Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a group of symptoms that affect your digestive system. It’s a common but uncomfortable gastrointestinal disorder. IBS affects people of all age groups but is more observed in people of 20-40 years of age. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterized by periodic or chronic bowel symptoms like abdominal pain or discomfort & altered bowel habits without any detectable structural abnormalities. IBS cause your digestive tract to be very sensitive. They also change how your bowel muscles contract. The result is abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation. The person who have IBS, he/she may have noticed that certain things trigger symptoms. Common triggers include some foods and medication. Emotional stress can also be a trigger.
Risk Factors are –
- Family history of IBS.
- Food intolerance.
- Emotional stress, tension or anxiety.
- History of physical or sexual abuse.
- Severe digestive tract infection.
SYMPTOMS –
- Abdominal pain or discomfort in association with frequent diarrhea or constipation with a change in bowel habits.
- Bloating
- Mucus in stool
- Bowel movements that are harder or looser than usual.
- Constipation and diarrhoea or alternating between the two.
- Symptoms related to genitourinary systems which are urinary frequency, nocturia, sense of incomplete bladder emptying etc.
- Psychiatric symptoms like stress, anxiety , depression etc.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Headache & backache.
How to manage – Diet management is must there. Relaxation techniques like mediation, yoga, regular walk, changes to stressful situations and adequate sleep is also beneficial.
Homeopathic medicines are wonderfully treated IBS – Nux vom,Argentum nitricum , Aloes , Arsenic, sulphur,colocynth etc.