What is irritable bowel syndrome and the most common causes of it? The main signs and methods of dealing with the presented pathology. Types of treatment. Irritable bowel syndrome is a pathological condition of the body characterized by bouts of abdominal pain and defecation disorders. Moreover, such episodes for diagnosis must be observed for at least twelve weeks in the last year of life. It is also very important to note that all symptoms occur without the presence of any organic problem in the human gastrointestinal tract. Mostly children suffer from this disease, but it can also occur among adults. Moreover, in this case, this condition proceeds in an even more severe form.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Causes
The presented disease is a huge problem in modern society. Due to the unpleasant negative effect on human life, its etiology is studied in an enhanced mode. Despite this, the only provoking factor has not yet been found. There are only a number of causes of irritable bowel syndrome that are more likely than others to lead to this condition.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Psychological Causes
This pathology belongs to a number of diseases that bother a person precisely during the period of an unstable emotional state. This suggests that mental health is the breeding ground for disorders. Today, they only claim that the presented syndrome has a clear relationship with functional disorders in the patient's body in the absence of organic changes in tissue and organs.
Pathological conditions such as depression or panic attack are more likely to provoke intestinal irritation. Almost every episode of these diseases is accompanied by stool disorders and a violent reaction from the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract).
Such a state provokes the mechanism of activation of the autonomic nervous system, because it is she who first reacts to mood deviations in one direction or another. Therefore, many patients note that the symptoms appeared during a period of progressive deterioration in the emotional state or at the time of the onset of a panic attack.
The main factor that almost always accompanies a person in everyday life is stress. This defense mechanism causes a very violent reaction in the intestines, sometimes even too much. As a result, unreasonable abdominal pain may appear, which clearly depends on the frequency of exposure to a stress factor on a person.
Neurohumoral Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
It is well known that all processes in the body take place under the close control of the nervous and endocrine systems. These two links govern all reactions that occur in the gastrointestinal tract as well. If at any stage such connection is interrupted and broken, then the presented changes will be quite expected.
There are several mechanisms at once that can lead to this:
- Pathology of nerve connections … In order to ensure normal interaction between the cells of the brain and the points of its application in the intestine, it is necessary to establish their full-fledged connection. Often, as a result of the action of any injury or medication, it can be disrupted. As a result, there will be a failure in regulation, incoming impulses from the cortex will no longer be perceived correctly. This is how the first pathological bowel movements occur in combination with many other disorders.
- Motility disorders … The second mechanism that underlies the development of this syndrome is precisely the slowdown or acceleration of the motor processes of the food bolus. As a result, a person begins to experience severe pains of a spasmodic nature, which further aggravate the passage of food through the intestinal tube and provoke stool disturbances.
- Hormonal changes … Biologically active substances play a very important role in the regulation of digestion. With their help, many commands are implemented with regards to changing the strength and activity of this process. If any hormone stops performing its function, then the entire work of the gastrointestinal tract will be disrupted. It was also noted that the disease is more common in women of childbearing age and decreases activity after menopause, which is also associated with the level of hormones in the blood.
Alimentary Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
In this group, all the reasons that are directly related to the food consumed. This includes various foods and dishes that can have a negative effect on bowel function.
They include all irritating mucous substances: chocolate, citrus fruits, bitterness, coffee and strong tea. Special attention is paid to carbonated and colored sweet drinks. Their influence can independently lead to the development of the first signs of the syndrome without the presence of any additional factors.
An important place is occupied by spicy and fatty foods, various types of chips and crackers. Regular use of such products can provoke not only a functional disorder, but also mechanical damage to the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines.
Following the most common harmful substances, it is necessary to mention individual intolerance to some food. For many people, the first symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are associated with the use of fermented milk products. Despite the general beneficial effect, many of them are capable of causing disturbances in the intestinal biocenosis. The bacterial flora begins to appear in excess. As a result of this, excessively active fermentation processes occur, which cause the appearance of the main signs of this syndrome.
The main symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
The main complaint of people with this disease is related to the feeling of pain. Very often it is the only symptom of irritable bowel syndrome in humans, but its nature is completely different for everyone. Some patients complain of constant aching pain, while others describe severe and cramping pain. In the end, it turns out that the diagnosis is the same for both. Often this disease is accompanied by another disorder in the form of a stool disorder.
Based on the characteristics of irritable bowel syndrome, there are several options for its course:
- With a predominance of diarrhea … In this case, most patients complain of severe paroxysmal pain in the abdomen, which occurs mainly after some kind of emotional shock or stress. There may also be a loud rumbling, palpable accelerated intestinal motility. After some time, there is a violation of the stool in the form of diarrhea. In humans, food is poorly absorbed, stools appear in the form of liquid lumps with impurities of mucus, and pain in the umbilical region may also disturb.
- Constipation predominant … This disorder is more typical for people who are in a state of depressive disorder. Against the background of such a pathology, the first symptoms appear in the form of aching pain, bursting sensations in the abdomen. People gradually reduce the amount eaten and may even go on a hunger strike, which does not bring relief. This type of syndrome is not characterized by the presence of exacerbation attacks. The pathology itself proceeds slowly, without a sharp deterioration in the general condition. There is also constipation (constipation), which is characterized by periodic difficulties and the inability to go to the toilet, followed by the discharge of dry and rough feces.
- Combined option … Some people have two types of irritable bowel syndrome. With almost equal frequency, they are worried about both delay and increased frequency of stool. Periodically, seizures occur, which are replaced by relief or turn into aching abdominal discomfort.
There are also common signs of the disease that are common to all patients. These include a migraine-type headache radiating to the cervical spine. Myalgias, weight loss, and mood disturbances in the form of suppression are also possible. It is also important to note the fact that all the symptoms do not have the property of progressing, but only periodically repeats with the same severity.
Note! The listed symptoms can also occur in many other diseases. To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to confirm the morphological study of the absence of organic pathology of the intestinal tract.
How to get rid of irritable bowel syndrome
The presence of the described disease significantly impairs the quality of life of a modern person. Despite the fact that there are many ways to treat irritable bowel syndrome, this problem still plagues many people since childhood. The whole trouble is that in order to be cured, it is necessary to achieve the patient's complete trust and seek help as early as possible. Due to the fact that people prefer to keep such a feature of their digestion secret or simply refuse medical advice, the disease continues to take place in their lives. To prevent this from happening, a comprehensive approach was created to eliminate the problem.
Mental therapy
Based on the mechanism of development of this condition, its therapy should be started precisely with the correction of the emotional background of a person. In order to exert the correct influence, it is necessary, first of all, to assess the general condition of the patient, to detect the existing violations and only after all this proceed to the choice of the treatment option.
Among the wide variety of methods of psychological assistance, two of the most important methods of influence can be distinguished:
- Hypnotherapy … This type of treatment requires the careful selection of a competent specialist who, through his sessions, will have a beneficial effect on the patient. This effect is based on the patient's immersion in hypnotic sleep to achieve complete relaxation. It is believed that it is at this moment that a person is more inclined to constructive conversations, and is also receptive to recommendations at a subconscious level. The method works pretty well, but is only preferred for adults.
- Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy … This group combines almost all other types of psychological assistance. They are based on the organization of individual sessions, during which the doctor conducts an unobtrusive conversation with the patient. Such a conversation is based on the most common questions and reasoning that can detect the presence of any mental trauma and help in solving it in the future. Even if one is not found, then several sessions can be recommended as a prophylaxis, in order to teach a person to deal with stress, to share their experiences and emotions. The therapy is indicated for both adults and young children.
Normalization of nutrition
Even having found the cause of this syndrome, it is not always possible to immediately eliminate it. While a person is trying to deal with this problem, it is necessary to alleviate his general condition by eliminating the main symptoms. In this case, it is necessary, first of all, to pay attention to the human diet.
It should be as nutritious and complete as possible, but not aggravate the situation. To do this, you should consume a sufficient amount of plain water without gas (about 1.5 liters per day), eat small amounts of food about five times a day. Eliminate food that is too cold, hot, or in a hurry.
For patients with a predominance of diarrhea, it is very important to stop eating raw vegetables and fruits with laxative effects (apples, grapes, bananas, beans). It is also worth banning fresh juices from the above products. It is recommended to suspend the use of fermented milk products, as well as other fermentation provocateurs (beer, kvass).
In the case of constipation, on the contrary, all of the above is recommended. Fresh fruits are good to combine with cereals, bran, nuts, various greens and potatoes are also useful. It is strictly forbidden to consume strong tea, coffee and chocolate, which can by themselves provoke constipation in a person.
In general, the diet should be balanced and contain all the necessary micronutrients. The calorie content of food must be kept in the range from 2500 to 2900 kcal / day.
Drug treatment
Doctors try to resort to this option of therapy last, but in most cases it is very difficult to do without it. For some reason, such treatment is much better perceived by patients than lifestyle changes and normalization of the emotional background. Medicines have a much faster healing effect and work well in combination with other therapies.
Due to the fact that the syndrome has a lot of causes, various types of drugs are used:
- Antispasmodics … This group of medicines is designed to address the main cause of abdominal pain. Such drugs as "No-shpa", "Duspatalin", have a pronounced antispasmodic effect and within twenty minutes after administration are able to free the patient from suffering. By relaxing the intestinal muscles, they have a beneficial effect on the movement of the food bolus and prevent fecal retention.
- Herbal preparations … Such phyto-additives have a tonic effect. Sage, valerian, anise and fennel have no significant side effects. Such substances soothe a person, have a positive effect on his emotional state, and also eliminate inflammation. Their use is permissible both in the presence of diarrheal syndrome and in case of constipation.
- Means that normalize the digestive tract … This includes a very wide range of medicines. Their choice depends on which clinical form prevails in the patient. If a person is worried about constipation, then the choice stops on various laxatives containing lactulose and sorbitol. From nowadays known it is "Duphalac". But if the patient has diarrhea, it is worth turning to another group of substances that can thicken the feces and delay their passage through the intestines. The drugs of choice are Loperamide, Imodium
- Antidepressants … Such substances are used to ensure the normal psychoemotional state of the patient. In case of a mild clinical picture of depressive disorder, it is recommended to use tricyclic compounds of the "Amitriptyline" type. In a more severe situation with anxiety symptoms, they resort to serotonin reuptake inhibitors, for example, use "Fluoxetine".
How to get rid of irritable bowel syndrome - watch the video:
Before treating irritable bowel syndrome, you need to get confirmation of the diagnosis from your doctor. The fact is that such a pathology can mask many life-threatening conditions, so it is extremely important to make sure that they are absent. When choosing a method of therapy, one should remember about the preferred combined option with mandatory diet therapy.
