IBS is
one of
the most
common
disorder
of
digestive
system
producing
a
spectrum
of
symptoms
such as
persistent
and
recurring
abdominal
pain
associated
with
passing
of
motion,
change
of bowel
habit
(diarrhea,
constipation,
or
alternate
diarrhea
and
constipation),
etc.
without
any
apparent
cause.
The word
syndrome
means a
group of
symptoms.
IBS is a
syndrome
because
it can
cause
several
symptoms
in
addition
to those
mentioned,
like
cramping,
bloating,
gas,
frequent
urge to
pass
stools,
sensation
of
incomplete
evacuation
etc.
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BS is the disorder of function, which means that the bowel doesn't work, as it should. If one visualizes the bowel, it appears perfectly normal without any inflammation or other structural changes. In people with IBS, the intestines squeeze too hard or not hard enough and cause food to move too quickly or too slowly through the intestines.
Through the years, IBS has been called by many names--colitis, mucous colitis, spastic colon, spastic bowel, and functional bowel disease, irritable colon, and nervous colon. Most of these terms are inaccurate and refers to understanding of diseases at that particular time frame. Colitis, for instance, means inflammation of the large intestine (colon). IBS, however, does not cause |
inflammation
of the
bowel
and
should
not be
confused
with
another
disorders
like
ulcerative
colitis.
Prevalence
IBS is
very
common
condition
across
the
globe
and it
is
estimated
that
around
20% of
people
suffer
from
this
condition
some
time
during
their
life
time.
Over 40
million
Americans
and one
third of
the UK
population
suffer
from IBS
sometime
in life.
It is
the
single
most
common
reason
for
which
people
seek
gastroenterologists
opinion.
The
statistics
state
that
people
miss
work for
IBS and
related
disorders
more
than for
anything
else,
except
colds.
IBS
though
affect
people
of all
ages and
both the
sexes;
it is
more
common
in young
people;
usually
in late
adolescence
or early
adulthood.
The
condition
is
almost
two to
three
times
common
in
females
as
compared
to
males.
Nature
of
condition
Almost
everything
about
IBS is
totally
dependent
on the
individual
patient.
For
some,
IBS may
arise
during
times of
stress
or
crisis,
and then
subside
once the
stressful
event
has
passed.
For
others,
IBS
strikes
seemingly
randomly
and
without
warning
and
never
completely
goes
away.
The
duration
of IBS
is
different
for
everybody.
The
symptoms
may wax
and
wane,
being
particularly
severe
at some
times
and
absent
at
others.
Effect
on
lifestyle
IBS can
be
nothing
more
than a
mild
annoyance,
completely
debilitating,
or
anywhere
in
between.
Again,
it
depends
on the
person
and how
he or
she
reacts
to it
and
treats
it. IBS
can,
however,
be very
painful
and can
severely
affect a
person's
quality
of life,
and is
second
only to
the
common
cold as
a cause
of
absenteeism
from
work.
IBS
and
Stress
The key
point is
that IBS
is
strongly
related
to
emotional
stress
and
strain.
Research
on the
psychosocial
aspects
of these
disorders
has
yielded
three
general
observations:
1.
Psychological
stress
exacerbates
gastrointestinal
symptoms.
2.
Psychological
disturbances
amplify
illness
experience
and
adversely
affect
health
status.
3.
Having a
functional
GI
disorder
like IBS
impairs
the
quality
of ones
life.
Positive
points
Interestingly,
even
though
the
symptoms
of IBS
can be
very
painful
and
debilitating
in some,
it
should
be
emphasized
that
this is
never a
life-threatening
condition.
Those
afflicted
with IBS
do not
have any
greater
chances
of
developing
inflammatory
conditions
of bowel
like
Crohns
disease
or
ulcerative
colitis,
neither
do they
pose any
higher
risk of
having
colon
cancer.
Moreover
this
disease
cannot
be
passed
to other
individuals
like
some of
the
infections
may have
chance
to do
so.
Last but
not the
least is
that
with
revolutionary
mode of
treatment
of
Homeopathy,
IBS can
be
brought
under
control
effectively,
gently
and
safely.
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