Irritable bowel syndrome: medications, causes, symptoms, etc.

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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) definition

Irritable bowel syndrome is a group of symptoms in the digestive system that affects the work of the large intestine. This disease is also known as irritable bowel syndromee (IBS).

IBS occurs due to damage to the way the intestines work, but does not indicate tissue damage.

This syndrome is generally characterized by repeated bouts of stomach pain. Abdominal pain initially begins by the intestinal muscles which continue to contract as if you were trying to have a bowel movement.

Generally, contractions like this occur several times a day. However, contractions will be felt more often after consuming certain foods or drinks, such as vegetables or coffee.

Unlike people with a healthy digestive system, the stomach with IBS is more sensitive. They are more prone to experience stomach aches, bloating, and indigestion such as diarrhea or sometimes constipation after consuming them.

How common is irritable bowel syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition. About 10-15 people per every 100 people in the world have this condition.

Women who are less than 45 years of age are at twice the risk of getting IBS than men.

Signs and symptoms of IBS

Symptoms irritable bowel syndrome may vary with different relapse times. Launching the Mayo Clinic website, some of the most common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are as follows.

• Abdominal pain, cramps, seizures, or discomfort that goes away after a bowel movement.
• Watery diarrhea that can occur more than once a day.
• After defecating, there is a feeling of incomplete.
• Constipation, aka difficulty defecating, hard, dry stools.
• Excessive farting.
• Bloating
• Changeable stool shape; sometimes hard, sometimes flabby.
• You have mucus in your stool.

There may be other symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a symptom, consult your doctor further.

When to see a doctor for irritable bowel syndrome?

IBS is a condition with many symptoms. You need to see a doctor if your bowel schedule continues to be disrupted or if you have other signs and symptoms.

This may indicate a more serious condition, such as colon cancer.

Your doctor may be able to help find ways to relieve symptoms and prevent them from recurring easily. Your doctor can also help you avoid possible complications from problems such as chronic diarrhea.

Causes and risk factors

What causes irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

Cause irritable bowel syndrome namely the problem of contractions in the large intestine. The colon muscles normally contract to absorb water and soften the texture of the stool. In addition, contractions are also useful for pushing dirt out.

Colon contractions in people who have irritable bowel syndrome work abnormally. This causes the intestinal contractions to be too many and frequent, too fast, or too slow.

Contractions that are too frequent can trigger diarrhea, while contractions that are too few cause constipation.

In addition, irregular muscle contractions may cause stomach cramps, heartburn, or make you want to have a bowel movement.

Until recently, the causes behind large IBS were not known with certainty. However, his strongest suspicion is a nervous system problem. The large intestine of people with IBS is more sensitive and reacts strongly to signals from the brain.

What increases the risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that can be influenced by the following factors.

1. Psychological problems

IBS is not actually caused by stress or strong emotional turmoil. However, some people experience this condition for as long as they are under stress.

Stress can worsen the condition of the brain, which can impact the digestive system.

2. Digestive tract infection

People with IBS may have differences in bowel motility or have problems with it visceral hypersensitivity, inflammation, and gut bacteria. As a result, the risk of getting IBS increases.

3. Genetic history

The risk of someone being exposed irritable bowel syndrome can be influenced by genetic factors. If there are close family members who have this condition, you are more likely to experience the same disease.

4. Gender

Women are twice as likely to develop irritable bowel syndrome. This appears to be triggered by hormones related to the menstrual cycle.

5. Foods that trigger irritable bowel syndrome symptoms

Irritable bowel syndrome not caused by food. However, certain foods can trigger diarrhea, bloating, or pain symptoms. Common irritating foods include:

• artificial sweeteners,
• artificial fat,
• coconut milk food,
• egg yolk,
• fried,
• oil,
• skin and poultry,
• Red meat,
• solid chocolate,
• alcohol,
• carbonated drinks,
• coffee, as well
• milk.

A diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome

A diagnosis of IBS can only be made after a doctor ensures that your digestive disorders are not caused by other diseases or infections. The diagnosis is known as Rome Criteria or the Rome Criteria.

Rome Criteria is a criteria procedure that requires that you have had your symptoms appearing once a week in the past 3 months. These criteria also stipulate that IBS symptoms begin at least 6 months before seeing a doctor

Apart from using the Rome Criterion, doctors often perform several tests to ensure that there is no inflammation, infection, or other disease causing the symptoms.

Other tests that can help in the diagnosis irritable bowel syndrome usually includes blood tests and stool occult blood tests.

Other tests that may be done include stool culture, barium enema, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy.

Once everything is ruled out and no other diseases and infections are found, irritable bowel syndrome can be diagnosed.

Patients are usually diagnosed with one of three types of IBS, namely:

• diarrhea-dominant (IBS-D),
• constipation-dominant (IBS-C), as well
• mixed bowel habits (IBS-M) such as alternating constipation and diarrhea.

Irritable bowel syndrome treatment

IBS is a condition that can be controlled by lifestyle changes. Doctors generally recommend eating small meals, drinking enough water, exercising regularly, and reducing stress.

Not to forget, there are also several drugs that the doctor will prescribe according to which type of irritable bowel syndrome is the most dominant. Here are the drugs that are often given.

1. Antidiarrheal

Your doctor may suggest trying diarrhea medications such as bismuth subsalicylate and loperamide. This medication can help slow diarrhea, but it doesn't help with other IBS symptoms such as stomach pain or swelling.

The side effects of this treatment include stomach cramps and bloating, along with dry mouth, dizziness, and constipation. If you are taking diarrhea medicine, use the lowest possible dose and do not take it for a long time.

Some diarrhea medicines may also contain simethicone to relieve bloating due to gas buildup in the digestive tract and is considered safe.

2. Antidepressants

If your doctor recommends this drug, you may not necessarily be depressed. Antidepressant drugs are prescribed for sufferers irritable bowel syndrome to help deal with stomach aches that may be triggered by stress.

Antidepressant drugs that are often prescribed are amitriptyline or nortriptyline. There are a number of mild side effects that may occur, including dry mouth, blurred vision, and constipation.

3. Antispasmodic

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition that can be helped treat with antispasmodics. This drug works by relaxing the digestive muscles. Some of the commonly prescribed drugs are dicyclomine and hyoscyamine.

However, some studies have found no clear evidence that this drug can help everyone who has IBS. Side effects of this medication include decreased sweating, constipation, dry mouth, and blurred vision.

4. Fiber supplements

Doctors can also add fiber supplement drugs such as Metamucil. This fiber supplement helps with constipation and diarrhea.

This medicine works by increasing the amount of stool, so that the stool is not too liquid during diarrhea.

Fiber supplements can also make stool easier to pass when you are suffering from it irritable bowel syndrome the constipated bowel movements. Generally, the recommended fiber for constipation is fiber that is insoluble in water.

Insoluble fiber can increase the amount of your stool, helping stool pass more quickly through the intestines. For this reason, consult with your doctor what fiber supplements are right for your IBS condition

5. Laxatives for constipation

Laxatives stimulate the movement of the colon to quickly push feces into the rectum. That way, the frequency of your bowel movements will be smoother. Keep in mind that this drug cannot treat the symptoms of IBS in the form of abdominal pain and bloating.

It is important to know how many doses you are taking. Use of laxatives must be prescribed and under the close supervision of a doctor. Using it too often when it is not necessary can increase the risk of dependence.

People with IBS aged 17 years and over can also be given linaclotide if other treatments have not worked. This medication is a capsule that must be taken once a day on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before the first meal of the day.

Home treatment for IBS

Here are some things you can do to control the chances of an IBS recurrence.

1. Keep a food journal entry

People with IBS generally need to stay away from food and drink that aggravate the condition. Therefore, it is recommended that you keep a symptom journal to find out what foods can be consumed and which cannot.

For example, when you experience symptoms of IBS constipation, try to remember what foods you ate before. Record the types and amounts of food you eat during meals after symptoms begin.

2. Manage stress

In some cases, irritable bowel syndrome can be triggered by stressful conditions. Stress is not the cause of IBS, but like any disease or disorder, stress can cause IBS symptoms to worsen.

Apart from using drugs or other medical therapies, you can also reduce stress in other ways. For example, with relaxation techniques, yoga, or meditation to help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

3. Take medication as directed by the doctor

Medicines for irritable bowel syndrome are not recommended to be taken when the condition does not recur or in excessive doses. This can make your condition even more chaotic and at risk for drug resistance (resistance).

Therefore, you still have to take medication as recommended by your doctor when symptoms appear. If you have any questions, consult your doctor to find the best solution for you.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a collection of symptoms of indigestion due to problems with colon function. The symptoms are very disturbing, but you can overcome them by undergoing medication and a healthy lifestyle.