Irritable bowel syndrome, which manifests itself especially with indigestion, is also called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome, which is common today, is a chronic disorder that alters bowel movements. This disorder does not cause a disorder in the intestinal structure. Therefore, it does not cause serious diseases such as bowel cancer. In cases where symptoms are mild, the disease can be controlled by changing the diet, while in cases where symptoms are exacerbated, medication can be used. People with irritable bowel syndrome usually do not realize that the condition is caused by the intestine and may delay in consulting a specialist. However, the symptoms may cause difficulties in work and school life and reduce the quality of life.
What is Restless Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional digestive disorder that affects the large intestine. It is among the common gastrointestinal disorders. Irritable bowel syndrome is a disease that occurs in young people and is more common in people under the age of 50. Irritable bowel syndrome usually causes abdominal pain and bloating, recurrent constipation or diarrhea. Although the exact cause is unknown, environmental factors such as infections, diet and especially stress can trigger irritable bowel syndrome. For this reason, the disease is among the functional disorders instead of structural.
What Causes Restless Bowel Syndrome?
The factors that cause restless bowel syndrome have not yet been fully identified. However, some factors are known to trigger syndrome attacks. These factors are as follows:
- Abnormal contractions in the intestinal muscles
- Changes in intestinal flora
- Inflammation of the intestines
- Infection
- Food intolerance
- Insufficient fiber consumption
- Exposure to stress at an early age
- Medicines such as antibiotics and painkillers
- Smoking and alcohol use
What are the Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
The symptoms and severity of irritable bowel syndrome vary from person to person. Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized in 3 different ways: cases where constipation predominates, cases where diarrhea predominates, and cases where constipation and diarrhea occur together. Symptoms of abdominal pain, cramps and bloating decrease after defecation. Common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome include
- Food intolerance
- Abdominal pain/ cramps
- Abdominal bloating
- Recurrent constipation or diarrhea
- Mucus in the stool
- Increased intestinal gas
- Gas pain
In addition to the symptoms in the intestine, the following symptoms are also observed:
- Nausea
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Fatigue
- Irritability
Since it causes similar complaints to other diseases, the necessary tests should be performed and it should be determined that the symptoms are not caused by a serious disease. Approximately 15% of people with these complaints are diagnosed with restless bowel syndrome and the incidence in women is higher than in men.
How is Restless Bowel Syndrome Diagnosed?
There is no single test for irritable bowel syndrome. To diagnose the disease, a specialist doctor evaluates the symptoms the patient is experiencing and their medical history. Because irritable bowel syndrome has similar symptoms to other bowel disorders, it can be difficult to make a diagnosis. After ruling out other diagnoses that may cause symptoms, the patient is evaluated and diagnosed according to the Rome criteria. According to these criteria, complaints should have started 6 months ago, abdominal pain should persist for 3 months and recur at least once a week. At the same time, at least 2 of the following items should accompany.
- Feeling of comfort after defecation
- Change in frequency of defecation
- Change in stool consistency
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is seen in 3 different types: constipation-predominant IBS, diarrhea-predominant IBS and variable IBS with both. When evaluating the patient's history, the type of IBS should be determined. When the patient does not respond to initial treatment, advanced methods such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, stool examination and lactose intolerance test may be used.
How is Restless Bowel Syndrome Treated?
In almost all cases, symptoms can be controlled by starting treatment. However, the treatment method differs from person to person. The treatment process should be planned with a doctor according to the symptoms of the patient. In treatment, changes such as avoiding factors that trigger the syndrome, creating a proper diet and exercising regularly come to the fore. Some conditions may also require medication.
Patients with irritable bowel syndrome can reduce the impact of symptoms by making some lifestyle changes:
There is no single diet plan for patients with irritable bowel syndrome. The body's response to food varies from person to person. At this point, people should determine which foods they are sensitive to. If the food consumed causes certain symptoms, the person should avoid consuming them. When most patients with irritable bowel syndrome consume foods high in fiber, the symptoms of the syndrome decrease. Foods containing probiotics also protect intestinal health. The person should pay attention to regular nutrition and should not make sudden changes in the diet plan.
Drink plenty of water, drinking at least 8 glasses (2 liters) of water a day will help solve the problem of constipation.
Avoiding foods that cause increased gas production, such as beans and cabbage, can prevent gas in the intestines.
Lactose intolerance stands out among the conditions that cause irritable bowel syndrome. If it is observed that the syndrome is triggered after consuming dairy products, it is very important not to consume foods containing dairy products.
Being under intense stress can also trigger irritable bowel syndrome. Staying away from stress as much as possible with lifestyle changes can reduce the symptoms of the disease.
Regular physical activity helps to maintain intestinal health. Doing light exercises for 30 minutes every day helps reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
People with symptoms should consult a gastroenterologist. Restless bowel syndrome is a disease that can be kept under control with measures to be taken according to symptoms and lifestyle changes.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome and FODMAP Diet
Restless bowel syndrome, which is becoming more and more common especially in western countries, can be taken under control thanks to changes in living habits. Today's common disease, irritable bowel syndrome causes problems such as abdominal pain, bloating and defecation problems. Irritable bowel syndrome manifests itself by reducing the quality of life of people.
Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can be reduced with appropriate diets. If the dietary recommendations for dealing with irritable bowel syndrome are not sufficient, the FODMAP diet is used. A low FODMAP diet under the supervision of a specialist can help manage the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
In the first phase, FODMAPs are restricted. The restriction phase lasts 1-2 months depending on the improvement in symptoms. People whose symptoms improve as a result of the low-FODMAP diet add some high-FODMAP foods back into their diet. In this way, the FODMAPs that trigger symptoms and tolerable FODMAPs are determined. If the person observes an increase in IBS symptoms after consuming a food, this food should be avoided. If there are no symptoms after the food intake, it can be assumed that the FODMAP can be tolerated and it is added to the diet after the reproduction phase. A low FODMAP diet is based on identifying foods that trigger symptoms and then reintroducing them. The aim is to create a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables.
The foods restricted in the FODMAP diet are as follows:
The FODMAP diet restricts the consumption of foods containing lactose (milk and dairy products) fructose (fruits and corn syrup containing high fructose) galactan (legumes), fructan (wheat, rye, onion, garlic) and polyol (apricot, peach, cherry, avocado). Care should be taken to consume alternative foods rich in fiber while following the diet.
The foods that a person can consume on a low FODMAP diet can be listed as follows:
Fruits: Kiwi, strawberries, oranges, tangerines, cranberries, fresh grapes, lemons, pineapples, chestnuts, kumquats, cranberries.
Vegetables: Cucumber, gum gourd, carrot, potato, spinach, kale, chard, arugula, lettuce, spring onion (green part), chives, bean sprouts, olives, ginger.
Nuts/seeds: Walnuts, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, poppy seeds.
Protein: Eggs, red meat, poultry, fish, shellfish.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a long-term condition and it is important to follow the doctor's advice to ensure that the symptoms disappear.