Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment

Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition marked by embarrassing bowel issues, intestinal pain, and cramping. Although treating it isn’t easy, there are several options. Treating irritable bowel syndrome generally consists of a two-step process that treats both the symptoms and the underlying conditions that cause the disease. IBS is considered a psychosomatic illness, which means that the physical symptoms are thought to be a manifestation of mental illness. However, this doesn’t mean that people with IBS are crazy or mentally unstable, it just means that little things like stress or anxiety could manifest in physical conditions, such as IBS.

The first thing you need to do is to try changing your diet and removing spicy foods. Spicy foods are known to upset the stomach and the colon, which means that they could be triggering your symptoms. Also, you should try removing dairy products from your diet, as lactose is known to cause allergic reactions in some people. Speaking of allergies, many people with symptoms of IBS are actually allergic to certain foods, which means that you might consider a food allergy test to determine if that is causing your condition. Some foods that people are often allergic to are soy products, seafood, nuts, and milk.

If changing your diet doesn’t help, then you should consider seeing a doctor to talk about prescription medicines. Often times, anti-spasmodic, laxatives, and stool suppressants might be in order to help you control your bowel movements. There has also been research that shows serotonin might have an effect over IBS, therefore there are a whole new class of medicines designed to alter your brain and body chemistry to decrease symptoms.

Sometimes, counseling could be in order, as IBS often manifests as a result of increased stress and anxiety in a person’s life. It might seem odd, but treating mental problems can often decrease physical symptoms of this condition. This is because your body’s condition mirrors that of the mind, and a troubled mind can cause physical symptoms to appear.

There is also a chance that your Irritable Bowel Syndrome issues are the result of a bacterial infection. Although it can be rare, new studies are showing that certain persistent infections can lead to the same symptoms that are evident with IBS. Your doctor will probably not jump to this conclusion without a series of tests, but if you are diagnosed with an infection than it can be treated with prescriptions, such as antibiotics.

Overall, treating IBS is a complex process that requires a series of trial and error in order to find the trigger for the symptoms. Although the symptoms can be treated on their own, it is important to treat the cause of the symptoms so that they do not return on a frequent basis. If you are affected by IBS, then I urge you to talk to your doctor about your treatment options and stay open minded about what he or she might recommend. Eventually, you will find something that works both to treat the symptoms, and the underlying condition.