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Everyone has the occasional bellyache or upset bowel, but for many people these occasional inconveniences occur almost daily. When these regular digestive disturbances are not caused from eating a questionable food and medical testing can’t find an "organic", it is generally classified as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS. No, the intestines are not having a bad day or holding a grudge, but it is a condition that can cause a fair amount of discomfort and inconvenience. Why is that?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects approximately 14 percent of the US population that we know about, and there seem to be many more who simply think of it as normal or never decide to seek treatment. But IBS is more than having irregular bowel movements or a little extra gas. In fact, those with IBS oftentimes miss work due to bowel pain, find themselves wearing tennis shoes to work in case they have to run to the bathroom, and regularly schedule their social lives around their condition.
Unfortunately, there are no objective diagnostic tests to confirm or deny the presence of IBS. Its diagnosis is by a particular symptom pattern including abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea or alternating diarrhea/constipation, increased bloating, straining or urgency. Without a clear cause of the symptoms, many doctors have determined that this is primarily a digestive reaction to emotional stress, and this seems to be at least partly true.
Most people who experience IBS symptoms find that their symptoms get worse during stressful events. In fact, almost all patients with IBS report anxiety, fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbances. Does this mean it’s "all in the mind?" No. What it means is that there is a connection between what we think and what occurs in our body. Where do the expressions "butterflies in my stomach" or "a gut feeling" come from? These are likely from just this sort of connection. While there are many medications available to manage anxiety and depression, alternative treatments such as relaxation therapy, biofeedback, and acupuncture can help lessen the effects of the emotions on the digestive system in a more holistic way. While these therapies are not a stand-alone cure for IBS, they are frequently a piece in the healing puzzle.
And of course it’s impossible to discuss digestive disturbance without addressing the diet. Dietary considerations for treating IBS include identifying potential food allergens and increasing dietary or supplemental fiber. The topic of food sensitivities or allergies is more complicated than can be covered in this article, but food sensitivities can affect the contractions of the intestines and consequently the degree of abdominal pain. Working with someone to identify and treat food sensitivities may be a good way to reduce or eliminate this. Fiber is another important factor in regulating IBS symptoms. An increase in dietary or supplemental fiber reads like a panacea in the world of preventative medicine: lowers cholesterol, relieve constipation, regulate hormones, regulating blood sugar, and the list goes on. In regards to IBS though, it seems that consuming the right type of fiber is as important as how much fiber to ingest. Soluble fiber (which dissolves in water) appears to be most helpful for those with constipation predominant IBS, while insoluble fiber such as corn or wheat germ can actually be irritating. Luckily, fruits and vegetables are a good mix of soluble and insoluble fiber. Generally these can be eaten liberally to obtain not only the fiber but also all the nutritional benefits inherent in them.
Lastly, many people don’t want to think too much about bacteria living in our digestive system, but the reality is that we’re outnumbered! There are actually more bacteria in our intestines than cells in our body. These bacteria perform functions such as enhancing digestion or stimulating our own immune system. While there are many different bacteria in the intestines which are health promoting, an overgrowth of the "wrong" type of bacteria can also contribute to the increased gas, pain, bloating, and stool changes inherent in IBS. It isn’t always enough just to eat cultured foods such as yogurt or Japanese miso, but sometimes it is necessary to add billions of additional bacteria with probiotics to balance the good-bad bacteria playing field.
Like many chronic illnesses, IBS does not appear to have a "one pill" answer, but addressing the many factors relating to digestion can oftentimes be enough to lead a more normal life.
Dr. Kraft is a naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist. He may be reached at Health Moves 17311 135th Ave NE Ste. C-800, Woodinville, WA 98072 Phone: 425.402.9999 or www.Health Moves.org.
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