The Unknown World of IBS
If you have been having recurrent abdominal pain and abnormal bowel movements that seem to be exacerbated by stressful situations, you might have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a condition that affects 25 to 40 million people in the United States, and it’s estimated to affect 10 to 15% of the worldwide population. However, it is a condition that is not well known by the general public and it is not well understood by professionals either.
IBS has also been known as spastic colon, nervous colon, and spastic bowel. As the name suggests, this condition affects the large intestine and is associated with recurring abdominal pain, accompanied by changes in bowel movements, which can be constipation, diarrhea, or both. Other symptoms of IBS include cramping, bloating, and gas. IBS is known to be a functional gut disorder, which doctors refer to as a “disorder of gut-brain interactions” -- in other words, problems in how the gut and the brain work together. This is why many people with IBS experience symptoms under circumstances that cause stress, such as traveling or taking a test. People become nervous, making their gut more sensitive and altering how the muscles in the bowels contract, causing symptoms of IBS. For people with IBS, physical pain is quite common and it can play a dominant role in their lives. According to www.aboutibs.org, “Three out of 4 people with IBS report continuous or frequent abdominal pain, with pain the primary factor that makes their IBS severe.” Therefore, people experiencing IBS have distinct pains that may affect their day to day life.
For people without it, IBS might seem like a joke, but for those with the condition, it often isn’t a laughing matter. Many people dismiss IBS as relatively benign because it doesn’t physically affect bowel tissue or increase the risk of colon cancer, but the condition often has a profound effect on people. The severity of IBS ranges from person to person, from mild inconvenience to severely debilitating. It can profoundly affect a person’s social, emotional, and professional life, and in the long-term, impair physical and mental well-being. And, as mentioned before, there can come great physical pain as well. This mixture of both mental and physical tolls that IBS brings is why, unsurprisingly, IBS is linked to many mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. Other risk factors for IBS include being young (IBS is highly prevalent in the student population), being a woman, and having a family history of GI problems.
Although flexible sigmoidoscopy (where the lower colon is examined), colonoscopy, stool tests, and X-rays are a few possible tests to rule out any other illnesses or to observe if any damage has been done, there is no definitive test for IBS. In addition, unfortunately, the cause of IBS is unknown, as well as many other aspects of the condition. Relevant factors may include abnormalities in the muscle contractions in the gut, abnormalities in the nervous system pertaining to the gut, inflammation to the intestines, and changes in the gut microbiome. No clear cure exists and information on surgery online is limited for IBS. In terms of long term treatment, what is known, however, is ways to mitigate, and learn to live with, IBS. In addition, some medicines, like antidiarrheal medications, fiber supplements, or pain medications may be prescribed. First, it’s important to visit a medical professional. The specific specialist to see is a gastroenterologist, but some people may visit their family doctor. 20 to 40% of gastroenterologist visits are complaints of IBS. From there, one can work together with their health care provider and make lifestyle changes, such as having a more stringent dietary plan, practicing mindfulness training, regularly performing relaxation exercises, and counseling. Since its cause is unknown, precautions for IBS are not known either, with most websites focusing on how to reduce the symptoms of IBS rather than preventing it.
Issues with bowel movements have always been the butt of jokes (ironically, pun intended), and that has made talking about serious medical issues pertaining to IBS a sensitive issue. It’s important to be aware and mindful of this condition, considering not only its prevalence but its impact on people with IBS.
References:
https://www.aboutibs.org/what-is-ibs/facts-about-ibs-2.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20360016
https://www.emedicinehealth.com/irritable_bowel_syndrome/article_em.htm
https://www.aboutibs.org/understanding-and-managing-pain-in-ibs.html
