Bunny@BunnyVreeland.com.
Best regards
Bunny Vreeland, Ph.D
http://www.BunnyVreeland.com
What is I.B.S. (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)?
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Irritable Bowel Syndrome is
a disorder characterized most commonly by cramping,
abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. IBS
causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, but it does
not permanently harm the intestines and does not lead to a
serious disease, such as cancer. Most people can control
their symptoms with diet, stress management, and prescribed
medications. For some people, however, IBS can be
disabling. They may be unable to work, attend social
events, or even travel short distances.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is the most common
gastrointestinal disorder seen by GI Doctors. IBS may
affect up to 20 percent of Americans, or 54 million people.
IBS appears fairly equally in people of all races, but it
tends to affect women more than men, in fact three times as
many, however, men may be less likely to report the problem.
The onset of IBS usually begins to occur in late
adolescence or in early adult life. It rarely appears for
the first time after age 50. For many, the condition is
chronic, and symptoms can appear for months, then
disappear, then reappear again.
For some, the symptoms are mild and for others, the
symptoms can be quite severe and even debilitating.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of
the gastrointestinal tract characterized by abdominal pain,
excessive gassiness, bloating, and irregular bowel
movements. Some people can control their symptoms with
diet, stress management, and prescribed medications. For
some people, however, IBS can be disabling. They may be
unable to work, go to social events, or even travel short
distances.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome may also be referred to as spastic
colon, mucous colitis, spastic colitis, nervous stomach, or
irritable colon. IBS is difficult to diagnose with
traditional medicine, as it cannot be discovered through
physical examination, x-rays, or blood tests. It occurs
more often in women than in men, and it begins before the
age of 35 in about 50 percent of people. IBS patients seem
to fall into two categories:
1. Those who report that they have had symptoms since
childhood.
2. Those who report the onset of symptoms after an illness,
accident or specific situation.
What causes IBS?
Researchers have yet to discover any specific cause for
IBS. One theory is that people who suffer from IBS have a
colon (large bowel) that is particularly sensitive and
reactive to certain foods and stress.
The immune system, which fights infection, may also be
involved. research indicates that:
1. Normal motility, or movement, may not be present in a
colon of a person who has IBS. It can be spasmodic or can
even stop working temporarily. Spasms are sudden strong
muscle contractions that come and go.
2. The lining of the colon called the epithelium, which is
affected by the immune and nervous systems, regulates the
flow of fluids in and out of the colon. In IBS, the
epithelium appears to work properly. However, when the
contents inside the colon move too quickly, the colon
looses its ability to absorb fluids. The result is too much
fluid in the stool. In other people, the movement inside
the colon is too slow, which causes extra fluid to be
absorbed. As a result, a person develops constipation.
3. A person's colon may respond strongly to stimuli such as
certain foods or stress that would not bother most people.
Serotonin and the GI Tract Recent research has reported
that serotonin is linked with normal gastrointestinal (GI)
functioning. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, or chemical,
that delivers messages from one part of your body to
another. Ninety-five percent of the serotonin in your body
is located in the GI tract, and the other 5 percent is
found in the brain. Cells that line the inside of the bowel
work as transporters and carry the serotonin out of the GI
tract.
People with IBS, however, have diminished receptor
activity, causing abnormal levels of serotonin to exist in
the GI tract. As a result, people with IBS experience
problems with bowel movement, motility, and sensation,
having more sensitive pain receptors in their GI tract. In
addition, people with IBS frequently suffer from depression
and anxiety, which can worsen symptoms. Similarly, the
symptoms associated with IBS can cause a person to feel
depressed and anxious.
Researchers have reported that IBS may be caused by a
bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract. Studies
show that people who have had gastroenteritis sometimes
develop IBS, otherwise called post-infectious IBS.
The following have been associated with a worsening of IBS
symptoms:
? large meals
? bloating from gas in the colon
? medicines
? wheat, rye, barley, chocolate, milk products, or alcohol
? drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, or colas
? stress, conflict, or emotional upsets. Researchers have
found that women with IBS may have more symptoms during
their menstrual periods, suggesting that reproductive
hormones can worsen IBS problems.
How is IBS diagnosed?
IBS is generally diagnosed on the basis of a complete
medical history that includes a careful description of
symptoms and a physical examination. There is no specific
test for IBS, although diagnostic tests may be performed to
rule out other diseases. These tests may include stool
sample testing, blood tests, and x rays.
Typically, a doctor will perform a sigmoidoscopy, or
colonoscopy, which allows the doctor to look inside the
colon. This is done by inserting a small, flexible tube
with a camera on the end of it through the anus. The camera
then transfers the images of your colon onto a large screen
for the doctor to see better. If the tests results are
negative, the doctor may diagnose IBS based on symptoms,
including how often a patient may have had abdominal pain
or discomfort during the past year, when the pain starts
and stops in relation to bowel function, and how bowel
frequency and stool consistency have changed.
Many doctors refer to a list of specific symptoms that must
be present to make a diagnosis of IBS. Symptoms include:
? Abdominal pain or discomfort for at least 12 weeks out of
the previous 12 months. These 12 weeks do not have to be
consecutive.
? The abdominal pain or discomfort has two of the following
three features:
? It is relieved by having a bowel movement.
? When it starts, there is a change in how often you have a
bowel movement. When it starts, there is a change in the
form of the stool or the way it looks.
Certain symptoms must also be present, such as:
? A change in frequency of bowel movements
? A change in appearance of bowel movements
? Feelings of uncontrollable urgency to have a bowel
movement
? Difficulty or inability to pass stool
? Mucus in the stool
? Bloating
? Bleeding, fever, weight loss, and persistent severe pain
are not symptoms of IBS and may indicate other problems
such as inflammation, or rarely, cancer.
What is the treatment for IBS?
Unfortunately, many people suffer from IBS for a long time
before seeking medical treatment. Up to 70 percent of
people suffering from IBS are not receiving medical care
for their symptoms. No cure has been found for IBS, but
many options are available to treat the symptoms. A doctor
will give share the best treatments available for
particular symptoms and encourage ways to manage stress and
make changes to diet. Medications are an important part of
relieving symptoms. Hypnotherapy is non intrusive, safe,
comfortable and a cost effective and complementary to use
along side mainstream medicine.
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Dr. Bunny is a former model and award winning image
consultant. When her own allergies and migraine headaches
disappeared using hypnotherapy she was hooked! She earned
her PhD in clinical Hypnotherapy with a specialty in IBS.
Featured on radio and television, Dr. Bunny is an
experienced speaker and has authored many articles for
newspapers and magazines and is working on a book
illustrating how the mind impacts our
behavior.http://www.BunnyVreeland.com
