Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Irritable Bowel Syndrome popularly known as IBS is a disorder that damages the large intestine. The exact reasons behind IBS are not known yet but it is considered as a combination of several factors such as intestinal muscle contraction, inflammation of intestines, infections, bacterial change in the gut, etc. It results in many complications that depend upon the extent up to which the large intestine gets affected. Moreover, it is extremely painful and disturbs your health and lifestyle easily.

Let us study some common symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome first:

Pain

• Abdominal pain is a common symptom when you suffer from IBS. The pain, cramping or bloating of the intestine subsides after the bowel movement but it will take over once again after that.
• The intestine produces gases in excess which will make you feel extremely uncomfortable.
• Diarrhea, constipation, and other digestive disorders might affect you in an alternating pattern.
• The stool will consist of mucus in excess and this is a prime symptom of IBS.
• Some of these symptoms are mild and therefore the patient might not even realize it until it gets worse.

Now, let us take a look at its causes:

Like we discussed earlier, the exact cause of the IBS is not known yet but researchers say that it is a combination of multiple factors which we are listing down below:

Inflammation – Sometimes the cells of the immune system get collected in excess in the intestines which results in pain, irritation or even diarrhea at times. This also causes inflammation in the intestines which is one of the main causes behind IBS.

Infection – If a person has suffered through a prolonged session of diarrhea or bacterial infection of the gut then it might result in IBS. Also, if the bacteria grow in large numbers in the intestine then it might be one of the main reasons for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Nerve disorder – The digestive system consists of numerous nerves that might get damaged due to the abnormal production of bacteria or viruses. It results in acute pain or irritation when you pass gas or during the bowel movement. This also weakens the connection between the intestine and the brain and the nervous system might react abnormally even to slight digestive disorders or congestion.

Muscle contraction – The intestines consist of muscle layers that contract and move as your food move through the digestive tract. If these contractions are stronger and sustain for a longer period then it might result in gas, diarrhea or bloating of the intestines which might result in IBS in the future.

Treatment

If you are experiencing symptoms like weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, rectal bleeding, etc. then you need to visit a doctor immediately. The doctor might suggest you some muscle relaxation exercises along with the medication for faster recovery. The doctor might also ask you to seek the advice of a counselor as stress is a major factor that causes IBS.