Irritable Bowel Disease
Irritable bowel disease is a functional disorder. People suffering from this disease seem to have very sensitive nerves and muscles in the bowel area. Its common symptoms are abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation. The disease affects the gastrointestinal tract which stores stool.
Doctors are uncertain what cause the disease. Muscles tend to contract when you eat causing cramping and diarrhea shortly after meals. The nerves may react when the when the bowel stretches aggravating the situation. The main symptoms of irritable bowel disease are:
- Abdominal pain often relieved by or associated with bowel movements
- Chronic diarrhea, constipation, or both at the same time
- White mucus is present in the stool
- A swollen abdomen
- Sensation or feeling that you are not finished with your bowel movement
In addition to a physical exam and blood tests, the following tests are done to see if a person is suffering from irritable bowel disease:
Lower gastrointestinal (GI) series – An x-ray is done to spot for problems in the large intestine area. The procedure is called a barium enema x ray. Before the x ray is done, the doctor will place barium into your large intestines through your anus. Barium is a solution that makes the x ray on your intestines show up better.
Colonoscopy – this test is done by inserting a long, thin tube called a colonoscope into the anus. Through this procedure the doctor can view the inside of a patient’s colon on a big television. For the lower portion of the colon sometimes a shorter tube is used called a flexible sigmoidoscope.
Irritable bowel disease has no known cure yet. It may require you to do some trial and error to see what type of treatment works best for you. Your doctor can give you some advices on this. Here are some helpful tips to relieve symptoms:
1. diet changes
2. medicine
3. stress relief
Your doctor may ask or suggest you to add more fiber in your diet by taking supplementary pills high in fiber. Also take notes of certain foods that trigger your symptoms and avoid eating them. Stress relief activities like meditation, hypnosis and counseling may also help. Irritable bowel disease patients must find therapy or treatment that best works for them.