If you have had any doubts about the prevalence and seriousness of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in today’s day and age, take a moment to peruse the enlightening facts and figures shown below:
- IBS affects more than two million people across the country.
- The symptomatic onset has no correlation to an individual’s socioeconomic status or race, but IBS tends to exhibit a genetic predisposition within families.
- When compared to the general population, individuals that struggle with IBS are much more likely to have other functional diseases and a higher need for surgery.
- IBS is correlated to fibromyalgia, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, chronic pelvic pain, and chronic back pain.
- Although IBS isn’t linked to increased mortality rates, sufferers of this affliction are at a higher risk of falling into depression and displaying suicidal ideation.
- IBS symptoms are more likely to occur in women and can be triggered by anxiety and agitation.
- Only 30% of IBS sufferers reach out to a reputable dietician for help, but those that do pursue IBS treatment options tend to experience remission within just one year.
The Signs and Symptoms
In general, IBS incites abnormal movements and manifestations within the bowel, but the symptomatic onset of this oft-obscured condition can take many forms:
Pain and Cramping
Your brain is responsible for activating various hormones, nerves, and signals to stimulate the “good bacteria” within the digestive tract, but IBS obfuscates and distorts this process, which leads to agonising tension and painful strain in your abdomen.
Diarrhea
The abdominal stress associated with IBS tends to provoke accelerated bowel transit, which results in loose, watery, mucus-laden stools.
Constipation
While it may seem a bit counterintuitive, it’s important to note that some IBS sufferers struggle with slower bowel transfers and dry stools. This stems from a distinctive miscommunication within the digestive tract that causes the bowel to absorb a higher amount of water from the food you eat, oftentimes leading to less than three bowel movements per week.
Gas and Bloating
When your digestive schedule is altered and distorted, your bowel tends to swell and produce copious amounts of gas, which leads to an uncomfortable bloated sensation. Plus, this persistent abdominal fluctuation inflames the bowel and incites painful cramping over time.
Dietary Intolerance
Although IBS isn’t correlated to the manifestation of food allergies, it’s worth mentioning that more than 70% of IBS patients report that the ingestion of particular foods instigates discomfort and generates a myriad of other symptoms, which causes many individuals to avoid certain dishes and dietary staples like gluten, lactose, and common spices.
Chronic Fatigue
Due to the fact that unremitting abdominal strain burns calories and expends energy, many individuals attest to bouts of low stamina, increased exhaustion, and severe fatigue throughout the day. Thus, even though IBS sufferers tend to sleep about an hour longer than the general population, they usually wake up feeling unrested, tired, and drained.
If you find yourself besieged by any of these symptoms, it’s in your best interests to reach out to a renowned team of dieticians and nutritionists in the area. These dietary experts can create a targeted, personalised treatment plan to account for your unique symptomatic onset and help you finally obtain relief and remission from such an affliction.