Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional pathology that is chronic. The peculiarity of the disorder is that its symptoms are recurrent in nature and appear from time to time, depending on external factors.
Painful sensations and discomfort in the abdomen, the need to frequently visit the toilet, diarrhea and constipation - all these signs indicate that the patient is developing irritable bowel syndrome. Treatment of the disease must be made necessarily. Otherwise, this condition can lead to serious consequences for the body.
General information
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which has a wide range of causes, is only diagnosed if the underlying clinical picture has been present for at least 12 months.
Main signs of pathology:
- difficulty defecating (need to defecate less than 3 times in 7 days);
- loose and frequent stools (patient has to go to the toilet 3 or more times a day)day);
- tension of the sphincter and abdominal muscles while going to the toilet;
- imperative urge requiring urgent emptying;
- feeling of remnants of feces in the large intestine;
- presence of mucus in feces.
These are just the most common complaints from patients diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms of the disorder appear more acutely if a person is under stress.
As mentioned above, the disease is not biological, but functional. In favor of such a statement, the following facts accompany irritable bowel syndrome with constipation or diarrhea:
- different nature of patient complaints;
- recurring hospital visits;
- non-progressive pathogenesis;
- maintain body weight.
Additional information
Diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome can be difficult, as its symptoms are similar to some other pathologies that occur in the human gastrointestinal tract. To distinguish between the described conditions, which is extremely necessary for choosing options for getting rid of the disease, many diagnostic procedures are used:
- ultrasound (US) examination of organs and systems of the abdominal cavity;
- gastroduodenoscopy;
- study of biopaths of the intestinal system;
- irrigoscopy.
The results of laboratory studies of biological samples are also taken into accountstool, blood and urine and recommendations obtained after colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy.
This whole complex allows you to establish with sufficient accuracy the signs that accompany irritable bowel syndrome. How to treat the described pathology?
The choice of certain physiological and medicinal procedures directly depends on the symptoms of the disorder. Various kinds of diets and psychotherapeutic methods are widely used. The need to prescribe pharmacological agents is determined individually, based on the external manifestations of the disease. Mainly used:
- antispasmodic drugs;
- antidiarrheals;
- laxative pills;
- antidepressants.
Types of violations
Irritable bowel syndrome in women and men is divided into two main types.
1. Pathology accompanied by constipation. It has the following features:
- difficulty in bowel movements;
- feces coming out of the anus have a hard consistency;
- retention of residual waste products in the rectum.
2. Violation associated with diarrhea. It is characterized by:
- liquid stool;
- sphincter tension when going to the toilet;
- mucus secretion from the anus.
Disease spread
The irritable bowel syndrome described in this material in children and adults is observed in approximately 7-10% of the population of our planet. WhatAs for the countries of the Old World, here the pathology occurs in every fifth inhabitant.
In addition, it should be noted that the fairer sex is approximately twice as likely to be affected by the pathology in question.
The average age of patients seeking treatment is 25-40 years.
Factors influencing the occurrence of a violation
In some cases, irritable bowel syndrome, the symptoms of which are described above, appears more often. This is influenced by certain subjective and objective reasons listed below.
- Genetic predisposition. The risk group includes persons whose close relatives have previously been diagnosed with this pathology. In addition, the appearance of a disorder is often diagnosed in twins developing from the same fetal egg. All this allows us to conclude about the genetic nature of the disease.
- Psychological disorders. The depressive state of a person, constantly pursuing his feeling of anxiety, sleep disturbances, hysterical and mental deviations can provoke irritable bowel syndrome. Research in this area shows that the disease often develops in people who have previously suffered from physical or mental abuse, sexual harassment, and the like.
- Disorders of the muscular functions of the rectum. Such a condition, leading to the appearance of the described symptoms, occurs after eating against the background of a stressful state due to the suppression of the myoelectric activity of the fibers of the large intestine.
- Visceral hyperalgesia. This term refers to a decrease in the pain threshold below the level required by the body or a decrease in the intensity of pain perception. The result is irritable bowel syndrome. The treatment in this case is somewhat different, it requires the elimination of the factors that caused the pathology.
- Traumatic effect on the gastrointestinal tract or its defeat by various infections. As a result of such external influences, a situation may arise when discomfort and pain in the colon appear. They are a sign of the pathology discussed above. Irritable bowel syndrome and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction are diagnosed in about 30% of people who have had a previous intestinal infection.
- Influence of hormones. Symptoms of the disorder often occur in women during menstrual bleeding, when the natural balance of normal hormonal levels changes in the body.
Diagnosis
As mentioned above, the symptoms that accompany irritable bowel syndrome are very similar to many diseases of the stomach and small intestine. Therefore, the main difficulty in diagnosing is to distinguish between these two conditions.
When diagnosing, it is necessary to take into account the whole complex of external symptoms that make up the clinical picture of CPTS: pain in the abdomen, frequency and consistency of bowel movements, and so on. By the way, the presence of this particular type of pathology is evidenced by other signs that at first glance are not related to the digestive system:
- headaches;
- lump in throat;
- lack of or disturbed sleep;
- lack of oxygen;
- frequent urge to urinate;
- sense of tinnitus;
- general weakness of the body;
- dry mouth.
Methods for detecting signs of illness
Diagnosis of SRTS consists of two main stages:
- Establishing an anamnesis of the disease (symptoms preceding the onset of pain in the intestines).
- Direct examination (includes many different medical techniques).
The information provided for in the first stage is collected during the conversation with the patient. It is necessary to find out the severity and frequency of pain in the colon, the name and amount of food consumed, mental state, and previously taken medications.
When a patient has blood inclusions in the feces, an elevated body temperature, a decrease in body weight - most likely, we will be talking about a particular disease of the gastrointestinal tract, and not CPTS.
During a direct examination, palpation of the patient's abdominal cavity reveals an increased tone of the muscles of the anterior wall.
Ways to distinguish between types of pathologies
Irritable bowel syndrome and disorders associated with the gastrointestinal tract can be divided into some so-called danger signs. With their presence, there is no need to talk about SRTK.
Let's stop atmain:
- appearance of the first cases of discomfort and pain in patients over 50;
- constant elevated body temperature;
- presence of malignant (cancerous) tumors in close relatives of the patient;
- appearance of blood in feces;
- dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract at night;
- weight loss for no apparent reason;
- changes detected during a human blood test;
- polyfecal matter (abnormally large excretion of feces from the body).
For a more accurate diagnosis, many additional medical procedures are performed: blood tests, examination of fecal matter, colonoscopy. The latter is especially relevant in the elderly, as it allows you to identify and remove formations of a different nature in the colon.
When examining women, an additional consultation with a gynecologist is recommended.
CPTS and non-GI disorders
Among other things, during the diagnosis, the violation in question should be distinguished from other diseases that are not associated with dysfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract. These include:
1. Chronic diseases of inflammatory and infectious nature. Examples include Crohn's disease, giardiasis, ulcerative colitis, tumors, ischemic colitis and chronic pancreatitis.
2. Pathologies associated with the normal functioning of the endocrine system of the body. Disorders of the endocrine glands cause diabetes mellitusvarying degrees of severity, some forms of which have the same external signs as SRTK.
3. Chronic disorders caused by constant exposure to external dietary factors: constant consumption of fatty foods, abuse of alcoholic beverages and coffee, carbonated drinks, a sharp change in the usual diet.
4. The impact of pharmacological agents. Symptoms of CPTS are often similar to side effects that occur with long-term use of antibacterial drugs, laxatives, mineral complexes containing potassium, iron, calcium and other elements.
Treatment
There are several different therapies used to treat irritable bowel syndrome. Treatment with folk remedies, dietology, drug therapy - the specific method of exposure is determined individually, taking into account the pathogenesis of the disorder.
Regardless of the technique used, treatment should aim to achieve the following goals:
- normalize eating patterns;
- restore the permanent composition of microorganisms whose habitat is the human colon;
- normalize the processes of digestion of food and absorption of useful elements through the walls of the intestine;
- stabilize the psycho-emotional state of a person;
- ensure the intake of enough vitamins and trace elements needed by the body;
- regulate bowel movement.
Exposure without drugs
Let's considerspecific therapies to eliminate irritable bowel syndrome. Diet in this case seems to be one of the most preferred ways.
When diagnosing CPTS, you should stop eating various smoked meats, alcoholic beverages, chocolate, coffee and foods that cause the formation of a large amount of gases. Favorably on the intestines in this case affect fruits, vegetables and dairy products. It is also recommended to eat meat and fish cooked in a double boiler.
Specific food recommendations vary depending on the type of IBS: with diarrhea or constipation.
With loose stools, it is necessary to supplement the diet with jelly, cereals from various types of cereals, pasta, potatoes. Vegetables consisting of coarse plant fibers, fruits, peas and beans, hot spices, fresh pastries, raw milk, wine, kvass, beer and carbonated sweet drinks are absolutely contraindicated.
During problems with emptying, it is recommended to consume buckwheat porridge, dried apricots, prunes, baked apples. It is better to replace sugar with any analogues. Well helps seaweed, bran, vegetable oil.
Naturally, it is not recommended to eat foods that are used to combat diarrhea.
In addition to nutrition, moderate exercise, walking and other physical activity help to normalize the functioning of the colon.
Pharmaceuticals
In particularly difficult cases, or whenthe violation becomes neglected, it is possible to cope with the symptoms of CPTS only with the use of certain drugs. In this case, the treatment is divided into several phases.
1. Relief from intestinal pain. For this, various antispasmodic drugs are used ("No-Shpa", "Meverin", etc.).
2. Fight against diarrhea. Medicines containing loperamide (Imodium, Lopedium, etc.) help best of all. It reduces the manifestations of loose stools due to the effect of the active substance on intestinal motility. This allows you to increase the time of passage of food through the intestines, improves the absorption of fluids and electrolytes. In addition, the activity of the sphincter is increased, which helps to keep stool in the intestines. The dose of drugs containing loperamide is selected individually by the doctor.
3. Elimination of constipation. In this case, it is advisable to opt for herbal medicines. Preparations containing psyllium seeds in one form or another help well. There are also many folk tips.
4. Separately, the disorder is treated in patients who suffer from CPTS caused by psychological disorders. Treatment is carried out exclusively under the supervision of a specialist, antidepressants or various inhibitors are used.
Conclusion
The symptoms that accompany irritable bowel syndrome, treatment, diet recommended forhim, and other ways to get rid of the disease.
It should, however, be noted that, like any other violation, SRTK requires mandatory consultation with an appropriate specialist who will diagnose and prescribe specific methods of treatment. Only in this case, the fight against the disease will be successful and will not harm the body.
