There are two basic types of irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea include abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating and frequent, loose or watery stools. To define frequent, you must look at what is normal for the individual. The number of bowel movements that a person has varies greatly. Some people have three movements per day, while others may have only three per week. A change in the frequency of bowel movements that is accompanied by abdominal pain often leads physicians to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome.
Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation also include abdominal pain, discomfort and/or bloating, but the stools are hard or difficult to pass and movements are less frequent than what is normal for the individual. In a few cases, people with irritable bowel syndrome symptoms experience constipation at times and diarrhea at other times. Abdominal pain can be a symptom of a number of other medical conditions and should be evaluated by a physician. If a bowel movement relieves the pain, then the physician may determine that the abdominal pain is associated with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
The exact causes of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms are unknown, but patients can often determine what triggers the symptoms by keeping a foods and symptoms journal; noting what foods or beverages were consumed before the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome began. Products containing caffeine, alcohol and carbonated beverages may trigger symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, though these products do not cause the condition. Food sensitivities often trigger symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Some people are sensitive to wheat products; others are sensitive to milk products. And still others find that fructose, a simple sugar found in fruit and fruit juices triggers symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. This is why a food and symptoms diary is helpful. By avoiding certain foods, some people are able to keep the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome under control.
Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are more likely to show up in people between the ages of 13 and 40, than in those over 50. Women are more likely to have symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome than are men. This may indicate that irritable bowel syndrome symptoms are related to monthly changes in hormonal levels, but this is not certain. It seems that many people who suffer from symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome also are suffering from stress or other emotional difficulties and because of this stress management or behavior therapies are sometimes recommended. In addition, a recent study showed that hypnotic therapy was effective in controlling irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.
The causes and triggers of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms vary greatly among individuals. Treatment plans vary as well. Some prescription medications and herbal remedies may be helpful over the short term, but dietary and lifestyle changes are typically necessary to keep the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome under control for extended periods of time.
Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
You can prepare your own special diet for irritable bowel syndrome control by keeping a food and symptoms diary. There are some common diets for irritable bowel syndrome control that include recommendations about what foods may or may not cause problems. But, these can only go so far. Some people are sensitive to wheat products while others are sensitive to dairy. And still others are sensitive to fructose and sugar substitutes. In order to keep restrictions to a minimum and still control symptoms, it typically works best to design a unique diet for irritable bowel syndrome, based on individual preferences and sensitivities.
The common diets for irritable bowel syndrome typically recommended by doctors are healthy and well-balanced. A diet for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea will differ from a diet for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. In cases where both constipation and diarrhea are experienced at different times, a food and symptoms diary is particularly helpful. In the diary, you would note what symptoms you are experiencing and what foods you ate recently. Balance is the key to a diet for irritable bowel syndrome control when both constipation and diarrhea are experienced.
Fiber is an important part of any diet for irritable bowel syndrome control. It is recommended that healthy adults consume 20-35 grams of fiber per day. A food and symptoms diary will also help you determine how much fiber you are consuming and supplement when necessary. Certain types of high fiber cereals may need to be excluded from a diet for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, but fiber should not be excluded completely. If you are designing your own diet for irritable bowel syndrome control and you commonly have diarrhea, you may want to start with twenty grams of fiber per day, the low end of the scale, rather than a larger amount.
Common diets for irritable bowel syndrome recommended by doctors to control symptoms typically exclude caffeine, alcohol and sodas. These products can increase diarrhea, but they can also slow down the digestive system causing bloating and constipation. In addition, a diet for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea should exclude chocolate and fructose. Fructose is a simple sugar found in most fruit and fruit juices. It is an ingredient in many processed foods. If you are designing a diet for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, you may need to check the ingredients on foods that you commonly eat. You do not want to exclude all fruit from your diet. Fruit is an important part of any well balanced diet, supplying many essential vitamins and nutrients, as well as dietary fiber found in edible skins. This is why a food and symptoms diary is so important. Undoubtedly you will find that there are certain foods that cause more problems than others. Common diets for irritable bowel syndrome include recommendations for eating yogurt, which contains probiotics, a substance believed to improve the balance between good and bad bacteria in the digestive tract.
If you are prepareing your own diet for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, you may want to avoid the fried and fatty foods, as well as products containing the ingredient olean. If constipation is your problem, you may want to avoid highly processed foods like chips, cookies and white rice. Any of these could be causing you problems; the best way to learn what foods to avoid is by using a food and symptoms diary. This cannot be overemphasized, in this writer’s opinion. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Water is an important part of common diets for irritable bowel syndrome control; both when constipation is present, to soften the stool and when diarrhea is present, to prevent dehydration from fluid loss. Most experts recommend eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day or 64 ounces total.
posted on 10:30 PM