Irritable bowel syndrome is a gastrointestinal disorder that causes abdominal pain, excess gas, constipation and diarrhea. The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, also called IBS, can worsen with situations such as stress, anxiety and the consumption of certain foods and drinks.
The exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not yet known, but some factors can increase the risk of intestinal inflammation and cause symptoms, such as stress, intestinal infection and food allergies, for example, and it is important that a gastroenterologist is consulted.
Although there is no cure, irritable bowel syndrome can be controlled by changing your diet and reducing stress, for example. In addition, the gastroenterologist may also recommend the use of medications, such as laxatives, antidepressants and antidiarrheals to alleviate the symptoms of this syndrome.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are:
- Stitches in the belly, which improve after defecation and which last at least once a week;
- Excess gases;
- Diarrhea;
- Constipation;
- Stools with mucus.
It is important to remember that not all symptoms may be present at the same time. Furthermore, there may be days when symptoms worsen and others when they improve or even disappear.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Online Test
To find out if you are at risk of having irritable bowel syndrome, select the symptoms you present in the following test:
The symptom test is only a guidance tool and does not serve as a diagnosis or replace a consultation with a gastroenterologist.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome must be made by a gastroenterologist, who mainly evaluates the health history and signs and symptoms presented by the person.
Although there is no specific test to confirm the diagnosis, the gastroenterologist may also request some tests, such as a stool study, colonoscopy, computed tomography or blood test, to exclude other gastrointestinal diseases, such as colitis or inflammatory bowel disease, for example.
Possible causes
The exact cause for the development of irritable bowel syndrome is still unknown. However, it is believed to be multifactorial and related to changes in the brain-gut axis, an axis that represents the connection between the brain and the intestine, and which influences intestinal functioning.
Therefore, some risk factors that are related to the emergence of irritable bowel syndrome are:
- Stress;
- Anxiety;
- Depression;
- Food allergies or intolerances;
- Intestinal infection.
However, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can also appear without any specific cause.
What is the treatment like?
The treatment of irritable bowel syndrome must be carried out under the guidance of a gastroenterologist and a nutritionist, and aims to alleviate symptoms and improve the person’s quality of life. Therefore, the main treatments that may be indicated are:
1. What to eat
Foods that help prevent and alleviate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are:
- Fruits, such as tangerine, papaya, melon and grapes;
- Vegetables and greenssuch as pumpkin, chives, carrots and cucumber;
- Lactose-free dairy productssuch as lactose-free milk and lactose-free yogurt;
- Proteins, like meatfish, eggs or chicken;
- Oilseedssuch as peanuts, pine nuts and walnuts;
- Tuberssuch as cassava, yams, potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Maintaining a healthy and varied diet is essential to prevent the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome from worsening. See other tips on what to eat and what to avoid with irritable bowel syndrome.
Furthermore, following a low-FODMAP diet, which consists of eliminating foods high in fructose, lactose, fructo-oligosaccharides and galacto-oligosaccharides, and sugar alcohols, such as beets, apples, and honey, for example, helps control and avoid the symptoms of this syndrome. See how to follow the FODMAP diet.
2. Medicines
The use of medications, such as analgesics, laxatives and antidepressants, may be recommended by the gastroenterologist to alleviate the symptoms of this disease. Discover other remedies indicated to treat irritable bowel syndrome.
Furthermore, the use of probiotics, live microorganisms that, in adequate amounts, help balance the intestinal flora, can also be recommended to alleviate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
3. Psychotherapies
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that can be especially indicated to alleviate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in people with stress, anxiety or depression.
Hypnotherapy, a technique that induces a person into a state of deep relaxation, is recommended by the World Gastroenterology Organization to help relieve pain and improve the quality of life of people with irritable bowel syndrome.
Check out more tips on treating irritable bowel syndrome in the following video:
