Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can be associated with food intake as well as emotional state.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome is a common intestinal disorder with symptoms of cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS can be associated with food intake as well as emotional state. This can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life and daily functioning.
Did you know?
IBS affects between 25 and 45 million people in the United States. About 2 in 3 IBS sufferers are female.
Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Cramping
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Gas
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Alternating diarrhea and constipation
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Pain
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
What is causing my IBS?
IBS can be brought on by poor diet, medication use, stress, etc leading to dysbiosis or bacterial imbalance in the GI tract as well inadequate digestion and absorption of food and impaired motility of the GI tract.
What are typical treatments for IBS?
Typical treatments are aimed at treating the immediate symptom with medications like anti-diarrheals, anti-spasmodic, laxatives, anti-depressants, and anti-anxiety medications. These medications will make the symptoms better with their use but do not address the cause leading to dependency on the medication and frequent dosage changes.
How do I figure out what is causing my IBS?
Getting a comprehensive stool analysis will allow your practitioner to see exactly what is going on inside of your GI tract I.e. bacterial balance, digestion and absorption markers, pathogenic overgrowth, and inflammation. This will allow for a customized treatment plan to be developed based on your symptoms, history and biomarker analysis. Addressing lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management are also important aspects to a comprehensive treatment plan.
