhea to bloated constipation. The type of IBS you have makes a difference. Symptoms can range from a flare-up of uncontrollable explosive diarrhea and leave you bound up and unable to go. One sign is pain and gas within two hours of eating. If the gas is excessively smelly, it’s another sign of IBS. White mucus in bowel movements is another sign. These signs are also indications of food intolerance. An isolation diet or the help of a doctor can isolate the problem.
One cause may be a faulty brain-gut connection.
Your gut communicates with the brain and vice versa. That occurs for several reasons. The enteric nervous system, part of the autonomic system, handles how the muscles move during digestion. It controls the blood flow and fluid secretion. The gut sends communication along pathways, and the brain reacts by messaging how the gut should respond during digestion. Interruption or any disturbance along the line, such as undue stress or a microbial imbalance, can cause diarrhea, gas, pain, and constipation.
An imbalance in your gut microbiome may be causing the problem.
The microbes in the gut create metabolic compounds that regulate signaling. An imbalance of microbes can cause the interference in brain/gut communication mentioned earlier. An imbalance also can affect how you digest food. You’re lactose intolerant if you don’t have the right bacteria to break down lactose. It causes gassiness and abdominal pain. It can occur in a variety of foods. Gut bacterial dysbiosis occurs when you don’t have the right balance of microbes. People with IBS have a lower population of 21 bacterial species required for good digestive health.
Treatment varies based on the cause.
Lifestyle changes can help some people. Increasing prebiotic foods in the diet can aid in rebalancing the gut microbiome. If some food disagrees with you and you have a food intolerance, avoiding that food works. If you’re intolerant to dairy, using Lactaid or other products to aid digestion helps. If stress is the problem, find ways to deal with stress, such as deep breathing or meditation. Doctors may also prescribe medication to deal with the symptoms of constipation, diarrhea, or spasms.
- An infection of the gastrointestinal tract can cause a problem with IBS. Researchers aren’t sure whether the antibiotic or infection contributes to it. People who suffer severe trauma in childhood are at higher risk for IBS.
- Many people with IBS also have problems with depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. Other studies show that genetics may play a role. Women tend to have flare-ups during menstrual cycles.
- Lab tests don’t look for IBS but eliminate other causes for symptoms. For instance, a hydrogen breath test can rule out a food intolerance or bacterial overgrowth. Once the doctor rules out other diseases, it leaves IBS as the diagnosis.
- Use an elimination diet to identify food triggers. Dairy products, corn, soy, and food with gluten-containing grains like wheat, rye, or barley are the most frequent offenders. A low FODMOP diet helps.
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