Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Causes and Treatment

IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, although not a serious condition is one that can greatly impact your life; however, the cause of IBS remains elusive.

Characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, irregular bowel habits, including bouts of either diarrhea or constipation, or a combination of both, irritable bowel syndrome is thought to be the primary reason patients seek treatment from a gastroenterologist today.

It also greatly impacts today’s work force as employees are often absent from work due to IBS. This chronic illness does not lead to cancer or other illnesses however the impact on a person’s lifestyle is often so significant, that is leads to quite a debilitating existence.

Not only do IBS patients have to deal with symptoms of IBS, such as abnormal bowel movements, but many also experience flu-like symptoms such as chronic fatigue, muscle aches and pain, headaches and a general feeling of overall ill health.

There is current research being conducted to determine the cause of IBS, but to date, there is no definitive answer as to the exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome. IBS is referred to as a functional disease as there are no physical abnormalities found in the GI tract that could explain the condition.

It does appear that with IBS the gastrointestinal tract contracts abnormally. Researchers are currently working on a theory that bacteria in the GI tract may be the cause of IBS. It is thought that perhaps bacteria normally found in the large intestine might migrate into the small intestines prompting the signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Patients are typically diagnosed with IBS after other causes of the symptoms have been ruled out since there is no one test that can confirm IBS.

Treatment of IBS should be based on the cause of IBS; however, since that exact cause still remains a mystery, treatment is based on management of symptoms. Current treatment modalities include education about the disease itself and about known triggers for each individual patient, increased fiber intake to regulate bowel movements, avoid triggers and maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle.

Bowtrol Colon Cleanser has shown to be effective in the treatment of IBS.

No, we don’t know the exact cause of IBS at this point; however, science continues to research and study this complex and chronic disease in hopes of providing an answer for those fighting it every day.