Patients who are suffering the most extreme symptoms of IBS have found that the quality of their life has been severely affected as well. You can find many of them saying that while they did not have depression or mood swings before; their decreased functionality has made them feel helpless.

Irritable bowel syndrome can also be complicated by non-gastrointestinal symptoms, taking place simultaneously or accelerated due to IBS. Fatigue is one of the usual manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome. Difficulty in sleeping is another. There are patients who do not sleep well, and if you do not sleep well, which is a time for the body to restore itself, it can lead to worse bowel symptoms the next day, and that actually has been shown in studies.

The additional element of irritable bowel syndrome is that it coexists with some other problems, where you might have symptoms which might be outside of the gastro-intestinal tract. Like fibromyalgia, which is a chronic pain condition of the muscles. With most patients, the chronic muscle pain, which is obviously external of the GI tract, is actually developed due to IBS. Those suffering from IBS have a tendency to develop other symptoms related to it, and the more serious the condition of the patient, the higher the chances that he will acquire other non gastro-intestinal symptoms, including fibromyalgia, and other treatable medical conditions as migraine headaches.

Irritable bowel syndrome is also highly connected to leaky gut syndrome and gut dysbiosis, in the form of small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Other than that, IBS may also be linked to various environmental illnesses. Other medical findings show that those diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Gulf war syndrome (GWS), and autism mal also experience IBS. Recent studies have investigated this connection and started to find attainable reasons why IBS so frequently goes hand in hand with these other chronic illnesses.

Much of the research made has been focused on the connection of SIBO in most of these conditions, particularly in CFS and fibromyalgia. While it is known that SIBO is common among IBS patients, recent studies have also shown that the same holds true for those with CFS and fibromyalgia. Research indicates that SIBO I present in those suffering from either IBS or fibromyalgia.

Interestingly, they found that SIBO appears to be more severe in fibromyalgia patients and the severity of the SIBO in individual patients correlated strongly with the severity of the pain they suffered. To speculate on this research, could it be possible that if the SIBO of those with only IBS were to get worse, they too would experience fibromyalgic pain? Only further research can answer that question.

Other Health Conditions Associated With Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a post from: eHealth-Nut

There doesn’t always seem to be a certain food that causes all sufferers to have worse signs and symptoms. Physicians do not recommend a specific diet to handle symptoms. Nevertheless, with a process of elimination some sufferers find they do far better if they don’t eat particular foods. These foods may cause the intestines to contract, which can aggravate IBS in people who have looseness of the bowels as their major symptom.

A cautious eating plan can reduce symptoms for many I.B.S. sufferers. If you keep a regular record you can see which foods tend to cause the most symptoms. Always discuss your results with your doctor. You may want to seek advice from a registered dietitian who can help you make changes to your diet.

Dairy, for example, is something you should eat less of if you find that it increases your symptoms. You might be able to put up with yogurt better than other dairy products due to the fact it contains bacteria that provide the enzyme required to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk products. Of course dairy is a good source of calcium, amongst other things. If you do find that you have to avoid dairy then it’s important to ensure you get plenty of nutrients in the rest of your food. You may even have to take a supplement.

Constipation, one of the possible symptoms of I.B.S. can be made easier in many cases with dietary fiber. Fiber, however, won’t aid with diarrhea or reducing any pain levels you might have. Good natural sources of fiber are found in things like fruit and vegetables, of course, but also in whole grain products.

High fiber diets keep the colon mildly distended, which may help prevent spasms. There is some fiber that can help keep your stools ’softer’ so they’re easier to pass. That’s because it helps the stools to retain more water. Doctors usually recommend a diet with enough fiber to produce soft, painless bowel movements. High fiber diets may cause gas and bloating, although some people report that these symptoms go away within a few weeks. Increasing fiber intake by 2 to 3 grams per day will help reduce the risk of increased gas and bloating.

Drinking six to eight glasses of plain water a day is important, especially if you have diarrhea. Don’t forget that sodas can also increase gassiness and bloating – they are not a substitute for water. Chewing gum and eating too quickly can lead to swallowing air, which also leads to gas.

Large meals can cause cramping and diarrhea, so eating smaller meals more often, or eating smaller portions, may help IBS symptoms. Eating meals that are low in fat and high in carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, whole-grain breads and cereals, fruits, and vegetables may help.

Limit or eliminate foods that may make diarrhea worse, including caffeine, alcohol, foods high in sugar, fatty foods, gas producing foods such as beans, cabbage, and broccoli, and the artificial sweeteners sorbitol and xylitol often used in sugarless gum and sugarless candy.

Fats are pretty powerful stimulants to your G.I. tract – they can cause constipation and diarrhea. They do this by causing rapid spasm or contractions – similar to a ‘charley horse’ – in the colon and that’s why they can cause constipation or diarrhea. The foods that seem to be the biggest triggers for IBS are generally high in saturated fats. Foods like red meat, fried food, dairy products. Foods like dairy and meat contain certain proteins that can be very difficult for the body to digest.

Eat slowly and have meals in a quiet, calming environment.

Can Changing Your Diet Help With IBS? is a post from: eHealth-Nut