Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Symptoms Relief with Diet, Medication and Stress Treatment

As the name implies, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a combination of signs and symptoms (syndrome), and not a disease or disorder.

Many can reduce their IBS symptoms by following a diet avoiding the foods that seem to cause:

For instance, some find that cutting out dairy foods or consuming a high fiber diet assists in preventing flare ups.

If you decide to give up dairy products, keep in mind it is an important source of calcium and other nutrients.  So be sure to make-up this loss through increasing other food sources or supplements.

Or you might find you can tolerate eating yogurt, since it contains what’s your body requires to digest lactose for those with lactose intolerance.

A warning about jumping into a high fiber diet, this may cause you to experience gas and bloating. Many report this response to fiber subsides within a few weeks. Try easing into eating more fiber by about 2 to 3 grams per day, which would give your system an opportunity to adjust.

On a positive note, the IBS high-fiber diet has the potential to keep your colon mildly distended and stools soft. As a result, spasms may be prevented and/or difficult to pass hard stools.

How much fiber is enough to produce soft and painless bowel movements is however much it takes for your particular body. Trial and error time!

Adjusting the size and amount of food you consume at once reportedly helps reduce IBS, thus smaller meals more often. Some find helpful relief by consuming meals that are low in fat and high in carbohydrates such as:

  • rice
  • fruits
  • pasta
  • vegetables
  • whole-grain breads and cereals (unless you have celiac disease)

Another important dietary adjustment is to ensure your drink plenty of water each day, especially when experiencing diarrhea.

Stress also has an affect on irritable bowel flare ups. Feeling mentally or emotionally tense, troubled, angry, or overwhelmed can stimulate colon spasms. Because your colon has many nerves connecting to your brain’s autonomic nervous system, it responds to stress.

These nerves control the normal contractions of the colon and cause abdominal discomfort during stressful times. With irritable bowel syndrome, your colon overly responds to even the slightest bit of conflict or stress.

Some evidence suggests that IBS is affected by the immune system, which fights infection in the body. And your immune system is affected by stress as well.

It is for these reasons, that stress management needs to be an integral part of your treatment plan for IBS. Some stress reduction methods include:

Many suffer from irritable bowel syndrome for a long time and are not receiving medical treatment for their symptoms. No cure has been found for IBS, but there are diet, medication and stress management options to assist in reducing the impact of its symptoms.

Your doctor can help with prescribing medications, and counseling for ways to manage stress and diet changes.

Medications are an important part of relieving symptoms. For example, there are antispasmodic medications to help control colon muscle spasms and reduce abdominal pain. Also, a doctor may suggest fiber supplements or laxatives for constipation or medicines to decrease diarrhea.

Medications affect people differently, and no one medication or combination of medications will work for everyone, thus it takes working closely with a doctor to find the best combination of medicine, diet, counseling and support to control your symptoms.

Whichever way you choose, traditional or alternative, be patient and give each an ample opportunity to work for you. Your digestive system is a major defense against unhealthy outside impacts to your body insides, it requires prioritized treatment.

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