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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (I.B.S.) is a dysfunction in the digestion/absorption of food. Common symptoms of I.B.S include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain/discomfort and primarily constipation or diarrhea. This disease affects about 15% of the population, most of which are female.
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract consists of the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, and the colon. These organs contract to move food through the tract until it is eliminated. When I.B.S. occurs, the muscles, the nerves that control the muscles, or both are not working correctly. This causes either slowed movement through the intestines (constipation) or rapid movement through the intestines (diarrhea). What causes these issues is not known for sure. Risk factors include being female, having a high stress level, and age in the teens through the 40s.
Symptoms of I.B.S. vary from patient to patient and vary also in severity. While some patients may be minimally affected by the disease just by altering his or her daily diet, others may need to see a physician for further assistance. The following is criteria your physician may use to diagnose I.B.S.:
Abdominal pain/discomfort for 12 weeks in the last 12 months which
is relieved with defecation (going to the bathroom)
is associated with a change in the number of stools
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is associated with a change in the form of stools
Other common symptoms listed earlier may also help the doctor diagnose the disease.
Treatment of I.B.S. is specific to the current symptoms. For patients suffering from constipation-predominant I.B.S., a drug called ZelnormÒ (tegaserod) may be prescribed. This drug works by increasing the muscle contractions in the intestines, which allows food to move through the tract. AmitzaÒ (lubiprostone) can also be used for constipation. It increases fluid secretion in the intestines, which allows more movement to occur. Those who suffer from diarrhea-predominant I.B.S. may be treated with an over-the-counter medication called ImmodiumÒ (loperamide). This drug works in the opposite way of the previous drugs and slows down the movement of food through the intestinal tract.
Abdominal pain is often associated with both constipation and diarrhea-predominant I.B.S. This pain may be caused by strong contractions of the muscles of the GI tract, or contractions that are long in length. Hyoscyamine is a G.I. tract muscle relaxant that does not work on other muscles, such as the arms and legs. When this drug works, the muscles can relax and the pain from the contractions reduces.
As mentioned earlier, diet may be
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sufficient for some patients to control his or her symptoms of I.B.S. Avoiding coffee, carbonated drinks, alcohol, spicy/greasy food and dairy (for some with lactose problems) may help decrease episodes of diarrhea. The addition of fiber supplements may help those patients with constipation. As always, exercise and quitting smoking will improve overall health and may, in turn, better any current symptoms of I.B.S.
If fever, blood in the urine or stools, black or tarry stools, or weight loss occurs, contact your physician. These symptoms are not part of I.B.S. and need medical attention. For more information on I.B.S. ask your physician, pharmacist or visit www.medicinenet.com.
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