Treatment For Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Even though there appears to be no simple remedy for irritable bowel syndrome, you can find treatments that can help decrease the symptoms.

For the majority of men and women suffering with I.B.S., a healthy chosen lifestyle is the most effective way to improve symptoms. This can include the following strategies…

If you are suffering mainly from diarrhea, remove tea, coffee, alcohol, spicy foods, and sorbitol, a synthetic sweetener, from your daily intake because these foods and drinks can aggravate your symptoms.

If your main symptom is constipation, switch to a more fiber-rich diet. Some rich sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables, and bran.

If bloating or regularly passing gas is the major problem, it is best to avoid gas-producing foods like beans and green vegetables.

Some people find that particular foods frequently cause symptoms, but it’s not always easy to find out. It is best not to dismiss one food after another from your diet to see if it is causing your symptoms, as you may not be getting all the nutrients you need in your diet. Advice from a dietitian can be beneficial.

Stress is another factor that can cause the symptoms. If this applies to you, deal with your stress level with the help of relaxation techniques. Keeping a record on what symptoms appeared during certain activities or events can be a great help in distinguishing the most stressful experiences that can cause IBS symptoms.

Having an active lifestyle and doing regular exercises can aid in removing stress and assisting regular bowel movement.

If painkillers are needed to manage your pain, paracetamol is usually a better choice than ibuprofen or aspirin as these two are known to aggravate the symptoms.

If self-help remedies are not effective, see your doctor for guidance. Medical professionals will also talk about your symptoms with you and help identify the variables that could be causing them to flare up or deteriorate.

There are also some over-the-counter medications available for the treatment of IBS symptoms. Anti-diarrhea medicines, such as loperamide may help but you should only take them as you need them, not on a regular basis. Laxatives, such as bran or ispaghula husk can be helpful. These are bulk-forming laxatives. However, some people find that bran makes their symptoms worse.

Lactulose is an alternative to bulk-forming agents. It increases the amount of water absorbed in your large bowel but can cause wind. There are also other forms of laxatives which are more concentrated and bowel-stimulating such as senna, but you need to get medical advice prior to using these agents.

Symptoms such as abdominal pain and wind, may be alleviated with antispasmodic medicines like mebeverine hydrochloride and peppermint oil capsules. Harmless bacteria known as probiotics are sometimes used as an added ingredient in yoghurts. There is some scientific evidence that certain strains can be helpful for IBS symptoms, but this is not conclusive.

You can also go to your physician for IBS medications. These medicines are simply prescription-only variations of the medications discussed in the preceding paragraph. Low-dose antidepressants are shown to be helpful, even if you are not suffering from depression.

As stress, along with other psychological causes, can trigger IBS, behavioural therapy and psychotherapy are other forms of treatment advised for some people especially those who have personal issues to handle. Ask your doctor for a referral to a suitable therapist.