What is bowel syndrome?

Answer 1

There are many illnesses that can affect your bowel, but one of the most common is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Despite being relatively common, many things, such as the cause of IBS and the best treatment, remains unknown.

While the exact cause is unknown, many patients who have additional health problems, such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and chronic headaches and backaches, are at a higher risk of developing the illness. Because of this, many researchers believe that the onset of the condition may be related to stress, the immune system, or infections. This theory is based on the fact that stress can lower the immune system, putting patients at a higher risk of infection, thus causing IBS. Many doctors theorize this because the antibiotic Rifaximin has been shown to be one of the most helpful drugs to patients. This means that IBS may be caused by an unidentified infection.

Once IBS is present, doctors believe the way in which the brain communicates with the gastrointestinal tract is altered. This results in the symptoms that those with irritable bowel syndrome experience.

Symptoms of the disorder include stomach cramping, diarrhea, constipation, and a feeling of needing to to use the bathroom despite not being able to. While the condition itself isn't life threatening, patients are in a constant state of discomfort, which often leads to addition problems, such as depression and anxiety disorders.

There is currently no cure for irritable bowel syndrome, but the symptoms can be managed in a variety of ways. One of the most common things that can reduce symptoms is to eliminate all forms of dairy and increase the amount of fiber consumed in a day. Medications can also be used, depending on the particular symptoms the patient is experiencing. For example, for someone who is constantly constipated, laxatives may be prescribed. For a patient experiencing the opposite problem, antidiarrheals may also be used.

Drugs containing serotonin have also been shown to be helpful in reducing symptoms. Because the serotonin level is often affected during depression and anxiety, which is very common with IBS, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) may also be used if the patient isn't already taking medication that increases the levels of serotonin within the brain.