What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition in which food passes either too quickly or too slowly through the intestines. Common symptoms include diarrhea, constipation, bloating and gassiness, and abdominal pain.
IBS is a functional digestive disorder, meaning that while it causes symptoms and changes in the functioning of the digestive tract, there are no discernible physical abnormalities that can be observed in the intestines. Hence, IBS is usually a diagnosis of exclusion.
What Causes IBS?
No one is sure what causes IBS. The most widely accepted theory holds that a miscommunication between the brain and the nervous system of the digestive tract may be at the heart of the trouble. This miscommunication causes the smooth muscles of the intestines to contract too often or not often enough. Thus food gets shuttled through at high speed or a slow crawl either of which can cause problems such as diarrhea or constipation.
A recent study has found that people with excess bacteria in their small intestines exhibit symptoms similar to those of IBS, prompting researchers to speculate that this may, in fact, be the underlying cause of IBS. Thus far, however, this theory has not been confirmed.
Who is at Risk for IBS?
Anyone can develop IBS, as evidenced by the fact that twenty percent of all American adults have the syndrome. However, there are several factors that make a person more likely to do get IBS. Women are two to four times more likely to develop IBS than are men. Some researchers propose that this is due to fluctuations in the female hormonal cycle, an idea supported by the fact that many female IBS sufferers experience the most severe symptoms during the premenstrual period. It is also possible that men do not report or seek help for IBS as often as women, and this may account for some of the gender gap.
Young adults are more likely to develop IBS than children or the middle aged. An onset after forty is very rare. There is also an indication that IBS may have a genetic component. Some people may be born more vulnerable to the syndrome than others.
A Norwegian study found a link between low birth weight and IBS. Babies born underweight were more than twice as likely to develop IBS during their lifetime compared to their average weight cohorts. In addition, the severely underweight have earlier development of the syndrome. The researchers suggest that inadequate nutrition during the prenatal period may hamper the development of the digestive tract, resulting in an impaired digestive system.
Another study has found that people who are susceptible to stress and anxiety are more likely to develop IBS following a bout of stomach flu than are those whose stress levels and response are normal. Thus, while stress doesn’t cause IBS, it may contribute to its onset when paired with other factors.
Complicating Factors
Several factors, while they don’t cause IBS, can still make symptoms worse. These include food sensitivities, eating on the run or while engaging in stressful activities, and taking certain medications. Often, adjustments such as not eating foods to which one is sensitive, taking time to eat regularly and calmly, and working with a physician to find alternative medications can be very beneficial.
Find additional ways to alleviate your symptoms of IBS here.
Sources:
http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/2001/401_ibs.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTON
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases
http://www.webmd.com/ibs/who-at-risk-ibs
