Characteristics of irritable colon or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
The IRRITABLE COLON is a non inflammatory disease consisting of an hypersensitivity of the colon that produces a series of unpleasant reactions, especially after eating and at times when the person is nervous or stressed.
It is a type of reaction involving exaggerated contraction of this part of the intestine that causes cramps and pain to people who have it, and produces diarrhea, constipation or both.
Despite these unpleasant symptoms, studies of the bowel does not reveal any physical abnormality, so the disease is diagnosed by its symptoms.
In addition to irritable bowel, this disease is known by many names, for example, irritable bowel syndrome, spastic colon, intestinal neurosis, colitis, indigestion, nervous or functional colitis.
IBS affects a large number of people, being twice the proportion in women than in men . In most cases it begins to emerge from adolescence and before the person reaches the age of 35.
Many patients suffer it in silence without being diagnosed or without visiting the doctor.
Types of irritable colon
There are three basic types of irritable bowel:
- Light irritable colon: it presents occasional symptoms. It is not a reason to stop or drastically change work habits or emotional life.
- Moderate irritable colon:It may involve changes in habits or emotional life. Sometimes the patient must stop working.
- Severe irritable colon: it presents symptoms such as pain or the need to constantly go to the bathroom which leads to big changes in mood and personality and great difficulties to work or lead a normal life.
Symptoms of irritable colon or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
The main symptoms of irritable colon are:
- Intestinal Pain that decreases after defecating.
- Urgent need to defecate.
- Defecation with soft mucus.
- Sensation of feeling full even after defecating.
- Flatulences or gas
Causes of irritable colon or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is caused by changes in intestinal peristalsis. Peristalsis is the muscular movements that occur in the intestines to move food through it until they are transported to the rectum to be expelled to the outside.
A "normal" bowel produces a more uniform and controlled peristaltic rhythm. For people affected by IBS, the contractions may occur in greater numbers leading to an excessive increase in bowel movements, with their need to go to the bathroom. Other times, the number of contractions may be abnormally low, causing bouts of constipation.
The causes of these changes in the intestinal regularity have been and continue being very discussed, attributed to different factors or a possible combination among all of them. Between the main ones we would mention the following:
- An inadequate diet: The presence of a low-fiber diet or inadequate food intake or not tolerated by the affected person may trigger this syndrome. (More information on "Diet for the irritable colon" in the listing above).
- Nervousness, anxiety or stress: It has been verified that the situations of nervousness, anxiety or stress produce a worsening of the symptoms of the irritable intestine.
- Use of laxatives: Some experts believe that regular use of laxatives leads to changes in the behavior of the bowel that can promote the onset of this syndrome.
- Inflammations of the intestine: The presence of transitional or other inflammatory bowel diseases may occasionally be responsible for developing the disorder.
Diagnostics and treatment of irritable colon or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
The diagnosis of this disorder is carried out through the above symptoms. The physician may need to carry out a visual inspection of the bowel (endoscopy) for the presence of tumors in the colon, especially when this syndrome occurs in people older than 50 years. This test may not be necessary in young patients. Also this test may be necessary to rule out the existence of Crohn's disease, an inflammatory disease with similar symptoms.
The natural treatment of irritable bowel syndrome focuses on the use of a series of natural resources that can prevent or solve the problems.
More information on irritable colon and its natural treatment in the listing above.