Irritable bowel disease, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), is a series of symptoms that occur in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, specifically the large intestine. It is a relatively common disorder which refers, according to the National Institute of Health, to a group of conditions that cause problems in the GI tract despite a lack of damage caused by a current or prior disease. Although it is chronic and extremely uncomfortable, it can usually be managed by a careful diet, lifestyle, and sometimes medication.
Symptoms
Every case of irritable bowel disease is different; it can can even present different symptoms or increase and decrease in severity for the same patient on any given day. On the whole, it generally causes chronic cramping and pain in the abdominal area; bloating and gas; mucusy stool; and bouts of diarrhea, constipation, or an alternation of the two. Some people notice symptoms that may have nothing to do with the GI tract, including, but not limited to: head and backaches; depression or anxiety; fatigue or insomnia; a change in urination; heart flutters; and even sexual issues.
Diagnosis
Of the 15% of Americans with irritable bowel disease, only 20% of those seek help. Perhaps this is due to a lack of awareness about the disease, or perhaps it is because symptoms revolve around such a difficult and embarrassing topic of conversation.
The trickiest aspect of diagnosing IBD may be that many of its symptoms mimic other, often more life-threatening diseases, such as ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that also affects the large intestine. This makes it that much more important to see a doctor, especially if you notice bleeding or weight loss.
Additionally, there are no specific physical signs to look for. Thus, diagnosis uses a process of elimination along with studying a patient’s medical history . Depending on the patient’s response to treatment, additional testing, such as a colonoscopy, stool studies, or a computerized tomography (CT) scan may be necessary.
Treatment
Experts have yet to identify the exact cause of IBS, thus treatment is undertaken symptomatically. More severe cases may require specific medications from a doctor to really control symptoms; milder cases can often be controlled by stress management and a careful diet. For example, for those with gas and bloating problems, avoid carbonation, raw fruit, and choose vegetables carefully. Cutting out gluten is a potential help for diarrheal symptoms, although not everyone agrees with this, nor is everyone helped by this. Some people are also extremely sensitive to specific carbohydrates.
Fiber supplements and antidiarrheals are over the counter options that can be helpful when symptoms are particularly bad. Additionally, abdominal cramping and diarrhea may be eased by antispasmodic or anticholinergic medications, although constipation often gets worse while taking these. Some cases require antibiotics, as bacteria growth can easily get out of control and cause diarrhea.
