Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a very common medical disorder plaguing many people ” both men and women alike. The sometimes excruciating symptoms of gas, bloating, abdominal cramping, constipation, and diarrhea ” or sometimes alternating periods of both, often make the IBS victim unwilling to seek the advice of a health care professional for IBS relief. Often times, doctors will dismiss IBS symptoms as being nervous stomachs or misdiagnosis them as a stomach bug, prompting unneeded antibiotic treatment. Other doctors still believe IBS is in the head, a manifestation of psychological illness. But no matter is causing your IBS pain and discomfort, IBS sufferers need real IBS relief.
While spastic colon is often used interchangeably with IBS, the two are not always identical. Spastic colon can sometimes be caused by a virus or the use of antibiotics. If this is the case, the condition is typically resolved within a matter of months. IBS-related spastic colon, however, tends to be long-term and requires some form of treatment and lifestyle changes to alleviate the pain and discomfort.
Fortunately, plenty of great foods can be enjoyed on an IBS diet. In fact, there are some foods that can actually help IBS symptoms. These include many fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Although the exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not known, stress and poor diet seem to be the aggravating factors. Irritable bowel syndrome is not a precursor to more serious problems like bowel cancer and doesn’t damage the lining of the colon. Hemorrhoids can form in untreated and long time suffers.
IBS sufferers turn to laxatives or other over-the-counter medicines in hopes that the condition is temporary. But IBS is a chronic condition. Improper or excessive use of laxatives can cause further problems for those with IBS, sometimes causing the condition to change from constipation to diarrhea.
IBS is not generally considered to be a life threatening disease and is one that can be treated quite successfully when properly diagnosed. It has been shown when treatments are specifically tailored to the specific form of IBS the IBS symptoms can normally be resolved. A specific diagnosis of the disease, therefore, is the most important factor in helping a patient cope with IBS and its symptoms.
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