Irritable bowel syndrome is a disease that is characterized by frequent periods of constipation and diarrhea and is usually accompanied by pain or bloating. After food is partially digested in the stomach, it is pushed through the small intestine and then through the large intestine by regular contractions of the muscles in the intestinal wall (peristalsis). With irritable bowel syndrome, these muscles can become cramped and move food particles either too quickly (causing diarrhea) or too slowly (causing constipation). Irritable bowel syndrome should not be confused with the more serious inflammatory bowel disease.
There is no cure for irritable bowel syndrome; however, symptoms can be reduced through a combination of specific exercises and diet. Sometimes medications bring relief. Irritable bowel syndrome is more common in women than men; symptoms may worsen during menstruation.
Causes
The cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown, although it is thought to most likely be related to a dysfunction gastrointestinal tract, and not with general disorders in the body.
A contributing factor may be emotional stress.
Some food products may cause outbreaks of disease. Typical irritants include fatty foods such as bacon, poultry skin, vegetable oil, margarine and dairy products, as well as foods that cause excessive gas such as beans and broccoli.
This is a fairly common variant of a functional intestinal disorder, which is a violation of the motor and secretory functions of the intestine in combination with the increased sensitivity of its various parts to a number of nutritional factors (allergic, temperature, mechanical, etc.) of a neuro-emotional nature. Irritable bowel syndrome is often a consequence of past infections, intoxications, and helminth carriage. It can occur as a consequence of previous dysentery, salmonellosis, or other acute inflammatory diseases, when the causative factor has already lost its significance, inflammatory and other pathological processes have disappeared, but the altered susceptibility (reactivity) of the mechanisms regulating intestinal activity remains. At the same time, a wide variety of influences (psycho-emotional, nutritional, physical overload, cooling, overheating, colds, etc.) can cause the manifestation of painful symptoms in the intestines.
Symptoms
Constipation, diarrhea, or alternating between them.
Discomfort, pain, bloating or cramping in the abdomen.
Excessive gas formation.
A feeling that the intestines are not completely emptied.
Nausea.
The disease often occurs at a young age, more often in women. The disease occurs in waves and is characterized by the appearance of attacks of acute, cramping pain in the abdomen. The pain is accompanied by a frequent urge to go down, with the passage of a small amount, usually unformed or liquid, feces, sometimes with a large content of mucus. Attacks of pain, often accompanied by bloating and rumbling in the abdomen with the release of mucus and diarrhea, last from 20-30 minutes to several days, later being replaced by normal stools and general feeling good.
Short-term functional intestinal disorders can be observed with food excesses, alcohol abuse, including when taking dry wines, champagne, and also without alcoholic drinks, especially cold carbonated ones (lemonade, Pepsi-Cola). In such cases, several hours (less often minutes) after a heavy meal, especially fatty or poorly combined (for example, milk with cucumbers and fish), there may be short-term diarrhea, rumbling and transfusion, pain throughout the abdomen. Usually, general state the patients suffer little.
Functional disorders of the intestines in the form of constipation, diarrhea, bloating and increased gas formation, short-term pain may be the initial manifestation of inflammatory or other (organic) diseases. Therefore, self-medication or (even worse) the indifferent attitude of patients to the occurrence of symptoms of the disease is a gross mistake in relation to their health. In all cases, the most correct step is to contact a local physician or gastroenterologist, conduct, under their guidance and supervision, a set of necessary studies and, after establishing a diagnosis, receive recommendations for treatment and prevention.
Diagnostics
A medical history and physical examination are necessary. The diagnosis is made when the possibility of other diseases, such as cancer and inflammation of the intestines, has been excluded.
A barium enema may be necessary. Barium creates a clear image of the intestines on x-rays.
To look at the whole colon (colonoscopy) or part of it (rectosigmoidoscopy), a small tube with a light on the end may be used.
Treatment
You can try eating fibrous foods. Some people find that symptoms are relieved by eating fiber-rich foods (raw fruits and vegetables, bran, whole grain bread, and dried vegetables). Others claim that eating fibrous foods worsens symptoms.
You should eat more often and in small quantities.
Consultations with a psychologist and auto-training can help relieve tension. Regular moderate exercise can also reduce tension and ease symptoms.
Your doctor may prescribe laxatives, restoratives, antispasmodic or sedatives, or medications to improve digestion.
Smoking can act as a trigger and should be avoided.
In the treatment program for patients with irritable bowel syndrome, individualization of nutrition is most important. During the period of exacerbation of the disease, increased frequency of diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other phenomena, it is necessary to switch to the therapeutic nutrition according to diet No. 4c, exclude from the diet foods and dishes that are poorly tolerated by the patient. If you are prone to diarrhea and the prevalence of fermentation processes in the intestines (rumbling, bloating), it is recommended to avoid milk, milk soups and cereals. Lactic acid products such as yogurt, kefir, acidophilus and fermented baked milk should be treated individually, depending on tolerance. Hot sauces, gravies, canned tomato sauces, refractory fats, cold drinks, and pastry products are contraindicated.
Patients with irritable bowel syndrome should study well enough the characteristics of their body in terms of the intestinal reaction to the nature and diet so that conditions are not created for the aggravation of the process. Thus, most of these patients do not tolerate cold, carbonated drinks well, especially on an empty stomach. Therefore, you should beware of lemonade, Pepsi-Cola, water from a siphon, as well as juices and compotes straight from the refrigerator. It is advisable to exclude strong coffee, which causes diarrhea, from the diet, or sharply reduce its consumption.
Many patients do not tolerate well not only overeating, which causes intestinal upset, but also large meals. Therefore, meals should be frequent, but small, especially in the morning. For 30-40 minutes after eating, patients with irritable bowel syndrome should not engage in physical labor, especially heavy labor, so as not to cause diarrhea. It is difficult to list all the situations that every patient may encounter during his illness and that stimulate intestinal dysfunction. This suggests a certain conclusion: know all the reasons for the worsening of the disease and prevent their recurrence.
If you are prone to diarrhea, dried blueberries are recommended in the form of infusion, decoction (1-2 teaspoons per glass of boiling water) or in the form of blueberry jelly, as well as bird cherry fruits (10 g per 100 g of water, take no more than 0.5 cup 2-3 times a day). day). To neutralize corrosive substances during diarrhea, it is prescribed Activated carbon or carbolene (1-2 g twice or thrice a day). However, its long-term use is undesirable due to the possible development of enzyme deficiency of the digestive organs, deterioration of absorption of vitamins and mineral salts in the intestines. In order to stop or reduce diarrhea, they can be successfully used medicinal herbs,
Internal use of mineral waters can provide significant assistance in treating irritable bowel syndrome at home. This provides a calming effect on impaired intestinal motility, a reduction in irritation and increased sensitivity of the intestinal mucosa, and an improvement in the functional state of other digestive organs. For diarrhea due to increased intestinal motor function, hot (40-45° C) low- and medium-mineralized waters containing HCO3 and Ca ions are prescribed (Smirnovskaya, Slavyanovskaya, Feodosiyskaya, Jermuk, Borjomi, Essentuki No. 4”, etc.; 100 ml 3 times a day 30-90 minutes before meals, depending on the initial level of gastric secretion: with low acidity - 30 minutes, with normal acidity - 40-60 minutes, with increased acidity - 90 minutes min).
Small intestinal procedures in the form of therapeutic enemas are also very effective for diarrhea, especially in cases where irritable bowel syndrome is accompanied inflammatory process in the area of the intestinal outlet (sigmoid and rectum). They are performed as follows. Half an hour after a small-volume warm cleansing enema, administered very carefully, 250-350 ml of warm mineral water (such as “Essentuki No. 4” or “Essentuki No. 17”, “Smirnovskaya”, “Slavyanovskaya”, “Jermuk”, “ Arzni”, etc.). You should try to keep this portion of water in the intestines as long as possible. The procedure often does not cause urge, and the water is completely absorbed into the intestines, providing a good anti-inflammatory effect, eliminating disorders motor function intestines. Therapeutic enemas can be done every day for 2-3 weeks.
Prevention
There is no known way to prevent irritable bowel syndrome, but symptoms can often be relieved by dietary changes and specific exercises.
Make an appointment with your doctor if signs of irritable bowel syndrome are interfering with your daily activities.
Finally, one should seriously warn against the uncontrolled use of medications by patients, especially antibiotics, sulfonamides, enzymes and other agents. The illogicality and danger of self-medication with the listed medications for irritable bowel syndrome, as well as for other forms of functional intestinal diseases, lies in the fact that these potent drugs are intended to suppress pathogenic (disease-causing) intestinal microbes, which are absent in the considered functional diseases, for the treatment of severe inflammatory phenomena intestinal mucosa and deep disorders of intracavitary and parietal digestion, which is also absent in patients with intestinal dyskinesia and irritable bowel syndrome. Moreover, not being able to influence intestinal pathogens, antibiotics, sulfonylamines and other potent medications show their side effect- a detrimental effect on the normal intestinal microflora, which leads to dysbiosis. As a result, fermentation processes intensify, the body’s supply of vitamins deteriorates, and adverse effects appear. All this should convince you of the dangers of self-medication and the advisability of seeking advice from a doctor to choose an individually indicated treatment.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a complex of functional digestive disorders in the intestine, not associated with organic damage to the intestine itself, that last for more than three months. A person is considered to have irritable bowel syndrome if they are bothered by:
pain and discomfort in the abdomen (usually relieved after going to the toilet);
flatulence, rumbling;
a feeling of incomplete bowel movement or an imperative (urgent) urge to defecate;
bowel dysfunction (constipation, diarrhea, or alternating diarrhea with constipation).
Worldwide, this disease, according to various sources, affects 15% to 30% of the population. True, only a third of them turn to doctors for help. In women, irritable bowel syndrome occurs 2-4 times more often than in men. The peak incidence occurs in young working age - 25-40 years, and in people over 60, irritable bowel syndrome practically does not occur.
Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Intestinal dysfunction is explained by the characteristics of the patient’s body. As a rule, this disease affects people who are emotional, mentally unstable, and prone to stress. Also important:
violation of the usual diet and diet;
lack of fiber in food;
sedentary lifestyle;
gynecological diseases (can cause reflex bowel dysfunction);
hormonal disorders - menopause, premenstrual syndrome, obesity, hypothyroidism, diabetes and etc.;
transferred acute intestinal infections with subsequent dysbacteriosis.
What's happening?
Under the influence of the above factors, a change in the sensitivity of receptors in the intestinal wall occurs, and as a result, its functioning is disrupted. The cause of pain is intestinal spasms or excessive gas formation with overstretching of its walls.
You can guess if you have irritable bowel syndrome by the following signs:
pain in the abdomen around the navel or lower abdomen after eating, it usually disappears after bowel movements or passing gas;
diarrhea after eating, usually in the morning and early afternoon;
constipation;
flatulence;
feeling of incomplete bowel movement after visiting the restroom;
sometimes - belching of air, nausea, a feeling of heaviness and fullness in the stomach.
It is characteristic that all these unpleasant symptoms arise from excitement or after it, as a result of prolonged physical and nervous stress. Intestinal disorders are often accompanied by headache, feeling of a lump in the throat, insomnia, feeling of lack of air, frequent urination, tinnitus, feeling of weakness, dry mouth.
Sanatorium-resort treatment is indicated for patients with intestinal diseases in the stage of stable clinical remission.
The main therapeutic factor in the sanatorium is the use of mineral waters. For example, for diarrhea, mineral waters with low mineralization (Essentuki No. 4, Smirnovskaya, Slavyanovskaya) are indicated. Mineral water is heated to a temperature of 40-45 ºС and thereby degassed. The amount of water consumed is calculated depending on body weight (3-4 ml per 1 kg of weight).
But in case of pathological changes in the large intestine, highly mineralized waters are indicated (“Essentuki” No. 17, “Batalinskaya”, “Morshin” at room temperature, 100 ml 3 times a day). It is recommended to drink water quickly so that it does not have time to degas.
In sanatoriums, intestinal lavages are carried out mineral water. Such procedures are indicated for patients suffering from constipation. Intestinal lavages help remove waste, toxins, and eliminate intestinal stasis. After this procedure, normal intestinal motility is restored and constipation is eliminated. Due to the fact that fecal stones are washed away, intestinal trophism improves and the absorption of nutrients and vitamins increases. Before starting intestinal lavage with mineral waters, the patient must consult with the attending physician at the sanatorium. In some clinical situations, such procedures are contraindicated. Colon lavage should not be prescribed for nonspecific ulcerative colitis, intestinal polyposis, hemorrhoids, or cardiovascular failure.
For chronic non-ulcerative colitis, siphon intestinal lavages are also performed in sanatoriums. The doctor in the treatment room selects the temperature of the mineral water for microenemas depending on the characteristics of the patient’s intestinal motility. If the patient suffers from constipation, then warm mineral water is used, which helps to relax the intestinal wall. In case of diarrhea, the use of cold mineral water is indicated, which causes increased intestinal motility.
Sanatorium-resort treatment includes a whole range of health-improving activities. An obligatory component of the recovery course is the prescription of a particular diet. Experienced doctors select a therapeutic diet for each patient individually.
In this case, many factors are taken into account: the nature of the stool, the presence or absence of malabsorption syndrome, motility disorders, and the presence of enzymopathies. Throughout the entire stay in the sanatorium, skilled chefs will prepare not only healthy, but also tasty food, so that it will be easy for the patient to follow the necessary diet.
In the process of sanatorium-resort treatment, herbal medicine is also widely used. Healing herbs gather in the ecologically clean surroundings of the sanatorium. Almost every specialized gastroenterological sanatorium has homeopathic doctors who can select a suitable medicinal herbal collection for the patient. For constipation, infusions and decoctions of kelp, senna, aloe, oregano, buckthorn, burdock, lemon balm, rhubarb, licorice, dill, and fennel are prescribed. For intestinal atony, buckthorn bark, marshmallow root, and flax seeds are effective. For diarrhea, doctors will select mixtures with yarrow, oak bark, birch, and blueberries. St. John's wort, bird cherry, calendula, cinquefoil, black currant, and burnet also have a fixing property. For flatulence, infusion and decoction of chamomile, mint, calendula, sage, as well as pomegranate, rose hip and strawberry juices are prescribed.
One of the fundamental and at the same time accessible methods of rehabilitation treatment in a sanatorium is physical therapy. We all know that intelligent physical exercise improve health. Under the influence of physical exercise, all protective systems are activated, immunity increases, which, of course, has a beneficial effect on health. And most importantly, physical activity helps strengthen nervous system. Thus, scientists have proven that often the cause of diarrhea or constipation is not intestinal pathology, but a disorder of nervous regulation. In such cases, therapeutic exercises become simply indispensable in the fight against the disease. In addition to the effect on the nervous system, physical exercise improve activity of cardio-vascular system. This, in turn, improves blood supply to the digestive organs. Activation of blood circulation in blood vessels abdominal cavity leads to increased metabolism, increased flow of nutrients and oxygen to diseased organs, which are simply vital for recovery. In addition, sports exercises strengthen the abdominal muscles, enhance intestinal motility, which leads to normal bowel movements and can serve as a preventive measure for constipation. Physical exercise improves diaphragmatic breathing, which also leads to activation of the lazy intestines.
The diaphragm is a respiratory muscle located inside the abdomen, at the border of the abdominal and thoracic cavities. If you take deep breaths, this muscle is activated and stimulates the contraction of the intestinal walls, which promotes the movement of feces.
In the process of sanatorium-resort treatment, an important role is given to the psychological rehabilitation of patients. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and malabsorption syndrome (malabsorption) especially need this. In this group of patients there are anxiety disorders, neuroses obsessive states, hypochondriacal disorders. Each sanatorium has specialists in medical psychology and psychotherapists. For the purpose of psychological rehabilitation, hypnosis, autogenic training, and suggestive therapy are used.
In a sanatorium, you can undergo a course of necessary physical procedures. Depending on the type of disease, type of intestinal motility, age, gender, an individual course of physiotherapy is selected. For chronic constipation, ultraviolet irradiation, galvanic current, microwave therapy, and abdominal massage are indicated. To activate intestinal motility and eliminate congestion, many sanatoriums use modern and effective techniques such as reflexology, electropuncture, laser treatment of biologically active points, and electrosleep.
In the case of intestinal hypermotility, patients are prescribed electrophoresis with antispasmodics, ultraviolet irradiation, diathermy, diadynamic therapy, paraffin-ozokerite or mud applications. For hypomotility, cool water procedures, contrast baths, underwater massage showers, electrophoresis with calcium chloride, and Charcot showers are used.
If the patient has chronic diarrhea with spastic phenomena and pain, then warming compresses, paraffin or ozokerite applications, electrophoresis with antispasmodics, and inductothermy are prescribed.
At the Gorodetsky sanatorium, patients are given the opportunity to undergo a course of mud therapy. Before starting mud therapy, the patient is referred for a consultation to a sanatorium physiotherapist. Treatment with mud is indicated for inflammatory bowel diseases, moderate pain syndrome, and adhesions in the abdominal cavity. Mud is used in the form of applications to the abdominal area, as well as rectal tampons. In this case, the dirt is heated to a temperature of 42-44 ºС. Hot mud helps normalize intestinal motility and peristalsis, stimulates metabolic processes, and improves blood supply to the intestines. After completing a course of mud therapy, inflammation in the intestines decreases and the absorption of nutrients improves.
Many have probably noticed how after strong excitement or stress, a wave of pain rolls through your stomach. It’s good if the usual no-spa is at hand - it will relieve the painful spasm. However, even without medication, when the nervous system returns to normal, the unpleasant sensations will also disappear on their own. It’s worse if, over time, abdominal pain becomes the norm.
Healthy lifestyle correspondent Lyubov Ulyanova asked Candidate of Medical Sciences, head of the department of coloproctology of the Federal State Institution “Polyclinic No. 1” of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation Anatoly Ivanovich Vanin to explain what happens to the intestines when a person is not in a good mood.
For many years, scientists and doctors did not know how to classify a person’s condition in which he periodically experiences certain discomfort, unpleasant sensations, and incomprehensible, fleeting pain in the intestines. The malaise raised many questions, because sometimes it was difficult to even call it a disease. However, since there were more and more patients with such symptoms, about five years ago in international classification a new chapter has appeared - irritable bowel syndrome, abbreviated as IBS.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional condition that most often occurs after stress, poor nutrition, or as a result of infection, when conditionally activated pathogenic microflora appears in the intestine. The main symptoms of IBS are constipation, diarrhea, mucous discharge, usually without blood, bloating, cramping pain (colic), usually in the lower abdomen.
Irritable bowel syndrome usually affects the entire intestine, starting with the stomach. The disease can be acute or chronic.
Young people, aged 25-40 years, men and women, are more likely to suffer from IBS.
Since similar symptoms are characteristic of many other diseases, in particular polyps, ulcerative colitis, cancer, Crohn's disease, differentiation of the disease is necessary. Suppose, when a person complains of bloating, we need to look for the cause, the trigger of the symptom. Sometimes endoscopic and x-ray examinations of the gastrointestinal tract are required. And if only functional changes are detected, we can talk about IBS.
First of all, this is an increased or decreased secretion of digestive juices, against the background of which fermentation and putrefactive processes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, and as a result, belching, nausea, bloating, and gas formation occur. There may also be changes in the structure of the mucous membrane: thickened folds appear or, on the contrary, its smoothness. Chronic irritable bowel syndrome is accompanied by constipation and more severe cramping pain. Although the cause of all unpleasant manifestations is usually the same - everyday stress.
Often, against the background of irritable bowel syndrome, dyskinesia and dysbiosis may occur, caused, in particular, by taking antibiotics in large doses. That is why the symptoms of IBS must be approached comprehensively.
Having resolved another, long-term syndrome, do not wait until it appears again and have a colonoscopy. Such an examination will be painless if you take 1 tablet of dicetel 3 times a day with meals for 3 days. After taking dicetel, the examination goes like clockwork.
Let me note that dicetel, as well as pancroflat, espumizan, disflotil, and meteospasmin, are good for relieving intestinal spasms in IBS. However, I still advise you to use less chemicals and use more natural preparations, herbal infusions, follow a diet, take physical therapy, do simple exercises to train the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. For example, the same “bicycle” is indicated for intestinal hypokinesia, and well-known relaxation exercises are indicated for the hyperkinetic type of colon motility.
If the intestines are weak, infusions of verbena, knotweed, and toadflax herbs are useful. For a glass of boiling water – 1 teaspoon, take a quarter glass three times a day before meals. And an hour and a half before meals, 2-4 times a day, you can drink a glass of cold mineral water without gas, such as “Slavyanovskaya”, “Smirnovskaya”, “Batalinskaya”. Eat more raw vegetables and fruits, as well as cold foods.
If the intestines, on the contrary, are extremely active, it will be calmed by infusions of linden flowers, chamomile, calendula, yarrow, oregano herb, lemon balm, mint, hop heads, fennel fruits, and carrot tops. Brew and take - the same. Fennel is especially effective for heavy gas formation, and lemon balm for cramps. Chamomile will relieve both. Therefore, you can use 2-3 types of herbs at the same time. From mineral waters, Borjomi and Narzan are suitable - 1-1.5 glasses each, warmed, without gas, an hour before meals, 2-3 times a day. Food should also be taken mostly warm.
Warm (37-38 degrees) general (or sitz) baths will relieve intestinal spasms just as well as medications. Especially useful With sea salt: pour 2 kg of salt with hot water, then fill the bath to the top, lie down for 20 minutes - and the pain will go away, and at the same time the nervous system will calm down. Sea bath can be replaced or alternated with coniferous by purchasing the appropriate concentrate at the pharmacy. It’s a good idea to wet wrap yourself at night by soaking a towel in warm water and applying it to the sore area.
And further. We must not forget that the manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome are always affected by any strong emotional situations, be it death loved one, the joy of the birth of a long-awaited child or an emergency, “burning” at work. Recently, there has been an increase in functional diseases, and in almost every third patient, symptoms of IBS are associated with social and everyday troubles. That’s why – work, rest, emotions – everything should be in moderation.
Patients who do not drink alcohol regularly and do not suffer from alcoholism should not start drinking after diagnosis. In their case, alcohol may not have played a significant role in the development of the disease, but it can still aggravate its course. In addition, many medications, prescribed for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, are incompatible with alcohol. Their effect can not only be neutralized, but also have a toxic effect, affecting the functioning of the liver, kidneys, and heart.
Drinking alcohol against your doctor's orders for irritable bowel syndrome can have the following consequences:
- increased frequency and intensification of abdominal pain;
- gradual weight loss and exhaustion ( due to malabsorption - impaired absorption of food);
- increased episodes of constipation and diarrhea;
- overlap of the therapeutic effect of medications ( because of which the disease as a whole will last longer);
- increased risk of infectious complications ( Escherichiosis, salmonellosis and other intestinal infections);
- risk of developing colon cancer ( with regular use).
Thus, addiction to alcohol may worsen the prognosis, despite the fact that in irritable bowel syndrome it is generally positive. If possible, you should avoid not only strong alcoholic drinks, but also beer ( even non-alcoholic), wine and even kvass. The fact is that they, without even calling alcohol intoxication, can promote fermentation processes in the intestines. This disrupts the balance of intestinal microflora and causes flatulence ( accumulation of gases in the intestines). In patients with irritable bowel syndrome, this symptom is especially pronounced, since due to poor motility, gases are not eliminated naturally.
In general, one-time consumption of alcohol with this disease is, of course, not fatal. Most often, this only leads to a worsening of the condition through the mechanisms described above. But the wrong combination of some medications prescribed by a doctor for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with alcohol can cause more serious consequences and cause urgent hospitalization ( due to poisoning). In this regard, you should be very careful and, if possible, still adhere to the diet prescribed by your doctor. When you first contact a specialist to begin treatment, you should notify him if you have problems with alcohol abuse. This may initially affect treatment strategy.
Does irritable bowel syndrome occur during pregnancy?
Irritable bowel syndrome during pregnancy is a fairly common but not very serious problem. This disease manifests itself with moderate symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract. It is not accompanied by any irreversible pathological changes in the intestines, but comes down only to disturbances in its functioning. To date, it has not been possible to accurately determine all the mechanisms involved in the development of this syndrome. It is only known for certain that the innervation of the intestine plays a certain role in it, the condition endocrine system and psycho-emotional background.
It is the above factors that appear during pregnancy that explain the high incidence of irritable bowel syndrome. In addition, statistically this pathology occurs most often in women of childbearing age ( approximately from 20 to 45 years). In pregnant women, this syndrome is somewhat more severe than in other patients. This is due to a large number of external and internal factors that provoke frequent exacerbations.
The following factors may influence the increased frequency of exacerbations during pregnancy:
- hormonal changes;
- mechanical compression of the intestines and displacement of its loops by the growing fetus;
- weakened immunity;
- changes in diet;
- psycho-emotional stress;
- mechanical pressure on nerve fibers, innervating the intestines;
- taking various medications and dietary supplements.
Against the background of these changes, exacerbations become more frequent in women who have previously suffered from irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms that previously did not cause serious inconvenience ( many patients do not even see a doctor), become more pronounced. To confirm diagnosis and prescription symptomatic treatment you should consult a gastroenterologist. Treatment of the underlying causes of illness during pregnancy is not recommended ( this would be an unnecessary risk for the fetus).
Symptomatic treatment of irritable bowel syndrome in pregnant women involves prescribing the following drugs:
- antispasmodics and sedatives- for abdominal pain;
- laxatives(it is possible folk remedies ) - for prolonged constipation;
- securing- with prolonged diarrhea;
- carminative- with a strong accumulation of gases in the intestines ( flatulence).
In addition, you should pay attention to your lifestyle and diet. As mentioned above, pregnancy itself provokes an exacerbation of the disease. Therefore, you should avoid stressful situations, walk more, eat easily digestible food ( cereals, vegetables and fruits without hard plant fibers, dairy products).
Seeing a doctor at the first symptoms of the disease is mandatory. This is necessary in order to exclude more serious pathologies ( intestinal infections, adhesive disease of the intestines and pelvic organs, neoplasms in the abdominal cavity), which may affect the course of pregnancy. If doctors diagnose “irritable bowel syndrome,” then the prognosis for both the patient and the unborn child is favorable. This disease is not accompanied by serious systemic disorders, does not cause pregnancy complications and does not threaten the fetus. Doctors continue to monitor the patient according to the general scheme, periodically seeking advice from a gastroenterologist. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms. After childbirth, the main symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome do not go away immediately and may even intensify. However, usually the frequency of exacerbations and the intensity of symptoms gradually decline.
Does irritable bowel syndrome occur in children?
Most often, irritable bowel syndrome occurs in people between 20 and 45 years old, but the disease can also develop in childhood. In these cases, the clinical manifestations will not differ much from those in adults, but with some distinctive features.
Children may experience the following symptoms of this disease:
- Stomach ache. In childhood they are usually more frequent and more intense than in adults. This is partly because children are generally less able to tolerate pain. In young children who cannot complain of pain, the symptom manifests itself as restlessness, frequent crying, which intensifies when changing position. Usually the pain does not have a clear localization, since it is caused by spasm of the smooth muscles of the intestine, and not by local inflammation of the peritoneum.
- Digestive disorders. As in adults, they may present with long periods of diarrhea ( diarrhea) or constipation ( constipation) or alternating these symptoms. In young children without medical care against the background of digestive disorders, nutrients begin to be absorbed worse. Because of this, the child may be behind in height and weight. In children school age and older, this is not so noticeable due to slower growth rates.
- Flatulence. Bloating due to gas accumulation is a common problem in young children in general. Their intestines are more sensitive to the food they eat. Accordingly, children with irritable bowel syndrome are forced to adhere to a stricter diet. The syndrome occurs more often in infants, who various reasons transferred from breastfeeding for artificial nutrition.
- Frequent urge . Children of school age and older often complain of the urge to have a bowel movement. In this case, the emptying itself provides temporary relief, but the feeling of fullness in the stomach usually does not go away.
- Mucus discharge. Mucous discharge without blood is found mainly in young children. With age, the amount of such secretions decreases.
Thus, the manifestations of the disease in children are usually more intense than in adults. Diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome is also difficult due to the wide range of normal values for different ages. Most often, the syndrome is not diagnosed correctly by either pediatricians or gastroenterologists. With age, thanks to changes in the structure of growing organs, “improvement” of nervous regulation and stabilization of hormonal levels, the disease can go away on its own, without any treatment.
Differences in the manifestations of the disease and difficulties in diagnosis are explained by the following anatomical and physiological features in children:
- incomplete set of digestive enzymes ( which is why not all food is digested normally in the intestines);
- gradual proliferation of microflora in the intestines ( the older the child, the closer the composition of his microflora is to normal);
- greater mobility of intestinal loops than in adults;
- insufficient control of the nervous system over the intestinal muscles;
- accelerated formation of feces;
- less intense bile formation ( fats are less digestible);
- food allergies are more common;
- growth and differentiation of cells in organs is accelerated;
- the fermentation process in the intestines of young children occurs more often than in adults ( This causes gases to accumulate);
- higher sensitivity to various intestinal infections;
- weaker fixation of the mucous membrane and submucosa in the rectum.
All this explains some of the differences in clinical picture irritable bowel syndrome. However, the prognosis for children with this disease always remains favorable. There are practically no complications, and the disease itself gradually goes away. Protracted current ( decades, until adulthood) occurs mainly when trying to self-medicate or non-compliance with diet and other prescriptions of the attending physician. Then, over the years of digestive disorders, a variety of problems can develop. Constant stagnation of feces in the body leads to intoxication, problems with the liver, skin, heart and other internal organs.
Does stress affect irritable bowel syndrome?
According to recent research, long-term stress is one of the most common causes of irritable bowel syndrome. The fact is that with this disease there are no morphological ( structural) tissue disorders. The appearance of symptoms of the disease is usually explained by the influence of any external factors affecting the innervation and functioning of smooth muscles in the intestinal walls. When interviewing patients, it is most often possible to find out that exacerbations are associated precisely with increased psycho-emotional stress.
From a medical point of view, stress is the body's response to emotional or physical stress. Normally, they allow the body to better adapt to various situations, however, prolonged stress has a negative impact. First of all, this is due to the activation of the autonomic nervous system and the release of a number of hormones. It is these reactions that cause disturbances in the functioning of smooth muscle tissue.
As a result, due to disruption of innervation, the following problems arise:
- Muscle spasm. Spasm is a reflex muscle tension ( V in this case- in the intestinal wall). Because of this, the patient may experience periodic abdominal pain.
- Motor disorders. Intestinal motility is a set of contractions of its walls, which promotes the passage of contents along from the stomach to the rectum. Due to spasm, motility is impaired and intestinal contents are retained in certain areas. This causes a feeling of "fullness" in the abdomen.
- Flatulence. Delay of contents leads to increased fermentation processes ( especially when consuming beer, kvass, grapes and other products with similar effects). As a result, gas accumulates in the intestines and a corresponding symptom occurs - flatulence.
- Digestive disorders. The nervous system not only coordinates intestinal motility, but also stimulates the release of digestive enzymes and regulates the absorption of nutrients and fluids. Innervation disorders can lead to alternating periods of constipation ( constipation) and diarrhea ( diarrhea).
Thus, stress has a very direct effect on bowel function. Similar effects can be noted even in healthy people who do not suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. Patients with this disease have additional features in the structure of the nervous and muscular system. Because of this, psycho-emotional stress causes a longer lasting effect in their body. The exacerbation lasts from several days to several weeks. The stronger the load and the longer its influence, the more pronounced the symptoms of the disease will be.
In addition to stimulating the nervous system, prolonged stress can weaken the immune system. As a result, disturbances in intestinal function are often complicated by dysbiosis ( the composition of the intestinal microflora changes), serious intestinal infections may develop. This will worsen the course of the disease.
To prevent irritable bowel syndrome due to stress, the following measures are recommended:
- reasonable work and rest schedule;
- quitting smoking, drinking alcohol, coffee and tea in large quantities ( substances that affect the psyche and nervous system);
- playing sports or periodic gymnastic exercises;
- rest in the fresh air for at least an hour a day;
- prophylactic use of mild sedatives ( infusion of valerian, chamomile, motherwort);
- counseling assistance from a psychologist ( in case of serious psycho-emotional stress).