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Irritable Bowel Syndrome

February 14, 2010 by Runal Keronil  
Filed under Health & Fitness

Irritable Bowel Syndrome causes a wide array of unpleasant symptoms like stomach cramps, gas, diarrhea, and even constipation. It develops due to different reasons and about 15 percent of the population in the United States has this disease. Long term Irritable Bowl Syndrome can cause depression and hemorriods.

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.

IBS symptoms are many and are often accompanied with or include abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, or a feeling of incomplete bowel movement. There are four different classifications of IBS, which have slightly different symptoms. IBS-D has diarrhea as its predominant symptom. IBS-C is characterized by constipation as its primary symptom. Thirdly IBS-A is named for the acute pain a patient feels as the most predominant of the IBS symptoms. Lastly IBS-PI is named for the fact that the onset of IBS symptoms closely follows an infectious disease the patient has had. Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or a positive stool culture often characterizes this last form of the disease.

If you eat large meals or certain types of food this too may be a cause. Some medications that people take cause Irritable Bowel Syndrome and alcohol and beverages with caffeine. The hormonal changes in women during their period are another cause. Some researchers have found that Irritable Bowel Syndrome is caused by bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.

Reducing stress in your life, eating smaller meals, regular exercise such as walking or yoga, and adequate sleep improve this disorder. Increasing fiber in the diet and drinking more water is another way to help the situation. For some patients a natural remedy may be the only medication needed to help. For centuries natural remedies from herbs and plants were used in Asia and Europe to treat nervous stomach and problems in the intestine.

Although IBS is very painful it does not cause any long lasting damage to the colon.

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