Indigo Health Clinic Treats The Root Cause
IBS may be the reason why your gut is not healing
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“Women are up to two times more likely than men to develop IBS. People younger than age 50 are more likely to develop IBS than people older than age 50.”
These IBS symptoms listed below are common and may cause lots of suffering. It is possible to reduce or eliminate them when they are properly diagnosed and treated.
Abdominal Pain
Your pain is related to your bowel movements. For example, pain may improve or get worse after bowel movements.Alternating Constipation and Diarrhea
Usually known as IBS-M, for mixed or IBS-A for alternating. It’s called “mixed” because you go back and forth between diarrhea and constipation, sometimes pretty quickly. Some studies have found that people with this type tend to have more belly pain or discomfort than those who have IBS-C or D.Bloating
Bloating and abdominal distension, which can affect anyone, are especially common with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and they can be among the most persistent symptoms of the condition. Bloating may be the only symptom for some people with IBS.Cramping
IBS pain can be felt anywhere in the abdomen, but it’s usually in the lower abdomen. The pain is sometimes described as stabbing, cramping, sharp, or throbbing.Changes in Appearance of Bowel Movement
You may notice a change in the way your stool looks. In IBS perhaps the most common change in stool is the change in consistency. This can be the stool being harder to pass and constipated or resulting in loose stool in the form of diarrhea. Due to the stool remaining in the colon for an extended period of time when constipated, this leads to more water being reabsorbed. This may darken the stool.Changes in Frequency of Bowel Movement
You may notice a change in the frequency and urgency to go.Constipation
Usually known as IBS-C. Constipation is one of the symptoms often associated with IBS. May include fewer than three bowel movements a week, the passage of dry, hard or small stools, the need to strain to pass stools, and a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowel.Diarrhea
Usually known as IBS-D. Most people define diarrhea as loose stools or watery stools. Others think of diarrhea as frequent bowel movements. Diarrhea is one of the symptoms often associated with IBS. Diarrhea is a sudden, urgent need to have a bowel movement that results in loose and watery stools. May be more serious if experienced at night.Incomplete Bowel Movement
You may have a feeling that you haven’t finished a bowel movement. Incomplete evacuation, the sensation that a bowel movement is not complete, is common in people with chronic constipation and chronic diarrhea, particularly those with IBS.
Increased Gas
Studies have found that people with IBS have trouble getting rid of gas, possibly because of problems with how the nerves and muscles in their gut work. Intestinal gas results from the activity of gut bacteria on food. An aspect of IBS is called visceral hypersensitivity heightens pain in your digestive tract.Iron Deficiency Anemia
People with IBS and related digestive problems often have a problem absorbing nutrients. This is particularly obvious with diarrhea, which is a malabsorption issue.
However, not absorbing nutrients can also happen with constipation.This is why many people with IBS also suffer from chronic anemia. They are not absorbing the iron and/or vitamin B12 that is in their food.Mucus in Stool
Mucus (cloudy, white, yellow) in the stool with IBS is one of the signs of IBS. According to studies, approximately half of IBS patients may experience mucus in stool. Mucus in the stool is generally associated with inflammation.Persistent Pain
Persistent pain that isn’t relieved by passing gas or a bowel movement is a more serious symptom to be on the look out for and must be treated immediately.Rectal Bleeding
Rectal bleeding can be common in those with IBS-C, the type of IBS with constipation. It’s often caused by small tears in the anus due to fecal impaction. Get evaluated immediately.Stress and Anxiety
Anxiety, low mood and stress are often associated with IBS and tend to make the symptoms of IBS. The result is that stress and anxiety sometimes trigger over-activity of your gut. This causes the diarrhea and stomach churning that those with IBS know well.
Also, the stress from IBS changes your hormone production, alters your immune system, and in some cases, upsets your digestive tract.IBS Worse Around Menstruation
It’s quite common for women with IBS to observe their symptoms change at different points during their menstrual cycle. Experts have estimated half of women with IBS experience worse bowel symptoms during their period. For women who have IBS, their menstrual symptoms may be more frequent and worse.Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea is an unpleasant sensation involving the urge to vomit, and a common symptom in people with IBS. Nausea affects roughly one-third of people with IBS. Vomiting is not very common with IBS, although the pain can get so bad that some people do become sick.Unwanted Weight Loss
Normally, with IBS, the main concern is that people lose weight due to the multiple diet restrictions. This then leads to a reduction in calorie intake and thus weight loss. Weight loss may also be a result of malabsorption.
“IBS affects between 25 and 45 million people in the United States. About 2 in 3 IBS sufferers are female. About 1 in 3 IBS sufferers are male.”
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine.
AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS OF IBS MAY REVEAL THE ROOT CAUSE OF YOUR GASTROINTESTINAL CONCERNS.
Give yourself the opportunity to tell the doctor what you have been experiencing and how it got to this stage.
Based on that conversation, the results of your labs, the nature, degree and source of your health issues will be determined.
An individualized treatment plan will be recommended, started and adjusted based on your feedback until you experience thriving optimal health. By addressing diet, lifestyle, and stress, IBS is well managed.
Give your body the best opportunity to heal illness, prevent and reverse chronic disease.
IBS Facts
01
What Is IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Signs and symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS is a chronic condition that can be very well managed and treated when giving the body the right tools.
02
Potential Causes
Food intolerances or sensitivities. Certain foods may cause digestive symptoms. Food sensitivities may be the root cause of IBS. Many people have worse IBS symptoms when they eat or drink certain foods or beverages. If you have IBS, chances are you have also have a food intolerance. However, having a food intolerance does not mean you have IBS.
03
Severe Infection
IBS can develop after a severe bout of diarrhea (gastroenteritis) caused by bacteria or a virus. IBS might also be associated with a surplus of bacteria in the intestines (bacterial overgrowth). Changes in bacteria, fungi, viruses, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which normally reside in the intestines and play a key role in health. Research indicates that the microbes in people with IBS might differ from those in healthy people.
04
Risk Factors
Anxiety, depression, or somatic symptom disorder. Early life stress – people exposed to stressful events, especially in childhood, tend to have more symptoms of IBS. Most people with IBS experience worse or more-frequent signs and symptoms during periods of increased stress. Family history of IBS is a risk factor as well.
05
Nervous System
Abnormalities in the nerves in your digestive system may cause you to experience greater than normal discomfort when your abdomen stretches from gas or stool. Poorly coordinated signals between the brain and the intestines can cause your body to overreact to changes that normally occur in the digestive process, resulting in pain, diarrhea or constipation.
06
Intestinal Muscle Contractions
The walls of the intestines are lined with layers of muscle that contract as they move food through your digestive tract. Contractions that are stronger and last longer than normal can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea. Weak intestinal contractions can slow food passage and lead to hard, dry stools.
“Approximately 20 to 40% of all visits to gastroenterologists are due to IBS symptoms.”
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