What treatment is available for irritable bowel syndrome?
Although the irritable bowel syndrome may produce troublesome symptoms, it does not lead to serious complications. It is important to know and understand this. An explanation of the disorder and how symptoms are produced helps to relieve anxiety and allows the patient to cope better with the symptoms. If attacks are infrequent or mild, this insight may be sufficient. Reassurance that more serious or progressive disorders are not present is also important. A knowledge of what provokes an attack may help individuals control their symptoms more effectively and prevent attacks, or at least help them to cope better. Advice on diet, eating habits and lifestyle helps many IBS sufferers. A well-balanced ‘healthy’ diet, taken as regular meals, will reduce symptoms. Some patients benefit from increasing the fibre content of the diet and others may be helped by reduction in fibre intake. Important foods containing fibre are cereals, fruit and vegetables. Fibre supplements prepared from plants can be prescribed or obtained from the chemist, but these should not be used without first discussing the symptoms with a doctor.
Foods which are high in fat often provoke symptoms and should be avoided. Rich or spicy foods can also cause attacks. People usually are aware of particular foods which upset them, but may not associate attacks with common foods such as dairy products, bread and cereals, which can trigger symptoms. Large, infrequent meals challenge the digestion much more than small, frequent ones, which often help to reduce symptoms.
Patients who relate their symptoms to stress or anxiety usually benefit from a better understanding of the condition. Sometimes counselling in stress management is helpful. Others with more severe symptoms may benefit from hypnotherapy. If anxiety or depression are a major part of the problem, psychotherapy may help. Treatment with an antidepressant may also reduce symptoms.
Antispasmodic drugs help some patients, but response is variable. Constipation may require additional laxative treatment under medical supervision. Diarrhoea can also be controlled, particularly if it is limiting activity, mobility and lifestyle.
In many cases, reassurance, explanation and symptomatic treatment are all that is required and regular medication is not necessary.
Products to help control IBS are widely available from the pharmacist, however, the use of digestive enzymes for its treatment would be the best for most sufferers. Fatty and spicy foods and dairy products may all trigger or increase the symptoms of IBS. The most probable and logical reason is because these food remain in the digestive system untouched and undigested for the read more
