Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a large intestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or recurrent constipation. Recognizing the causes and how to deal with IBS correctly can help reduce the frequency of recurrence.
IBS symptoms are not the same for everyone. Some have diarrhea, constipation, or both. Symptoms can also rarely appear, can also very often interfere with daily activities.
The cause of irritable bowel syndrome has not been confirmed. Even so, there are several things that are known to trigger IBS symptoms, namely:
Some IBS patients experience improvement in symptoms and become less frequent after a gluten-free diet.
Some people really can't digest gluten properly. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Examples of foods containing gluten are cereals, pasta, and processed food products.
This hard-to-digest group of carbohydrates is called FODMAP. Usually contained in apples, cherries, mangoes, pears, watermelons, asparagus, cabbage, cabbage, beans, onions, mushrooms, and milk and processed products, such as cheese, yogurt, or ice cream. In addition, honey and candy with artificial sweeteners xylitol or mannitol also include foods that contain carbohydrates.
Some types of drinks can affect bowel movements. In IBS patients, this can lead to the recurrence of symptoms. Drinks that often trigger IBS relapse are drinks containing caffeine, alcohol, or soda.
Viral or bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract, such as in gastroenteritis, can be the cause of the appearance of IBS symptoms. This is suspected because gastrointestinal infections affect bowel movements and the balance of the number of bacteria in them.
Many IBS sufferers experience recurrence more often with symptoms worse when under stress. Depression, somatoform disorders, and anxiety can also cause IBS symptoms to worsen or recur frequently.
This is suspected because mental disorders can affect the performance of the brain and nerves in the digestive tract, making it more sensitive.
Symptoms of IBS appear more frequently in women, especially before or during menstruation. This disease is thought to be related to the influence of the hormone estrogen.
To relieve symptoms and prevent recurrence of IBS, there are several things that can be done, namely:
Avoid foods that trigger IBS symptoms, especially foods that contain gluten and carbohydrate FODMAP. Because foods that trigger IBS symptoms can be different for each person, you are advised to find out what foods can trigger your IBS symptoms.
There are two types of fiber, which are water-soluble and water-insoluble fibers. A type of fiber that is good for reducing symptoms of IBS is water-soluble fiber. An example of a source of soluble fiber is oat
But be careful, consuming excessive fiber can worsen heartburn and bloating. Therefore, it is recommended to increase the amount of fiber in the food gradually until the intestines get used.
Avoid skipping meals. Always try to eat at the same time every day to help smooth bowel movements.
Exercise can help reduce stress and stimulate bowel movements. According to the study, IBS patients who routinely exercise are less likely to experience symptoms.
Stress is proven to cause IBS symptoms often recur. So, it's important to always minimize stress. The method can be relaxation exercises, yoga, or meditation, and getting enough sleep.
Probiotics are good bacteria that help protect the intestines from bad bacteria. Probiotics can be found in supplement form. Some studies show that probiotics can relieve abdominal pain and bloat in IBS patients.
If IBS symptoms are very disturbing or often relapse, then you need to overcome them with medication. Doctors can provide antidiarrheal drugs, laxatives, painkillers, antidepressants, and supplemental supplements to relieve symptoms.
If symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation feel worse than usual or accompanied by bloody bowel movements, immediately consult a doctor to determine the cause and get treatment.
Irritable bowel syndrome can occur in anyone, 10-20% of adults are thought to have experienced this disease. The appearance of IBS symptoms is associated with a variety of factors, such as intestinal nerve disorders, consumption of certain foods or drinks, to the influence of hormones.
IBS symptoms are not the same for everyone. Some have diarrhea, constipation, or both. Symptoms can also rarely appear, can also very often interfere with daily activities.
Risk Factors for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The cause of irritable bowel syndrome has not been confirmed. Even so, there are several things that are known to trigger IBS symptoms, namely:
1. Foods that contain gluten
Some IBS patients experience improvement in symptoms and become less frequent after a gluten-free diet.
Some people really can't digest gluten properly. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Examples of foods containing gluten are cereals, pasta, and processed food products.
2. Foods with carbohydrates that are difficult to digest
This hard-to-digest group of carbohydrates is called FODMAP. Usually contained in apples, cherries, mangoes, pears, watermelons, asparagus, cabbage, cabbage, beans, onions, mushrooms, and milk and processed products, such as cheese, yogurt, or ice cream. In addition, honey and candy with artificial sweeteners xylitol or mannitol also include foods that contain carbohydrates.
3. Certain drinks
Some types of drinks can affect bowel movements. In IBS patients, this can lead to the recurrence of symptoms. Drinks that often trigger IBS relapse are drinks containing caffeine, alcohol, or soda.
4. Gastrointestinal infections
Viral or bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract, such as in gastroenteritis, can be the cause of the appearance of IBS symptoms. This is suspected because gastrointestinal infections affect bowel movements and the balance of the number of bacteria in them.
5. Psychological problems
Many IBS sufferers experience recurrence more often with symptoms worse when under stress. Depression, somatoform disorders, and anxiety can also cause IBS symptoms to worsen or recur frequently.
This is suspected because mental disorders can affect the performance of the brain and nerves in the digestive tract, making it more sensitive.
6. Hormonal changes
Symptoms of IBS appear more frequently in women, especially before or during menstruation. This disease is thought to be related to the influence of the hormone estrogen.
Ways to Overcome Irritable Bowel Syndrome
To relieve symptoms and prevent recurrence of IBS, there are several things that can be done, namely:
Avoid food that is the trigger
Avoid foods that trigger IBS symptoms, especially foods that contain gluten and carbohydrate FODMAP. Because foods that trigger IBS symptoms can be different for each person, you are advised to find out what foods can trigger your IBS symptoms.
Consume fiber foods
There are two types of fiber, which are water-soluble and water-insoluble fibers. A type of fiber that is good for reducing symptoms of IBS is water-soluble fiber. An example of a source of soluble fiber is oat
But be careful, consuming excessive fiber can worsen heartburn and bloating. Therefore, it is recommended to increase the amount of fiber in the food gradually until the intestines get used.
Eat regularly
Avoid skipping meals. Always try to eat at the same time every day to help smooth bowel movements.
Exercise regularly
Exercise can help reduce stress and stimulate bowel movements. According to the study, IBS patients who routinely exercise are less likely to experience symptoms.
Reduce stress
Stress is proven to cause IBS symptoms often recur. So, it's important to always minimize stress. The method can be relaxation exercises, yoga, or meditation, and getting enough sleep.
Consume probiotics
Probiotics are good bacteria that help protect the intestines from bad bacteria. Probiotics can be found in supplement form. Some studies show that probiotics can relieve abdominal pain and bloat in IBS patients.
Take medication
If IBS symptoms are very disturbing or often relapse, then you need to overcome them with medication. Doctors can provide antidiarrheal drugs, laxatives, painkillers, antidepressants, and supplemental supplements to relieve symptoms.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a digestive disorder whose cause is unknown, so treatment is difficult to determine. But by avoiding trigger foods, maintaining fiber intake, and changing lifestyle to be healthier, the frequency of IBS recurrence can be reduced.
If symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation feel worse than usual or accompanied by bloody bowel movements, immediately consult a doctor to determine the cause and get treatment.
