You Should Never Ignore These 7 IBS Symptoms

 

You Should Never Ignore These 7 IBS Symptoms

Although IBS symptoms might vary, there are a few you should watch out for. Find out more about IBS symptoms and what to do if you believe you may have it.

IBS, which is only three letters long, can cause approximately more than a million who suffer from this widespread chronic gastrointestinal illness shame, agony, and loneliness.

Your large intestine doesn't operate normally when you have IBS, also known as irritable bowel syndrome, which causes a number of unpleasant symptoms. Although the problem doesn't progress to any serious medical conditions, IBS can significantly lower your quality of life. IBS symptoms frequently prevent you from participating in social activities and working. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, IBS is the second most prevalent reason for people to miss work behind the common cold (ACG).

Though the specific etiology of IBS has not been identified by medical professionals, there are certain possibilities supported by research. IBS is frequently thought to be caused by a variety of circumstances, according to Jasmine Zia, MD, an assistant professor in the gastrointestinal department at the University of Washington in Seattle. Some hypothesize that there is a communication breakdown between the brain and gut, leading to the gut's oversensitivity and the brain believing it is in more pain than it actually is; others hypothesize that the intestines' pain nerves are oversensitive. Other factors that are thought to be involved, according to Dr. Zia, include hormonal influences, bowel inflammation, prior infections, altered gut bacteria, and past infections. Given that different problems might interact, it is challenging to identify the true motivating factor.

It is not unexpected that there is no treatment for IBS without knowing the precise etiology. (Thank goodness, there are effective techniques to control IBS symptoms.) In addition, according to Dr. Zia, "there is no test to diagnose IBS, which is one of the most annoying portions for patients." Before making an IBS diagnosis based solely on your symptoms, doctors may first do tests, such as a colonoscopy, to rule out alternative diseases.

IBS Common Symptoms

You might get relief more quickly if you can identify when stomachaches could be signs of IBS symptoms.

It's a challenging undertaking because IBS manifests differently in each individual. Within each of the three subtypes of IBS (IBS with constipation, IBS with diarrhea, and IBS with mixed bowel habits), some symptoms may be more distressing than others. Your IBS can change type over time, which will only make issues more difficult.

Although some people experience IBS symptoms daily, they typically occur in waves or episodes that persist for a few days or weeks at a time. Many doctors won't diagnose you with IBS until your symptoms have persisted for at least three months, even if they come and go.

Principal signs:

Continent pain

Whatever type of IBS you have, you almost certainly experience chronic or recurrent pain, usually in the lower abdomen, below the belly button. According to Dr. Zia, the abdominal pain must be accompanied by either a change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation, or it must be triggered by or eased by a bowel movement.

Diarrhea

The symptoms of diarrhea-predominant IBS, or IBS-D, include abdominal pain, loose feces, and a strong urge to urinate. It can be quite crippling for many IBS sufferers to feel like they must always be close to a bathroom, according to Dr. Zia.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, more than a quarter of your stools will be loose or watery, and fewer than a quarter will be firm on the days you experience IBS-D symptoms (NIDDK).

Constipation

IBC-C is characterized by irregular bowel motions during a three-month period or straining during them. According to Dr. Zia, individuals with IBC-C frequently have bloating or the sensation that they can't entirely pass their feces in addition to constipation and stomach pain.

According to NIDDK, during IBS-C episodes, more than 25% of your stools are hard and fewer than 25% of your stools are loose.

IBS-M, also known as mixed bowel syndrome, is characterized by both IBS-D and IBS-C symptoms, including pain and both constipation and diarrhea. According to NIDDK, more than a quarter of stools on days with atypical bowel movements are hard, and more than a quarter are loose.

Bloating, gas, and cramping

Even when the volume of intestinal gas is within a normal range, people with IBS may have increased sensitivity to it, which can result in cramping and bloating in the abdomen. Additionally, gas can physically "pump out" your stomach; this symptom is more common in women.

IBS in Women's Particular Symptoms

According to ACG, there are almost two times as many women as males who are diagnosed with IBS. Although there is no clear explanation for the gender variances, there is a good hypothesis.

According to Margaret Heitkemper, RN, Ph.D., professor at the University of Washington School of Nursing, women are, on paper, more likely than men to seek medical attention, which increases the likelihood that they may be diagnosed with IBS.

Women may find it harder to ignore IBS symptoms due to a number of variables. According to Dr. Heitkemper, women tend to have more pain-related disorders, such as fibromyalgia, which can overlap with IBS symptoms and amplify discomfort. Women also tend to have smaller intestines, which may make it easier for women to sense IBS symptoms like gas.

It is also being investigated whether female sex hormones affect the bacteria in the stomach and cause IBS symptoms in females.

When menstruating

This double whammy affects women with IBS in the days just before or at the start of their periods, when hormone levels are low. As if getting your period wasn't already a pain, research has found that your monthly visitor can increase the intensity and frequency of IBS symptoms, including cramping, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.

According to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, additional unfavorable symptoms experienced by women with IBS during menstruation include:

• Hypersomnia (Many IBS sufferers already report poor or inadequate sleep, which has been found to increase bowel problems, notes Dr. Heitkemper.)

• Increased sensitivity to certain meals and fatigue

While Pregnant

Changes in hormones often result in heartburn, reflux, and constipation in pregnant women, but there isn't enough research available at this time to say how adding IBS to the mix may affect the pregnancy, according to Dr. Heitkemper. There have been a few anecdotal stories of women with IBS experiencing less pain sensitivity when pregnant.

What to Do If You Suspect IBS

Instead of attempting to will away the discomfort or humiliation (sorry, it won't work), take into account the numerous options supported by science that have been successful in treating IBS symptoms. Relief can be obtained through dietary modifications, healthy lifestyle choices, prescription drugs, and natural remedies. Remember: The proper treatments rely in part on the type of IBS you have.

Probiotics—the so-called beneficial bacteria—have been demonstrated in studies to have a positive impact on IBS symptoms by balancing out the bad bacteria in the intestinal tract. However, there is a lack of information on the precise strains that are beneficial or even the proper dosage that can be efficient, according to Dr. Zia. (Excessive beneficial bacteria might result in excessive gas.) Dr. Zia points out that studies have shown that the specific probiotic formulations in Activia yogurt, as well as the supplements VSL #3 and Align, may alleviate IBS symptoms.

Since fiber in your diet helps keep you regular but can also cause bloating, opinions about the usefulness of fiber pills and powders are varied. According to Dr. Zia, some IBS sufferers benefit from fiber while others experience worsening symptoms.

Another possibility would be herbal medicines. Peppermint oil capsules have been shown in a Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology trial to reduce IBS symptoms, particularly pain in the abdomen.

As part of your toolkit, your doctor might advise drugs like laxatives, antidiarrheals, or low-dose antidepressants that reduce nerve sensitivity in the gut. 

In terms of nutrition, the low FODMAP diet has generated a lot of attention, but not just a marketing spin. According to Dr. Zia, this diet has a ton of evidence supporting it for IBS. It restricts foods high in FODMAPS, or poorly digestible carbohydrates, which are fermented by bacteria in our stomach and release gas, which can exacerbate painful symptoms like abdominal discomfort and bloat in people with IBS. FODMAPS also have the ability to exacerbate diarrhea or constipation by bringing water into the intestines. According to Dr. Zia, determining which foods are FODMAPS frequently necessitates reference lists. Finding a dietician with knowledge of FODMAPs can assist you in identifying and removing your unique FODMAP triggers while also ensuring a healthy, balanced diet.

Reducing gluten intake, which also promotes fermentation, may help symptoms.

Which Foods to Avoid As Triggers

IBS self-management involves figuring out the foods that make your symptoms worse, according to Dr. Heitkemper. Generally speaking, the following foods may be reduced or avoided for your benefit:

• Foods that are known to cause gas, such as beans, bran, apples, green peppers, onions, and Brussels sprouts

Spicy foods (which may exacerbate discomfort or cramps) and carbonated beverages

• Gum and hard candies (they make you swallow air, and sugar-free varieties could contain sorbitol, which causes gas)

• Foods high in fat (Fatty foods cause your intestinal system to empty slower, which leaves the potential for more symptoms.)

• Fast food restaurants (According to Dr. Heitkemper, you should be relaxed while eating so that blood may readily flow to the gut, rather than feeling agitated eating in the automobile.)

Personal Changes

Is there anything that exercising can't aid in? According to research, doing intense aerobics helps keep your bowels moving regularly.

Yoga, hypnotherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy have all been proven to be successful techniques to manage anxiety, which can worsen symptoms and increase pain.

doctors to contact

Only one out of every four IBS sufferers visit a doctor to treat their symptoms. Make an appointment with your main physician if you experience chronic diarrhea, constipation, or both, in order to receive a diagnosis and advice on how to manage your symptoms. If you have a severe case of IBS, your doctor might recommend that you see a gastroenterologist, according to Dr. Zia. Although discussing these "private" matters with others can be difficult, doing so can help you live a richer, happier life.