Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Symptoms and Treatment

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Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that is defined as a functional bowel disorder that has a biopsychosocial character. The basis for the manifestation of this ailment is the interaction of two different mechanisms.

This psychosocial action and sensorimotor dysfunction, which is characterized by problems with motor activity and visceral sensitivity of the intestine. To ensure qualitative treatment of this condition, a special approach to diagnosis, a differential diagnosis, as well as ensuring the correct course of therapy of the disease, is required.

Thus, irritable bowel syndrome is not a disease, but is a syndrome-a complex of symptoms characteristic of the functional disorder of this GI tract. They disturb a person more than a month. Patients complain of abdominal pain, difficulty with defecation, constipation, diarrhea, mucus in the stool, flatulence.

Reasons for

Why does irritable bowel syndrome occur, and what is it? Disorders of the gastrointestinal system in IBS is not an independent disease. If the intestine is irritated, the reasons lie in various functional disorders of the digestive system.

In the event of a relapse or the resumption of a pathological condition such as an irritable bowel, the treatment of which has already been carried out, may have very different causes and effects of digestive organ disorders.

The development of this syndrome is often predisposed:

• frequent stress;
• physical or sexual abuse;
• intestinal infections;
• genetic predisposition.

The peak incidence of irritable bowel syndrome falls on the youngest part of the population of 24-40 years, although cases of manifestation of pathology in adolescence or even in childhood are not uncommon. Women suffering from IBS are two more than men.

Symptoms of irritable bowel

Irritable bowel syndrome can have three types of symptoms: with a predominance of complaints of abdominal pain and increased gas formation, with constipation predominant, with a predominance of loose stools. At the same time, in most patients, IBS symptoms can occur in different combinations and change over time.

Therefore, this graduation is rather conditional. The features of the pathology include: a long, not progressing over time course of the disease, a variety of manifestations, the variability of symptoms, the relationship between deterioration of well-being and stressful situations, as well as with inaccuracies in the diet.

The main symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in adults:

1. Spasms and abdominal pain that pass after defecation. The nature of the pain is wandering, the patient can not accurately determine the location of its localization.
2. Constipation( stool less than three times a week) or diarrhea( stool more than three times a day), in some cases these conditions can alternate.
3. Excessive gas formation( flatulence).
4. Puffiness and bloating.
5. Sudden and intense urge to defecate.
6. Sensation of incomplete bowel movement after stool.
7. The appearance of mucus in stool.

All these signs can be combined with each other. For example, irritable bowel syndrome, accompanied by diarrhea, is often replaced by constipation and vice versa. Symptoms, as a rule, disturb a person more than three months a year.

Due to the fact that the ailment occurs against the background of emotional shock, the above symptoms are often accompanied by headache, weakness, heart pain, back pain, loss of sleep, painful urination, etc. Some pathologies, for example, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, candisguised as irritable bowel syndrome, so there is no need to make a differential diagnosis here.

There are four possible variants of irritable bowel syndrome:

• irritable bowel syndrome with constipation ( hard or fragmented stool at> 25%, liquid or watery stool in <25% of all bowel movements);
• irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea ( liquid or watery stool at> 25%, hard or fragmented stool at> 25%);
• mixed form of irritable bowel syndrome ( hard or fragmented stool at> 25%, liquid or watery stool in & gt; 25% of all defecation acts);
• Undetectable form of irritable bowel syndrome ( insufficient change in stool consistency for diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation, diarrhea, or mixed disease).

Very often signs of irritation of the intestine occur after eating, at the time of stress, in women during menstruation( or immediately before the onset of a monthly bleeding).

Diagnostics of

Rome Foundation experts have proposed diagnostic criteria for IBS: recurrent pain or discomfort in the abdomen( at least 6 months old) at least 3 days per month in the last 3 months associated with 2 or more of the following symptoms:

1. Pain andunpleasant sensations weaken after defecation;
2. The appearance of pain and discomfort coincided with the change in stool frequency;
3. The appearance of pain and discomfort coincided with the change in the shape( appearance) of the stool.
4. Discomfort means any discomfort except pain.

How to treat irritable bowel syndrome

This disease consists of a whole set of symptoms, therefore, in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, complex therapy is needed, which includes:

• diet therapy;
• changes in life style;
• pharmacotherapy;
• psychotherapy;
• physiotherapy;
• massage( abdomen or general, self-massage);
• therapeutic exercise.

First of all, you need to adjust the mode of life, tk. The main cause of the disease is stress. It is necessary to avoid stressful situations, spend more time resting, sleeping, active outdoor walks. Diet in irritable bowel syndrome is also an important factor. Nutrition depends on the form of the disease.

If you are more concerned about diarrhea, you need to exclude from the diet raw vegetables and fruits, coffee, alcohol, black bread, garlic, legumes. With flatulence( abdominal distension) restrict the intake of carbonated beverages, legumes, cabbage. If you are more often concerned about constipation, you should increase the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed, and it is also recommended to drink at least 1.5 liters of liquid per day. It is necessary to exclude the food, after which usually there is discomfort.

Drugs for IBS

The choice of medication support depends on the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in a particular patient. The therapeutic complex may include the administration of such drugs:

1. Spasmolytics , eliminating pain, if it is caused by intestinal hypertension( drotaverin, pinaverium bromide, mebeverin, etc.).
   M-holinolitiki, reducing spasm and having some opposing effect( buscopan, belloid, platifillin, riabal, metacin, etc.).
2. Antidepressants ( "Imipramine", "Fluxetin", "Citalopram").Designed to eliminate depressive conditions, neuropathic pains and irritated bowels.
3. Prokinetics - regulators of intestinal motility( metoclopramide, trimedate, tegaserod, itopride, alosetron, debrideate, etc.).
4. Astringent preparations ( Smecta, Tanalbin).Assign with exacerbation of diarrhea. With the same purpose take Maalox, Almagel.
5. Laxative - anthraglycosides( preparations of senna, cofranil, rhamnil, regulax, tisasen, etc., can be addictive).
6. Probiotics - ( "Hilak-Forte", "Lactovit", "Bifiform").With the help of beneficial bacteria, intestinal work is established.

How to treat irritable bowel syndrome developed on the basis of disorders of the nervous system? In this case, experts recommend to increase stress resistance through the method of relaxation, yoga and performing special respiratory gymnastics.

Day regimen

Lack of sleep and physical activity markedly worsens the course of the disease. At the same time, the formed habit of emptying the intestines in the morning after breakfast prevents habitual constipation. Promotes a regular chair of a glass of cold water immediately after awakening in conjunction with morning exercises, especially the exercises "scissors" and "bicycle".

Psychotherapy

Because frequent stress transfer is one of the causes of IBS, patients are advised to avoid situations that cause severe emotional upheavals, try not to get into conflicts and learn techniques that help to increase their own stress resistance.

Therefore, patients are recommended to learn and apply in practice:

• respiratory gymnastics;
• the art of meditation;
• yoga;
• Tai Chi and so on.

Hypnotherapy successfully reduces the influence of the subconscious mind on the appearance of certain clinical symptoms of the disease. Psychological training using relaxation techniques can calm and strengthen the nervous system. Yoga classes, special breathing exercises and meditations will teach quick and proper relaxation. And physical education and therapeutic gymnastics will help strengthen the body and improve the nervous system.

Prevention

As a preventive measure for irritable bowel syndrome, it is worth noting the normalization of nutrition and lifestyle( balanced diet, regular meals, avoidance of hypodynamia, alcohol, coffee, carbonated drinks, acute and fatty foods), maintaining a positive emotional environment,funds strictly on indications.

Forecast

The condition of patients with irritable bowel syndrome, treatment effectiveness and prognosis depends largely on the severity of the concomitant disorders of the nervous system. In achieving recovery, the overcoming of conflicts, which are the reason for the formation of a neurosis in a patient, is often of decisive importance.

The capacity of patients with irritable bowel syndrome and the prognosis for this disease largely depend on the degree of concomitant psychoemotional disorders.