IBS

The Gut-Brain Connection

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Said Salvador Meza Moreno A01373560

What is it?

Symptoms

Causes

INDEX

Tips

Treatment

Mind-body therapies for IBS

Colon

What is it?

It is a common disorder that affects the digestive system, more specifically the large intestine (colon).

SYMPTOMS

Main symptoms

• Stomach pain or cramps - this is often relieved by bowel movements and is typically located in the lower abdomen.
• Bloating – your tummy may feel uncomfortably full and swollen
• Diarrhea – you may have watery poo and sometimes need to poo suddenly.
• Constipation – you may strain when pooing and feel like you cannot empty your bowels fully.

Other symptoms

CAUSES

The exact cause is unknown – it's been linked to things like food passing through your gut too quickly or too slowly, oversensitive nerves in your gut, stress, and a family history of IBS.

Triggers

Alcohol

Stress and anxiety

Spicy or fatty food

Caffeine

TIPS

Do not delay or skip meals

Cook homemade meals using fresh ingredients when you can

Do not eat too quickly

Keep a diary of what you eat and any symptoms you get – try to avoid things that trigger your IBS

Do not eat more than 3 portions of fresh fruit a day (a portion is 80g)

Try to find ways to relax

Do not drink more than 3 cups of tea or coffee a day

Get plenty of exercise

DO

DON'T

Do not drink lots of alcohol or fizzy drinks

Try probiotics for a month to see if they help

Treatments

Treatment of IBS focuses on relieving symptoms so that you can live as symptom-free as possible.

Alternative therapies

Dietary changes

Psychotherapy

Medications

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Mind-body therapies for IBS

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Relaxation Techniques

Various relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery, can help relieve stress, ease tension, and promote relaxation in individuals with IBS.

CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. It can help individuals with IBS better manage stress, anxiety, and depression, which are often associated with the condition.

MBSR combines mindfulness meditation, yoga, and body awareness techniques to help individuals manage stress and promote overall well-being. It has shown promising results in reducing IBS symptoms.

REFERENCES

Bolen, B., PhD. (2022). Tips for successful dating with IBS. Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/dating-with-ibs-1945125

Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. (2022). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/irritable-bowel-syndrome/treatment

Irritable bowel syndrome treatment. (2021, August 23). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/irritable-bowel-syndrome-treatment

Irritable bowel syndrome - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic. (2023, May 12). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360064

Website, N. (2022, March 17). Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). nhs.uk. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/

THANKS

• Farting (flatulence)
• Passing mucus from your bottom
• Tiredness and a lack of energy
• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Backache
• Problems peeing, like needing to pee often, sudden urges to pee, and feeling like you cannot fully empty your bladder
• Not always being able to control when you poo (bowel incontinence)

Dietary changes

Bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhea may respond to dietary modification. For rexample, caffeine or fatty foods stimulate colonic contractions, so someone with IBS and diarrhea might have improvement by reducing their daily intake of caffeinated beverages and rich foods.

Finding the right balance of healthy foods can be a challenge if you have IBS.

It's usually a lifelong problem and it can be very frustrating to live with and have a big impact on your everyday life. There's no cure, but diet changes and medicines can often help control the symptoms.

Psychotherapy

The nervous system's interaction with colonic function reveals a significant correlation to the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Stressful life circumstances and previous episodes of stress can exacerbate or trigger IBS symptoms, with instances noted after a significant personal loss or the resurgence of depressive episodes. Concurrently, anxiety or depression may arise alongside the onset of IBS.

Medications

• Smooth muscle relaxants: These are best for relieving or preventing intestinal cramping.
• Antidiarrheal medications: Medications for those with diarrhea slow intestinal transit and reduce the frequency of bowel movements while improving the consistency of the stool.
• Laxatives: For patients who have constipation as the predominant symptom.
• Antibiotics: To attempt to alter the composition of the gut flora that might be responsible for the fermentation of poorly digested carbohydrates.
• Low-dose antidepressants: If pain and diarrhea are your predominant symptoms, you may find relief with these medications that work on the gut’s nervous system to make it less reactive to foods you eat or to emotional stress.

Alternative therapies

• Acupuncture may be helpful in managing anxiety, fibromyalgia, migraines, and insomnia associated with IBS. Acupuncture also can have a direct gastrointestinal effect by altering GI motility and pain perception.

• Therapeutic massage can help reduce anxiety and relieve stress.
• Hypnosis. Hypnosis may reduce abdominal pain and bloating. Several studies support the long-term effectiveness of hypnosis for IBS.
• Peppermint. Studies show that, in people who have IBS with diarrhea, a specially coated tablet that slowly releases peppermint oil in the small intestine.