Abdominal pain. Cramping. Bloating. Diarrhea. Constipation.
These are all symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome — an uncomfortable and unpredictable disorder that can seriously impact a person’s health and life. Not only can it make you feel miserable, but it can create serious problems that impact daily living, forcing someone to stay home from work, for example, or avoid situations where he or she would be too far from a bathroom.
[See: How Often Should I Poop? And Other Toilet Topics.]
April is IBS Awareness Month and, as a practicing gastroenterologist and executive director of the Medically Associated Science and Technology program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, I think it’s an important time to shed light on this condition that affects millions of people nationwide. According to a new study from The American Journal of Gastroenterology, funded by Salix Pharmaceuticals, as many as 48 million Americans are affected by IBS annually. Yet up to 75 percent of patients with irritable bowel syndrome lack a formal medical diagnosis. These numbers should not go unnoticed.
The Rome III criterion, an international standard used to diagnose functional gastrointestinal disorders, says symptoms of IBS include recurring abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, constipation or diarrhea. Experiencing these symptoms inconsistently and erratically can be extremely frustrating and inconvenient to a person’s everyday life. An episode can happen on a moment’s notice, and you may not always be in an ideal situation for coping with it.
[See: Foods That Cause Bloating.]
A Misunderstood Disorder
Many people believe that irritable bowel syndrome is a brain-gut disorder triggered by diet and stress, but that’s not the case. Diet and stress can modify or worsen symptoms, but they don’t cause the condition. In fact, researchers have found that food poisoning is often the predominate cause of IBS. However, the leading theory is that irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder of the microbiome.
The microbiome refers to all the microbes in a community. Microbes interact in communities, and they respond to their surroundings. Just like organisms in Earth’s ecosystems, our microbial populations shift when their environment changes. The microbiome can take a toll on your entire body, as well as your digestive tract. And when your digestive tract is out of balance, the body can react in different ways.
IBS symptoms and side effects can be difficult for people to talk about, not only with their doctors, but with their family and friends, too. Participants from the study reported making lifestyle changes to manage symptoms of IBS, including: avoiding intimacy with a partner, avoiding alcoholic beverages and wearing looser/baggier clothing. These are real issues people with irritable bowel syndrome often struggle with, but they aren’t discussed because they’re considered taboo.
[See: 10 Weird Things That Can Make You Poop.]
Managing the Unmanageable
IBS doesn’t have to take hold of your life. Living with IBS isn’t easy, but there are things you can do to make it more manageable. According to the survey results, formal IBS diagnoses are an important step, because a diagnosis can lead to an appropriate dialogue between the patient and physician about medication options. In this study, patients diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome were significantly more likely to manage symptoms by engaging in lifestyle modifications, such as abstaining from problematic foods and avoiding high-stress situations.
Taking steps to manage your IBS and seeking out proper medical assistance can help you move forward and take control of your disease. Talk to your doctor or gastroenterologist if you’re experiencing symptoms related to IBS, and he or she will be able to treat your symptoms to help make daily living more manageable.
More from U.S. News
How Often Should I Poop, and Other Toilet Topics
10 Weird Things That Can Make You Poop
What to Eat, Drink and Do to Relieve Constipation
The Unpredictability of Living With IBS originally appeared on usnews.com
