All You Need to Know About IBS Treatment

What is IBS? IBS stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It is a long-term disorder that affects the gastrointestinal functioning and mainly involves small intestine and large intestine, causing disturbances in the gut. The activities of the gut are controlled by the brain. Hence, it is called as brain-gut disorder. It is a chronic condition and needs some time to cure and manage. Some people can control it by proper diet and lifestyle, but the severe symptoms can only be treated by a proper medication. Yes, IBS treatment is possible.

IBS Treatment

Symptoms of IBS

• Pain in abdomen, cramping or sometimes even bloating
• Excessive formation of gas
• Mucus in stool
• Constipation or Diarrhoea

Causes of IBS

There are various possible factors that cause IBS such as genetics, infections, or trauma. The weak contractions of intestinal muscles slower down the passage of food, making it dry and hard stool. Poor coordination between the brain and gut also results in changes in the motility of the bowel. Well, IBS may also be caused by the surplus growth of bacteria in the intestine resulting in infection of the gut. Sometimes, a stressful life or other psychosocial factors are responsible for the same. Now, let us know a little about IBS treatment and its various aspects.

Things to Know About IBS Treatment

IBS treatment helps to get relief from the physical as well as stress related complications. The treatment method is comprised of 3 phases which starts with developing an effective patient-physician relationship, obtaining knowledge about IBS followed by the changes in patient’s lifestyle. IBS treatment is done through various methods such as changes in lifestyles, medicines, probiotics and antibiotics, and counselling.

Changes in lifestyles- Changes in your eating habits may help you to get rid of IBS. Your doctor may refer your fibre-rich food, a low FODMAP diet and to avoid gluten. Apart from these, you must increase your physical activities, give proper rest to your body by have an adequate sleep and most importantly, reduce the stress of life as much as possible.

IBS Treatment

Medicines- If you did not get much relief by changing your lifestyle, then you should consult your doctor who may help you through medications. A number of medicines have proven to be useful for IBS treatment.

Some of the best medicines are:

1. Anti-diarrheal agents – They help to prevent and give relief from diarrhoea.

2. Antispasmodics – They help to give relief from abdominal pain.

3. Laxatives – These medicines help to treat constipation.

4. Antianxiety medicines –They help to lower the stress in people suffering from psychological distress.

Probiotics and Antibiotics- Our digestive system contains a large number of bacteria which are good and bad as well for our health. If the number of good bacteria gets decreased, then the doctor may prescribe you for probiotics.

Probiotics are living microorganisms that are helpful in maintaining the health of gut. They also help to boost up the immune system. Several probiotics are available in the medical store but the most common and the natural form is yogurt.

On the other hand, antibiotics are used for IBS treatment. Antibiotics are the medicines that help to kill the bad or harmful germs present in the digestive tract, responsible for IBS. They come in a wide range too.

IBS Treatment

Counselling

Sometimes, counselling also helps individuals to get out of this problem. Behavioral and psychological therapies have shown effective results in such cases. It helps the individual to get relief from painful discomfort and is done through hypnosis. Relaxation training is another method which aids in relaxing the body.

Nowadays, different types of therapies have been introduced in the medical field that helps in IBS treatment such as acupuncture, acupressure, herbal therapy, meditation, and yoga. These therapies are helpful and have been proven effective too.