Causes & Treatments for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is an illness that can really put a damper on social situations. Luckily, there are treatments that can help with the symptoms.

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Also known as IBS, irritable bowel syndrome causes frequent diarrhea, constipation or abdominal pain. It is found mostly in women.

Main Causes of IBS

While the official cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown, some experts believe that it is from a miscommunication between the brain and the intestinal tract. Stress, hormones and your diet also play a large role.

Home Treatments

Watching what you eat can help limit the symptoms of IBS. Limit intake of dairy and foods with a lot of vitamin C. Pay attention to what you eat so you can find what foods trigger your symptoms.

Phsycological Treatments

Irritable bowel syndrome often flairs up because of anxiety and stress. Limiting the amount of stress in every day life can drastically reduce symptoms.

Medicinal Treatments

If diarrhea is the problem, try over the counter diarrhea medicine. If it's constipation that's causing you pain, a laxative can help. Also try anticholinergics for abdominal pain.

For Persistent IBS Difficulties

If these treatments still aren't helping your symptoms, visit your doctor. They can help find a way to manage your illness.

Resources

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome Health Center