Irritable Bowel Syndrome is among the most common digestive disorders. It is characterized by bloating, abdominal pain, bowel habits changes, and gas. You can experience IBS with diarrhea, IBS with constipation, or a combination.
Causes
While there is no apparent cause for IBS, experts say it can happen for a few reasons.
- A parasitic or bacterial infection in the intestines
- An issue with your GI muscle contraction, affecting how they move food through your GI tract (dysmotility)
- Extra-sensitive GI tract nerves (Visceral hypersensitivity)
- Miscommunication between your gut and brain
Treatments
While there is no definitive irritable bowel Jacksonville treatment, some options help minimize the symptoms, which your doctor personalizes after diagnosis.
Dietary modifications
Your doctor may suggest increasing your fiber intake to prevent constipation and promote bowel movement. You can also benefit from a low-FODMAP diet to restrict fermentable carbohydrates that trigger your symptoms.
Other dietary recommendations include increasing water intake and avoiding caffeine. You should also have smaller meals throughout the day and record them to see which ones trigger your symptoms.
Probiotics
Probiotics introduce healthy bacteria to your gut, which help better gut health, promote bowel movement, and reduce IBS symptoms.
Stress management
Stress increases the production of cortisol, which might result in colon spasms, triggering your IBS symptoms. It can also affect the amount of good bacteria in your gut.
Therefore, your doctor might recommend antidepressants or techniques like yoga, meditation, and mindfulness.
Medications
Your doctor will prescribe different medications depending on your symptoms and their severity.
- Laxatives help promote bowel movements if you have constipation-predominant IBS
- Anti-diarrhea medications like loperamide help if you have diarrhea-predominant IBS
- Anti-spasmodic medications help manage abdominal pains and cramping
Digestive Disease Consultants has a team dedicated to accurately diagnosing gastrointestinal issues and finding the best treatment for every client. Contact them at http://www.ddcjax.com/ to book their irritable bowel Jacksonville services or get expert advice.
