In medical terminology, irritable bowel syndrome is also known as restless bowel or irritable bowel syndrome. IBS refers to a syndrome, not a disease, and is characterized by bowel habits accompanied by abdominal pain without an underlying disease; It is characterized by changes in the shape and frequency of the intestine.
The incidence in the population is approximately 10-12% and patients generally; It comes with complaints of abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea attacks. These complaints, which are seen in the irritable intestines, which are rapidly affected even under the slightest stress, are mostly seen in women and between the ages of 30-50.
What are the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome?
Changes in defecation habits in IBS may include persistent constipation, persistent diarrhea, or changes in these at irregular intervals. It is the form in which constipation is generally at the forefront and is rarely accompanied by temporary periods of diarrhea.
In a normal person, the number of defecations is considered normal and painless, from at least 3 times a week to 2 or 3 times a day at most. Pain in the lower abdomen accompanied by the feeling of defecation and the pain goes away after defecation, having to strain excessively while defecating, feeling like you are going to defecate but not being able to do so when you go to the toilet or having difficulty doing so, feeling of not being able to fully evacuate after defecation, defecation in small pieces like goat feces. The main symptoms of IBS are mucus in the stool and contamination of underwear with a slimy discharge without defecation.
In some patients, emotional conflict, stress and learning that a close relative or friend has bowel cancer may trigger complaints. Staying in the cold for a long time, especially dried legumes, bulgur, etc. Complaints may flare up after consuming foods, coffee and cola drinks. The quality of life of patients with irritable bowel syndrome, who present with typical stories such as not being able to go to the toilet during the exam period, before a job interview and before planned important appointments, is negatively affected.
What are the causes of irritable bowel syndrome?
The functions of the large intestine (contraction of the intestine, movement of the contents in the intestine, secretion and absorption functions of the intestine, etc.) are under the influence of the intestinal nervous system, central nervous system and various receptors and hormones, which are located in the intestinal wall and form a very rich network. The movements of the intestines, their sensitivity and the degree to which the person perceives the signals coming from the intestines are regulated by this nervous and hormonal system. In IBS, some changes occur in these regulatory systems at both the central nervous system and intestines level and can be caused by stress, menstrual periods, cold, infections, foods, etc. It is thought that various factors, such as, stimulate the emergence of these changes. It has been shown that people with IBS have an increased perception of signals coming from the intestines and that the intestines sometimes respond to these stimuli with excessive contraction and sometimes with excessive mobility
How is irritable bowel syndrome diagnosed?
The diagnosis of IBS is actually a diagnosis of exclusion. In other words, it is essential to show that there are no serious organic diseases that will not lead to life-threatening consequences. While in some cases a blood test is sufficient for this, in some cases endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures are required. Irritable bowel syndrome is more common in those with a family history of spastic colon. This shows that genetic factors play a role in the formation of irritable bowel syndrome. Psychiatric problems such as anxiety and depression increase the risk of IBS. IBS is often diagnosed in patients with a history of sexual, physical or emotional abuse.
IBS can be diagnosed by evaluating the history and complaints of patients. There is no common treatment method for every patient, but it is possible to control the symptoms in accordance with the diagnosis.
How is irritable bowel syndrome treated?
IBS Establishing a relationship based on mutual trust between the patient and the physician and listening to the patient in detail and informing him about his diagnosis are important in treatment, more than in almost any other disease. Dietary changes may reduce complaints in some patients with IBS. Initiated the complaints The patient and the physician can decide together to remove the suspected foods from the daily diet. Since lactose intolerance is common in patients with IBS, consuming milk and dairy foods may trigger complaints, and yoghurt may be recommended instead of milk as a source of calcium and protein in these patients. Regular consumption of probitotic or prebiotic-containing yoghurts, which are increasingly available on the market, can provide relief in some IBS patients by regulating defecation and reducing bloating. In IBS, where constipation is a prominent complaint, drinking plenty of water, consuming fibrous foods, dried fruits and bran bread, and regular exercise can reduce complaints. In cases where the changes made in the diet are insufficient, medications recommended by the physician may need to be added to the treatment.
After the diagnosis of IBS is made, the treatment is planned according to the type of the underlying disease. There is no standard drug treatment used in the treatment of IBS, and different drug treatments or combinations may be required for each patient. If the patient has constipation, stool softeners are given, and if the patient complains of severe abdominal pain, antispasmodic drugs called antispasmodics are given. In addition, the patient is treated with non-absorbable antibiotics and probiotic supplements to reduce excessive bacterial growth against the complaint of diarrhea. When necessary, the sensitivity of the patient and his intestines is reduced by the use of antidepressant and anxiolytic (anxiety-relieving) drugs.
To briefly summarize, Irritable bowel syndrome, also known as irritable bowel syndrome, is a lifelong disorder that changes severely from time to time, sometimes causing constipation and sometimes constipation. It is a syndrome that occurs with complaints of diarrhea and negatively affects the patient's quality of life. For this reason, it is very important to consult a gastroenterologist and create a treatment plan according to the dominant complaint in order to improve the patient's quality of life.
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