Your Top 3 Questions About IBS Answered Here

What is IBS?

Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS for short is a very common complaint. About a fifth of all Americans suffer from it. This condition is also called spastic colon, functional bowel syndrome, spastic colitis, and spastic colon.

Medically, IBS has been classified as a functional disorder. This means that the functions of your body are working abnormally. However, the true cause of IBS remains unknown. Thus, this also means that it is sometimes difficult to diagnose using simple testing.

IBS symptoms include nausea, bloating, excessive gas or flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal pains or cramping. These symptoms tend to be very embarrassing to the sufferer. If you have been having any of these symptoms for a long period of time, then you should take action rather than leave them untreated. Schedule a visit with your doctor immediately.

How is IBS diagnosed?

Your doctor can determine if you are suffering from IBS or if you are having some other health problems. You will need to provide an account of your full medical history as well as a description of your symptoms.

Here are some common questions that he is likely to ask

- How long you have been having the symptoms,

- What symptoms you have,

- What foods you eat that triggers your IBS symptoms,

- How often do you get the symptoms

Your doctor may also recommend some testing if he cannot come to a definite diagnosis.

Can food cause IBS?

The food that you eat is not the direct source of your IBS, but it is a major trigger to your symptoms worsening. If you eat the wrong foods, you may find that you are experiencing more pain and discomfort so it is important for you to learn which foods trigger your symptoms.

There are several common food triggers. These include fatty foods, dairy products, carbonated drinks, caffeine, and alcohol. Until you know for sure what your trigger foods are then you need to try to avoid these types of food.

Keeping a record of the foods you eat, along with your symptoms, will allow you to find a correlation between certain foods and your worsened symptoms. Once you have determined what foods seem to set off your symptoms then you will want to find a way to avoid them. It is a sacrifice, but the other option includes pain, discomfort, and possibly even embarrassment. Weigh the consequences of eating these foods to determine whether they are worth it or not.

Some foods can help IBS. Foods that are rich in fiber can help your IBS symptoms like constipation. These foods include peaches, apples, broccoli, prunes, raisins, and apricots.

Researching fiber rich foods for constipation will allow you to find some foods that you enjoy.

On the other hand, if diarrhea is your main IBS symptom, then you should consider eating more starchy food. Starchy foods are foods like bread, rice, potatoes and pasta. You should avoid eating foods that are high in fat. Examples include sausages, butter, oils and any deep fried dishes. Fats stimulate the colon and may worsen symptoms. Also avoid alcohol, onions and spicy foods such as chilies and curries. Consume less dairy products as the lactose (sugar in the milk) tends to churn your stomach more. You can try consuming more live yoghurt as the cultures in it will digest some of the lactose, and ensure that you get enough calcium from other sources.

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