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.
How to Judge (and Promote) Your Colon Health
Scare stories and hype abound in health articles and have for generations. It’s no shame to want to help people, or sell them products and services. Quite the contrary, both sides benefit from good information and good deals. But there are few areas where there is so much that falls only a little bit short of con games, if not outright lunacy.
The best way to protect yourself against scams, and yet still get the health information and goods you need for optimal well being, is to arm yourself by informing yourself. That is nowhere more true than in judging your colon health.
It’s often said that 90% of disease starts in the colon. Unfortunately for those who say it, scientific research doesn’t back up the claim. Yet, it remains true that your digestive system is central to your overall health. Having it work properly is one key to good health.
“No news is good news” is a valid rule of thumb to follow when it comes to judging colon health. Nearly everyone will suffer mild stomach upset, constipation, or diarrhea at some time, particularly as he or she grows older. But if you have no persistent bouts that is one good sign.
But, like any rule of thumb, it’s not a universal law, just a guideline. It helps to have regular checkups that may involve endoscopy, colonoscopy, X-rays, and other investigative techniques, especially if symptoms of digestive disorder last for more than a few days in the absence of a cold. Sometimes that time frame is shorter if you experience rectal bleeding or bloody stool. More than a day of that generally signals something that needs to be looked after. If the amount of blood is substantial, seek attention immediately.
There is a wide range of colon conditions that can lead to other common symptoms – abdominal cramps, diarrhea, excess gas, and others. Just listing colon illnesses could alone fill an article. You can minimize the odds of contracting one through proper care, which will also help you focus on how to judge the results of your efforts.
While the benefits are sometimes overstated (aren’t they usually in health issues, the flip side of scare tactics?), adequate fiber is good for digestive health. Intake of 20-35 grams per day of this material that is actually indigestible does promote intestinal health. People lack the enzyme to break down the polysaccharides in fiber, but gut flora do it pretty well. That may be ironic, but it’s well founded by hundreds of studies from reputable sources reported by the American Cancer Society, the Mayo Clinic, and others.
A proper diet extends well beyond that and contributes to colon health as much as it does to general well being. But, no matter what the latest diet fad may suggest, the amount consumed is still an important component of any plan. Portion control to keep total calories to a level appropriate for your body type and metabolism is vital. No matter the details, energy consumed minus energy used = energy left over that gets stored as fat.
There’s no magic to judging and maintaining good colon health. Eat right, exercise appropriately, and try to keep your stress level moderate or lower. Pay attention to the signs of trouble and seek professional guidance when they persist. Just like your grandmother always told you.
