Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Definition
Periodic abdominal cramps and irregular bowel movement (constipation and/or diarrhea) occurring in the absence of disease. This abnormality is a chronic disturbance of involuntary muscle movement in the large intestine. Anxiety and chronic stress are believed to be main causative factors. It is experienced more frequently in females. Other medical terms used for this condition are “spastic colon” and “irritable colon syndrome.”


Symptoms
Symptoms include: Intermittent abdominal pain, distention (swelling) often on the left side, temporary relief of pain by bowel movement or expelling gas, fecal mucus, sense of incomplete bowel movement, passing excessive gas and aggravation of symptoms by eating certain foods. Other symptoms that may occur are heartburn, back pain, weakness, agitation, fatigue, reduced appetite and palpitations.


Commonly Prescribed Treatment
Although there is no cure for irritable bowel syndrome, there are things people can do to alleviate the symptoms. The most commonly prescribed treatment is eating a high fiber diet and taking bulk forming agents. Antispasmodic drugs to relieve muscle spasms and antidiarrheal drugs to relieve prolonged diarrhea may also be prescribed. Additionally, careful selection of foods is recommended. If a food repeatedly causes symptoms, it’s advisable to eliminate it from the diet.


Causes
It is not clear why some people develop irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and others do not. Many people have been told that their condition was simply a result of stress or what they ate. However, in the past few years, a greater understanding of the causes of IBS has started to emerge. In fact, if you have abdominal discomfort or pain, bloating, and constipation associated with IBS, you may have a digestive system that is more sensitive and works more slowly than it should. This may be due to the way your digestive system reacts to a naturally occurring chemical in your body called serotonin. What Is Serotonin? Serotonin is a hormone, or chemical messenger, that plays an important role in making your digestive system work normally. These hormones act like messengers because they take information from one part of the body and deliver it (chemically) to another part of the body. About 95% of serotonin is located in the gastrointestinal tract. Scientists believe that people suffering from IBS symptoms may experience problems related to this naturally occurring chemical. This can lead to irregular gastrointestinal motility and might make the bowels more sensitive or irritable.


Treatment
Since IBS causes abdominal cramping and bloating, abdominal and low back massage are extremely effective in reducing or eliminating the painful symptoms of IBS. Advanced abdominal massage techniques will be used on the colon (large intestine), stomach and abdominal musculature to reduce any bloating, inflammation or spasms that are frequently encountered with this syndrome.