Posts Tagged ‘IBS’

Tips to improve your Irritable Bowel Condition!

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

You may have been suffering from bowel irritation for long and would like to know what food to eat when you are ill. Avoid certain food products which may be your favourite but it is good to be avoided in order to stop your irritable bowel symptoms from aggravating. These symptoms could be bloating, gas, cramping, diarrhoea or constipation and sometimes you can see both that characterize irritable bowel syndrome. Food to be avoided include; red meat, dairy products, fatty and fried foods, coffee, alcohol, carbonated beverages, solid chocolate, and artificial sweeteners.

Food to be avoided:

Alcohol
Red meats
Caffeine (found in tea, coffee and soda)
Aerated drinks or Carbonated drinks (like soda)
Chocolate
Wheat
Food high in fat
Dairy products
Fried foods
Citrus fruits
Gluten (a protein found in barley, wheat and rye)
Artificial sweeteners (things like sorbitol)

Take simple and healthy food. Avoid above food as they are irritating or stimulating to the bowel. Drink plenty of water and eat food rich in fiber such as fresh fruits, vegetables, variety of beans such as lima beans and kidney beans, cereals and whole grain bread. Improve your digestive condition by eating all that is healthy for you.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – Is This a Common Disorder!

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gut disorder. The cause is not known although approximately 10% of people diagnosed with IBS this syndrome found that symptoms appeared after a gastric illness and it is often associated with anxiety and stress, which seems to exacerbate symptoms. It affects between 10% and 20% of the UK population and is twice as common in women as it is in men.

IBS  - Such syndrome is commonly misdiagnosed, or neglected, with many people suffering with symptoms years before they seek medical help.  This is because symptoms are fairly common and could easily be mistaken as unrelated bouts of diarrhoea, constipation or stress. Thus, it is very important to understand IBS these symptoms and causes, in order to seek medical advice and treatment more quickly.  

The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome may include:
–  Abdominal pain and spasms, often relieved by going to the toilet
–  Diarrhoea, constipation or an alternation between the two
–  Bloating or swelling of the abdomen
–  Rumbling noises and excessive passage of wind
–  Urgency (An urgent need to visit the toilet) / Incontinence (If a toilet is not nearby)
–  Sharp pain felt low down inside the rectum
–  Sensation of incomplete bowel movement

Read more articles on what causes IBS!

Find Out The Causes of IBS!

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

What causes IBS?
The cause is not clear. It is thought that it may be linked to overactivity of part of the gut. The area of overactivity in the gut may determine whether constipation or diarrhoea develops. Again, the cause of overactivity in parts of the gut is not clear. One or more of the following may play a part:

Overactivity of the nerves or muscles of the gut. It is not known why this may occur. It may be linked to overactivity of messages sent from the brain to the gut. Stress or emotional upset may play a role. About half of people with IBS can relate the start of symptoms to a stressful event in their life. Symptoms tend to become worse during times of stress or anxiety.

Infection and bacteria in the gut. IBS is not caused by an ongoing gut infection. However, in about 1 in 6 cases, the onset of symptoms seems to follow a bout of gastroenteritis (a gut infection which can cause diarrhoea and vomiting).

Intolerance to certain foods may play a part in some cases. However, this is thought to be only in a small number of cases.

How can IBS be managed?
Recent research has shown that a prebiotic supplement (galactooligosaccharide) is proven to improve the symptoms of IBS.  This supplement is not destroyed, digested or absorbed in the stomach or small intestine and therefore reaches the colon intact to selectively target and feed the body’s immunity boosting bifidobacteria while reducing harmful bacteria, all of which helps to reduce the symptoms of IBS.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – Know More About It!

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gut disorder, although the cause is still not known.  When X-rays, blood tests, endoscopies and other diagnostic tests are carried out, the results do not reveal any obvious abnormality. For that reason IBS is often called ‘a functional disorder’ of the bowel; in other words, an illness associated with a disturbance of bowel function without any change in structure or obvious cause.

What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome may include:
Abdominal pain and spasms, often relieved by going to the toilet
Diarrhoea, constipation or an alternation between the two
Bloating or swelling of the abdomen
Rumbling noises and excessive passage of wind
Urgency (an urgent need to visit the toilet) / Incontinence (If a toilet is not nearby)
Sharp pain felt low down inside the rectum
Sensation of incomplete bowel movement

Who gets IBS?
At any one time between 10% and 20% of people living in western countries fulfil the diagnostic criteria for IBS. IBS is more frequently diagnosed in women compared with men (twice as many), in young compared with old and in western countries compared with the developing world. It is commonly associated with emotional tension, is frequently triggered by life changes, difficult life situations or stressful life events.