Patients often suffer needlessly in silence rather than raising sensitive issues with their physician, says a gastroenterologist during Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month.
Many individuals are hesitant to discuss digestive complaints and bowel symptoms with their physicians, so they suffer needlessly in silence for years, says a gastroenterologist from global health system Cleveland Clinic speaking in April, which is designated Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month by the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.
Mohamad Mouchli, MD of Cleveland Clinic has the following advice.
We need to normalize talking about digestive and bowel symptoms with healthcare providers. Whether it is due to fear, stigma, embarrassment, or societal norms, research shows that many individuals are either reluctant to raise these symptoms with their doctor, or else they discuss them only when asked about them directly or when the situation worsens. Patients often prefer to search for information online, which can be counterproductive.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Symptoms
Symptoms related to the digestive tract often indicate IBS, which is uncomfortable, but nothing to fear as it doesn’t damage your digestive tract or raise your risk for colon cancer. In very rare cases, we might find the patient’s symptoms are the result of a more serious condition, such as colon cancer, in which case early diagnosis and treatment improve outcomes. So, either way, it is best to seek help from a healthcare provider if you have persistent digestive symptoms.
IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder – also known as a disorder of the gut-brain interaction – which is related to problems in how the gut and brain work together, says Dr. Mouchli. These problems cause the digestive tract to be very sensitive and also change how bowel muscles function, resulting in abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea, and constipation.
The International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IDGD) estimates that 5-10% of the world’s population has IBS. According to the Foundation, women have the condition more often than men; most patients are under the age of 50; and many are diagnosed only years after their symptoms begin. An IDGD survey of nearly 2,000 IBS patients found that their diagnosis of IBS was typically made 6.6 years after their symptoms began.
An IBS diagnosis is made when someone has three or more bouts of unexplained pain or abdominal discomfort – for example, bloating, cramping, and diarrhea – for at least three months in a row with clear periods of no symptoms in between bouts.
Also read: how to avoid bloating, belching and intestinal gas and when to see the doctor
Depending on the symptoms, a blood test, stool samples, and a colonoscopy might be undertaken to exclude other possible diagnoses.
Causes, Triggers, and Treatments for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The exact cause of IBS remains unclear, but researchers believe that a combination of factors can lead to IBS, including dysmotility, which refers to problems in how the GI muscles contract and move food through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract; visceral hypersensitivity, meaning that nerves in the GI tract are extra sensitive; and a miscommunication between nerves in the brain and gut referred to as brain-gut dysfunction.
Studies also suggest that people may be at risk of IBS if they have a family history of IBS, emotional stress, tension or anxiety, a history of abuse or childhood trauma, food intolerance, or have had a digestive tract infection.
There are effective ways to manage the condition and reduce a flare-up so that patients can enjoy a better quality of life.
Triggers for an IBS flare-up vary from person to person and can be inconsistent, so Dr. Mouchli works with his patients to identify their personal triggers, which can then be minimized or avoided. Common triggers include various types of food as well as medication and stress.
Food for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
In the case of food, elimination diets, undertaken in consultation with a doctor, can help ease discomfort and identify which foods trigger an attack. Foods typically eliminated include gluten, dairy, sugar, and packaged and processed foods.
Carbohydrates called FODMAPS – an acronym for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols – appear to have the most impact on well-being, and many individuals find relief following a long-term, low-FODMAP diet.
Is there a cure for Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
There is no cure for IBS, but working with a medical expert to make lifestyle changes such as diet and stress management – and medication to address symptoms where needed – can make a great difference in improving patients’ quality of life.
