What is IBS and how does it present?

IBS differs from other abdominal conditions because it is characterized by abdominal pain with diarrhoea or constipation or both. These inconvenient conditions come back again and again.

In addition to the above, others may have the following:

•           Mucous in stools

•           “Gas” and visibly bloated belly.

•           Nausea

•           Feeling of early fullness after meals

•           Indigestion

IBS will generally not harm you but the frequency of bowel movements for instance may interfere with everyday life. If you get frequent diarrhoea you may not want to leave home or even socialize and you may not even want to eat out since food is probably the number one trigger.

Causes, Risk factors and Triggers

The exact cause is not known. I think it is worth knowing that such a cantankerous condition exists and could be the reason for all your woes. That sprint to the toilet soon after every meal and sometimes as many as five times within an hour may be tell-tale signs of IBS.

We are all at risk but it is commoner in women as well as those with a family history of IBS. It may coexist with depression and anxiety and has often been associated with stress. Stress certainly causes IBS to flare up. Unfortunately the inconveniences caused by this condition may cause a lot of stress and the vicious cycle continues.

Some triggers have been identified and include;

•           Eating a meal – no specific foods have been universally linked to IBS. You will need to use a trial and error method to determine which ones cause you distress. It is a brilliant idea to keep a food diary.

•           Hormonal Changes – many women with IBS are known to have severe pain and extreme change in bowel movement during their menses.

•           Some Medication

Diagnosing IBS

There are currently no standard tests. Your healthcare professional may order tests to rule out other causes of your symptoms. Often referred to as a diagnosis of exclusion because when we are unable to find any other reason Irritable Bowel Syndrome may come to our rescue.

In recent times guidelines exist which, once met makes the probability of one having IBS very high. In such a scenario it may not be necessary to carry out too many tests. You will need to give your doctor detailed information to help him make a diagnosis.

If you have any of these conditions then you may have something other than IBS and further tests are mandatory:

•           Symptoms start after age 50

•           There is blood in the stools

•           Family history of colon cancer

•           Weight loss

•           Night time diarrhoea

•           Symptoms that start soon after taking antibiotics

Management of IBS

It is heartwarming to know that if you have IBS then “You are SAFE. Only one of two things can occur. Either you learn to cope with the condition or you “die” of embarrassment. If you learn to cope, then ONLY one thing can occur. You will live to a ripe old age because IBS does not harm the gut in anyway.” Well unless you self-medicate with antibiotics all the time.

The management of IBS targets the symptoms to a large extent:

1.         Diet Changes;

a.         Modifying your meals should be the first stop.

b.         Increase your fibre and water intake

c.         Probiotics (“friendly” bacteria) as found in some yoghurts are quite beneficial.

d.         You may avoid caffeine, alcohol, fatty foods, chocolate, nuts, dairy products and vegetables such as broccoli, beans and cabbage (that is a long scary list. Note that you will reintroduce these foods gradually so that you can pick out your nemesis)

2.         Exercising

a.         This will decrease stress and improve digestion

b.         Also the general wellbeing that is a trademark of exercising helps you cope better

3.         Medication

a.         Drugs to relieve constipation, stop diarrhoea and manage depression all have a role to play in IBS

4.         Psychotherapy

a.         Various forms have been tried including hypnosis and relaxation techniques

It is still early in the year and I am sure most of us are still working hard at our 2018 resolutions and that surely includes eating healthier and increasing our physical activity.

AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)

Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel

Health Essentials/St Andrews Clinic

(dressel@healthclubsgh.com)

*Dr Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy and fitness nutrition and a candidate of corrective exercise.

Thought for the week – “One healthy choice is ALWAYS followed by another. Make a healthy choice today!”

References:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Harvard Medical School (Patient Education Center) – leaflet
• Webmd; Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhoea (IBS-D)