Stress Management, Diet Changes Improve Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms

Main Category: Irritable-Bowel Syndrome
Also Included In: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Article Date: 23 Aug 2010 - 4:00 PDT

email icon email to a friend   printer icon printer friendly   write icon opinions  


Current Article Ratings:

Patient / Public:4 and a half stars

4.08 (13 votes)

Healthcare Prof:4 stars

4 (1 votes)

Article Opinions: 2 posts

When persistent cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation are causing distress and frequent bathroom trips, the next stop should be a visit to the doctor. These symptoms, commonly caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), often can be minimized with diet and lifestyle changes.

In the August issue, Mayo Clinic Health Letter outlines what occurs in IBS and how this usually chronic condition is managed.

The walls of the intestines are lined with layers of muscles that contract and relax in a coordinated rhythm as they move food from the stomach through the intestinal tract and to the rectum. With IBS, the contractions may be stronger and last longer than normal, causing bloating and diarrhea. Sometimes, the opposite occurs. Slow food passage causes hard, dry stools.

What causes IBS is not clear, so treatment typically focuses on avoiding triggers and on symptom relief. Mild signs and symptoms may be controlled by managing stress; many people's symptoms are aggravated by stress symptoms. Diet changes also are helpful. Chocolate, milk and alcohol might cause constipation or diarrhea. Carbonated beverages and some fruits or vegetables may lead to bloating or discomfort.

When symptoms are moderate to severe, a doctor may recommend fiber supplements or anti-diarrheal medications. Some people with diarrhea may benefit from anticholinergic medications to relieve painful bowel spasms. However, the same medication can worsen symptoms for people with constipation. Low-dose antidepressant medications may be appropriate, because they inhibit the activity of neurons that control intestinal muscles.

Seeking a doctor's care is important when experiencing chronic bowel symptoms. Because there are no physical signs to definitively diagnose IBS, diagnosis is often a process of elimination. And cramping, diarrhea, constipation and other bowel symptoms also can indicate more serious conditions such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, forms of inflammatory bowel disease, or colon cancer.

Source:
Mayo Clinic Health Letter

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
Visit our irritable-bowel syndrome section for the latest news on this subject.
There are no references listed for this article.
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA
Mayo Clinic Health Letter. "Stress Management, Diet Changes Improve Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 23 Aug. 2010. Web.
16 Feb. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/198602.php>

APA
Mayo Clinic Health Letter. (2010, August 23). "Stress Management, Diet Changes Improve Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms." Medical News Today. Retrieved from
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/198602.php.

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.




Irritable-Bowel Syndrome

Most Popular Articles



Follow Our Irritable-Bowel Syndrome News On Twitter

Follow Us On Twitter
Get the latest news for this category delivered straight to your Twitter account. Simply visit our Irritable-Bowel Syndrome Twitter account and select the 'follow' option.



View list of all 'What Is...' articles »