IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is commonly known as irritable bowel. It is characterized by causing abdominal pain, along with periods of constipation and/or diarrhea. People who suffer from it often have discomfort or insecurity to lead a normal life, but a good diet can help a lot to improve it.
In this guide we are going to detail what it is, what its causes and symptoms are, how it can be prevented and what diet to follow to reduce discomfort and lead a life as normal as possible.
What exactly is irritable bowel or IBS?
Irritable bowel is a gastrointestinal disease that is more common than it sounds. For example, it is the second cause of work absenteeism in our country.
It is considered a chronic disease (in some cases it is only occasional) that causes pain and abdominal distention. It alters intestinal transit, causing diarrhea, constipation, or both. It is also characterized by the bloating and gas it causes.
There are periods when symptoms do not appear, but this disease is also suffered. It does not have an infectious, metabolic or neurological origin.
Main causes of IBS:
In Spain it is considered that the main cause of irritable bowel is stress, although it is a fact that varies in each country.
Regarding stress, it should be noted that the intestine and the brain are directly related. The mood of a person influences their intestinal transit. When you feel negative emotions such as fear or anxiety, your body secretes bile. The main function of this component is to digest fat, but it is also a powerful laxative. Thus, when it is secreted, it is very likely that the person will have diarrhea if they are not digesting.
Although there is no single cause of IBS, it has generally been established that it is the consequence of a series of disturbances in digestive mobility and sensitivity, which are influenced by psychological factors.
The intestinal flora plays a very important role in irritable bowel syndrome, but there are also other causes such as gastroenteritis, some food intolerances, hormonal alterations and even genetic factors.
The symptoms of IBS are:
It is estimated that between 10 and 20% of the population have IBS symptoms, although only 15% will go to the doctor to ask about them.
The main symptom of irritable bowel is abdominal pain, it can be localized or diffuse. It is usually of moderate intensity and lasts about two hours, it usually disappears when you go to the bathroom. The intestinal rhythm and the type of defecation are also altered, so it is important to check them each time to know how it evolves.
Other symptoms that are usually had are bloating, excess gas, immediate satiety after eating, nausea, vomiting and burning.
As a result of its very different symptoms, it is difficult to make a diagnosis of this syndrome. In addition to a physical study, several tests are also done, stool and urine are studied. It should be followed for several weeks to analyze the progression of the patient and make sure that it is IBS.
How to prevent irritable bowel:
The best way to prevent this syndrome is to eat a healthy diet. You should avoid eating foods that contain a lot of fats (such as fast food, frozen or precooked food and industrial pastries). In addition, it is advisable to increase the consumption of fiber and protein.
As gas often worsens symptoms and discomfort in irritable bowel patients, carbonated drinks and foods that cause them should be avoided. Such as cabbage, alcohol, legumes or nuts.
The treatment do you need to follow:
You should always follow the doctor’s instructions. It is important to know that it is a chronic disease, but that it is benign. It does not cause cancer or other diseases, as is often mistakenly thought.
Lo más importante es adaptar la dieta, para ello, hay que ponerse en las manos de un dietista-nutricionista. Él elaborará un plan que hay que seguir durante unas semanas hasta que el intestino vuelva a su estado normal. Después se hacen los ajustes necesarios. Una recomendación es apuntar los ingredientes y cómo reacciona el cuerpo a su ingesta.
Some of the recommendations that the doctor will give you could be:
- Divide the meals. It is better to eat a small amount on a frequent basis than a few and very large meals.
- Try to eat at the same time each day. To have a healthy habit in a relaxed way, you don’t have to eat in a hurry.
- Try to make the fiber we eat soluble, not insoluble.
- Eliminate foods with a laxative effect, citrus fruits, spicy foods and sorbitol.
We also recommend asking for psychological help. As we have said before, stress is one of the factors that most influences irritable bowel, therefore, the patient should learn to control her lifestyle so that it is as relaxed as possible. This way, excess bile will not be generated in the intestinal rhythm, with its consequent changes.
Sport is another way to calm the nerves and reduce gastrointestinal pain. In addition, you have to rest properly, stop smoking and drink 2 liters of water a day.
You can also resort to alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or hypnotherapy.
If none of this works, your doctor will probably prescribe some medications to help alleviate the symptoms. It is important to take the time to understand what irritable bowel is and what can be done in order to lead a lifestyle that is as normal as possible.