The Road to Relief from Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Did you know that thousands of people suffer from irritable bowel syndrome and yet the cause of it is unknown? April is National Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month. IBS is an intestinal disorder that causes a range of symptoms including cramping, bloating, and pain in the abdominal area as well as gas, diarrhea, and constipation.

If you are someone who suffers from IBS know that you are not alone, up to 20% of American adults experience IBS at some point in their lives. However, because the symptoms of IBS vary in frequency and severity, a lot of people go undiagnosed, which makes it even more important to raise awareness of this health issue.

Though IBS has been identified as a defined medical condition, doctors are still trying to paint a clear picture of the condition and its causes. Getting a better understanding of this disease and knowing possible triggers is the best way to manage IBS.

Understanding IBS

If you frequently experience abdominal discomfort, consider doing the following to best understand how IBS could be affecting you:

Educate yourself: Take the time to do some personal research to get the facts on what IBS is and what it is not. Understand that IBS is a lifelong condition and that symptoms can come and go and often change over time.

Consult Your Physician: Talk to your doctor about diagnosis and treatment options for IBS. Stress management, medication, pain management, and relaxation techniques have all been suggested methods of treatment for IBS.

Consult with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist: The newest nutrition therapy for treating IBS is using a Low FODMAP Diet approach. FODMAPs is an acronym for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols. These are forms of carbohydrates that might be causing your symptoms. An elimination diet followed by FODMAPs food challenges may help you identify the foods causing your symptoms. Seventy-five percent of IBS sufferers report improvement in symptoms when following the Low FODMAP Diet.

Relief from IBS

While there is no known cure for irritable bowel syndrome, there are ways in which one can improve symptoms. Always talk to a doctor and registered dietitian before beginning any “diet” aimed at treating IBS. Here are a couple of tips for getting relief:

Eat Smaller Meals: Consuming large meals can often result in cramping and diarrhea in those with IBS. To avoid this, eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day.

Try Probiotics: Several studies suggest that using probiotics helps manage IBS symptoms. Probiotics are live microscopic organisms, known as “friendly bacteria,” that keep the digestive tract healthy and functioning properly. Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria are the most common strains of probiotic bacteria which can be found in yogurt and other cultured dairy products. They are also available as dietary supplements.

Stress Relief Techniques: While stress does not cause IBS, patients with the disorder often find that their symptoms intensify in stressful situations. Therefore, taking steps to reduce stress levels may help with IBS. Consider activities like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, hypnosis, or counseling. Everyone reacts differently, so trying different stress relief techniques may be necessary.

Daily Diary: This is an effective way to help you get a better idea of your bowel disorder and will allow you to discover what is triggering your symptoms. Keep a daily diary recording what your symptoms are, when they occur, what activities you were doing when the symptoms flared up, possible stressors that may have been affecting you as well as what foods you were eating that day. It is recommended that you keep a symptom diary for about 2-3 weeks.

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