Treatments and Drugs for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
September 8, 2009 by Admin
Filed under IBS Prevention
Contrary to what some people believe, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is a chronic condition, which affects millions of people around the world. However, even though there is no known cure, the condition is often controlled with the use of different drugs, therapies, and natural remedies, in order to reduce the severity of the symptoms. In fact, two drugs in particular have recently been designed specifically for treating IBS, both of which are now available to those suffering from this debilitating condition. There are also other natural approaches one can take in order to manage the condition, which I would recommend, such as what IBS Eliminated dicusses.
IBS Specific Drugs
Those who are diagnosed to be suffering from severe diarrheic IBS are often prescribed Alosetron (Lotronex) by their doctors, providing their doctor has enrolled in a special program, which follows strict protocols. This drug works by blocking certain nerve impulses, which in turn are responsible for spasms and diarrhea.
Those patients who suffer predominantly from constipation will be prescribed Lubiprostone (Amitiza), a drug that increases the amount of fluids in the small intestine in order to encourage bowel movement. However, many patients on this drug complain about side effects including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea.
If you are taking either of these, I highly recommend following the IBS Eliminated system to see if you can get off these drugs.
Other IBS Medications
Interestingly enough, they are several drugs on the market nowadays which are able to offer sufferers a certain amount of relief, even though they were not originally designed for treating IBS, such as:
Anticholinergics – relaxes the bowel and prevents spasms
Antidepressants – reduces pain and improves mood
Anti-diarrheals – used for treating diarrhea
Laxatives – uses for treating constipation
Of course, if your condition is being made worse due to an infection, then it’s very likely that your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. In this case, it is crucial that you do not stop taking your medication unless advised to do so by your doctor. Furthermore, before you decide to take any over-the-counter medications, you should always discuss it with your doctor first, particularly if you’re already taking description drugs.
Natural Remedies and Treatments
As many people can attest to, there are several natural approaches for treating IBS, and which are known to be moderately successful. In fact, many people have found at least some relief simply by eliminating certain foods from their diet. As such, it is always advisable for IBS sufferers to keep a food journal in order to determine which foods tend to irritate the condition, causing the symptoms to be more severe. Sufferers should pay particular attention to spicy foods, greasy foods, caffeine, and also dairy products, as these are all known to trigger the condition. Artificial sweeteners are another culprit although many people tend to overlook them completely, believing that something so insignificant could surely not trigger the condition.
In addition, sufferers should make a point of drinking at least 64oz. of water each day. If you suffer frequent diarrhea, drinking water will help to ensure you don’t become dehydrated. On the other hand, if you suffer from frequent constipation, drinking plenty of water will help to soften stools.
Over and above making changes to your diet, it’s crucial that you get enough regular physical exercise as this helps to promote the production of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are essentially a chemical in the brain that helps to regulate moods and this of course is beneficial in terms of reducing stress levels.
Lastly but not least, depending on the severity of your condition, you may want to consider counseling in order to help you bring your stress levels under control. While stress in itself does not cause IBS, high stress levels certainly do make the condition worse.
7 Things you need to know about “Irritable Bowel Syndrome”
August 30, 2009 by Admin
Filed under IBS - Free Content
So many people experience regular abdominal pain and frequent bouts of diarrhea and/or constipation, but what many don’t realize is that it could be the result of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Additionally, many don’t realize just how serious this medical condition really is, rather than only being an inconvenience at times. In order to help you determine whether or not you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, here are seven things you need to know:
1) Irritable Bowel Syndrome is more common than you think.
It is estimated that approximately 25 to 50 million people in the United States suffer from this condition. Furthermore, IBS is more prevalent among women than it is among men. Of those who suffer from this condition, 60% are women while the remaining 40% are men. One should also bear in mind that this condition can affect anyone, irrespective of age.
2) The exact cause of IBS remains a mystery.
Contrary to what many people believe, IBS is not a condition caused solely by stress, although stress can of course make the condition worse. Many medical professionals have suggested that the condition is brought about due to a disturbance occurring between the brain, the digestive system, and the nervous system. Even so, the root cause has yet to be pinpointed.
3) IBS Symptoms are not always the same.
The symptoms of IBS can vary significantly between one person and the next. While some people may experience constipation, others suffer from severe diarrhea on a regular basis. In fact, some people experience both of these symptoms regularly. Unfortunately, irrespective of how the condition effects you, pain is virtually inevitable, and while it may be relatively mild in some cases, it can be extremely severe than others.
4) There is currently no known cure for IBS.
Even though the condition can be controlled to a certain extent through a combination of medication and stress management, the minute a person stops taking medication, or their stress levels rise, they begin experiencing the symptoms again. (That is why I don’t recommend this way of training IBS!)
5) IBS is often left unreported.
Surprisingly enough, the vast majority of people who suffer from this condition, do so for many years before they seek help. This is possibly due to the fact that many people are embarrassed about the condition. This is also why some people do report it but they don’t make it perfectly clear just how severe their symptoms really are.
6) IBS is becoming more and more common.
Gastroenterologists have declared that between 20 to 40% of all their patients are suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and are in agreement that most fail to seek help simply because they feel ashamed.
7) IBS should only be diagnosed by a qualified health care professional.
If you or anyone close to you regularly suffers from abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or excessive gas, you should immediately go and see a doctor. Irrespective of whether or not you are diagnosed as having IBS, a doctor would at least be able to check you for other, more serious, health issues.
Treatment For Irritable Bowel Syndrome
July 25, 2009 by Admin
Filed under IBS - Free Content
Medicines:
Your doctor can recommend medicines that can counteract the symptoms you are experiencing. But be aware of the side effects of the medicines before pursuing this route for Irritable Bowel Syndrome treatment. There may even be times when the medicines can worsen the side effects you are experiencing. Also the effect of medicine is just temporary. Medicine is one method of treatment but is not permanent solution. It cannot cure IBS symptoms permanently.
In fact your body can become immune to these medicines over long run and the same dose may not have the same effect anymore. It is also possible you take an overdose to cure constipation which may end up causing diarrhea. So in using this method of treatment for IBS symptoms one should be aware of it’s side effects and one should definitely keep long term relief in mind.
Anti Depressants:
Some patients go into depression because of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In such cases anti-depressants can be prescribed by the doctor, as well as psychotherapy. Such methods will cover up the symptoms of the condition rahter than deal with them effectively. One should always employ to natural treatment methods first before medicinal route for curing IBS symptoms, or at least lower the symptoms.
Herbs and Natural Remedies:
Peppermint is a herb that can smoothen out your intestinal muscles. Slippery elm and aloe are effective herbs to use for abdominal pain.
There are also essential oils that can help relieve the IBS symptoms. Essential oils should always be used with base carrier oils for safety. Pure essential oils by themselves are very potent and can be harmful. One should always consult a professional for these alternate treatments.
There are also different food products that you should avoid. Take help from a dietitian or a nutritionist. Certain food products can cause constipation. But too much avoidance of these food items can also cause diarrhea. Thus, professional help is needed to establish a delicate balance. Keeping food data sheets can help in determining which foods trigger the IBS symptoms.
Large meals should be avoided as they produce much compaction and strain on your stomach and other organs playing vital roles in the digestive system. Thus, it is advisable for any patient afflicted with irritable bowel syndrome to take smaller meals. This may mean you would have to take more meals in smaller portions. This can effectively reduce the strain your stomach would experience when processing the three large meals you have become accustomed to.
The symptoms can also be reduced by eliminating fatty foods from ones diet. Fatty foods are harder to digest slowing the digestion process. Your stomach can feel more strain which can trigger the symptoms of IBS.
In general, fiber rich food is recommended. Many people experience significant relief in their symptoms by adding fiber to their diet. Fiber can help in constipation as well as diarrhea. Fruits and Vegetables are excellent source of fiber. So there are dietary changes one can make to cure IBS symptoms.
There are many more Irritable Bowel Syndrome treatment methods that you can choose from. Whatever method you choose, just make sure to refer them to your physician first, so that you can be sure you are on the right track.
By: Ravi Kuwadia
About the Author:
Should You Be Concerned About Anxiety Irritable Bowel Syndrome Link?
July 25, 2009 by Admin
Filed under IBS - Free Content
The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) will be different from person to person. One of the most common symptoms is bowel dysfunction accompanied by abdominal discomfort or pain. On average it is estimated that someone with IBS will suffer for 12 weeks over the course of a 12 month period.
This does not mean that these 12 weeks have to be consecutive though. It is usual for IBS to come and go, sometimes attacks may only last a few hours. There is also the possibility of suffering a number of other symptoms like depression, stress and anxiety.
There are many disorders that can cause abdominal pain. For this reason it should not be assumed that that you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome if you experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Many people jump to this conclusion thinking they have a form of IBS, but without proper diagnosis it could just as easily be one of the other digestive or gastrointestinal disorders.
One way to identify if you have IBS is the abdominal pain can often be relieved after having bowel movement and sometimes the bowel movement can be abnormally colored.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a bit of a contrary condition as some people can suffer from constipation, while others may suffer with diarrhea and there are some who experience alternating constipation and diarrhea. This is because Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects the function of the colon, therefore the ability to pass a stool.
The colon can also go into spasms, which will push your stool out of your body before all the necessary digestive and waste processing have taken place. Alternating between clenching up and spasming is what causes a person to go from suffering with diarrhea to having the pains that go with constipation.
Another common symptom of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is bloating. This is due to the gas build up in the intestines increasing the pressure in the abdomen.
Of course, all of these symptoms effect the way you live your life, meaning you need to avoid certain trigger foods, and are not able to be too far away from a bathroom.
This impact can lead to a number of mental and emotional symptoms that are commonly seen in IBS sufferers..
Suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome increases the risk of experiencing bouts of depression or feeling more stressed and anxious. There may be nights where you simply cannot sleep, and you may even have panic attacks because you do not know when and where the next bathroom visit is needed.
It is believed that between 50 and 90 percent of people being treated for IBS have psychological conditions, which includes social anxiety, panic disorder, stress disorder or a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
There are a number of ways of relieving the anxiety, the first is to seek the best advice on relieving the IBS symptoms. This should be done in conjunction with your advising physician.
There are also a number of relaxation techniques that you can use to soothe the anxiety symptoms. These should be tried before turning to anxiety medication which could complicate and effect your IBS treatment.
Continue reading to discover natural methods to treat IBS and join up for our free relieve IBS newsletter.
Some people gain pain and anxiety relief through visualization and imagery, and others through using deep breathing techniques. Alternatively listening to your favorite music, meeting with friends or just taking up a hobby can work wonders to make you realize there is more to life than your IBS.
Getting a good night sleep every night can help reduce anxiety, as can carrying out some form of regular exercise, and improving your diet.
The anxiety irritable bowel syndrome connection has been shown to be real concern in many IBS sufferers. Learning methods to relieve anxiety and stress can allow you to concentrate on gaining control over the other IBS symptoms, and live a life that is not controlled by IBS.
By: Susan Reynolds
About the Author:
Can You Help a Child With Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
July 23, 2009 by Admin
Filed under IBS - Free Content
Most people think that it is only adults that suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. No one would ever dream of suspecting that their child would suffer from such a painful, uncomfortable and potentially embarrassing condition.
However, children can and do suffer from this uncomfortable digestive disorder that causes bloating, gas and abdominal pain. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is characterised as a functional disorder that is thought to be caused by a problem in the intestines. This problem is thought to be the major cause of the recurring abdominal pain suffered by children and adults alike.
The symptoms that the child would generally experience are abdominal pain and cramping which will usually be relived when the child has had a bowel movement. The child may also suffer from bouts of constipation and/or diarrhoea. Again, these symptoms are almost identical to those that would be suffered by an adult.
Obviously any of these symptoms will be very scary for a child. No-one wants to see their child in pain or discomfort and that is why it is very important to get a proper diagnosis from your Doctor in order to help your child with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Getting a Clear Diagnosis
Changing your Child’s diet may be recommended as the first course of action by your Doctor. Many sufferers of Irritable Bowel Syndrome benefit from changing their diet to include more fibre and drinking more water along with eating more fruit and vegetables while also eating less fatty, greasy food.
Medications can be prescribed but as children are generally very susceptible to medications the first course of action should be the changes to their diet. Obviously these changes may take a little bit of time to incorporate into their daily routine. Everyone knows the many excuses children will come up with in order to avoid anything healthy!
However, even the smallest changes to their diet can have a huge effect. As an example changing from white bread to brown wholemeal, getting them to eat an extra piece of fruit a day, these changes although small can have a huge effect on their symptoms.
Making these changes can be easier when the child is a little older. When I first attempted to make these changes with my daughter, when she was very young, it was extremely difficult. She would stubbornly not try any new foods! However, as she has got older, she is now almost 6 years old, she is more aware of her situation and the effect eating certain foods can have on her symptoms.
Most Doctors do not know why children suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome and they generally think children will grow out of the condition. However, if you try making the changes to their diet and the symptoms do not improve, you need to follow up with your Doctor. There are medications available that can help and also some relaxation techniques that the Doctor can show you so you can help your child when they are suffering from an attack of certain symptoms.
By: Lyndsay Whittaker
About the Author:
For more information on Helping your Child with Irritable Bowel Syndrome please take a look at http://www.living-with-ibs.com.
