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Irritable Bowel Syndrome: How to Recognize and Cope
Imagine: all examinations are normal, tests are normal, but the stomach is constantly bloated, hurts, and the stool is unstable. Such symptoms are not uncommon, and often the reason lies in the diagnosis, which is difficult to see on ultrasound or X-ray. This irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — a functional disorder that disrupts the usual rhythm of life, but is controllable.
IBS does not destroy tissue, cause cancer, cause fever, or cause weight loss. But it does significantly reduces quality of life. And to control it, you must first understand its characteristics.
What is a SPC in simple words?
Irritable bowel syndrome is chronic bowel dysfunction, accompanied by pain, bloating, and stool disorders, without signs of structural disease. That is, the intestine is anatomically healthy, but functions incorrectly: it contracts too quickly or slowly, reacts to food, stress, even a change in the daily routine.
Main symptoms of IBS
– Cramp-like abdominal pain
– Feeling of bloating or heaviness
– Diarrhea, constipation, or their alternation
– Mucus in stool
– Feeling of incomplete emptying
– Frequent urges or, conversely, stool retention
These symptoms are often disappear after defecation or decrease on weekends or holidays - this indicates their functional, not organic, nature.
Types of irritable bowel syndrome
The form of IBS affects the treatment tactics. Below is a table with four clinical variants of the course:
| Type of SPC | Main symptoms | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Diarrhea-predominant IBS (DIB) | Loose bowel movements several times a day, mostly in the morning, urgent urges | Often accompanied by anxiety, worsens with stress or after coffee |
| Constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C) | Stool less than 3 times a week, dense, feeling of incomplete emptying | Often accompanied by bloating, relieved after physical activity |
| Mixed type SPK (SPK-ZM) | Alternating diarrhea and constipation, unstable stool pattern | Difficult to control, requires individualized diet and therapy |
| Undifferentiated SPC | Pain, bloating, no obvious changes in stool | Often associated with anxiety disorders, requires a comprehensive approach |
What causes irritable bowel syndrome?
– Stress and anxiety disorders (nervous regulation of the intestines is disrupted)
– Eating disorders (overeating, fasting, frequent consumption of carbonated drinks, caffeine)
– Past intestinal infections
– Hormonal changes (often exacerbated in women during PMS)
– Disturbances of intestinal microflora
– Intolerance to certain foods (lactase, fructose, FODMAP)
IBS is not a disease of one cause — it is multifactorial syndrome: psychological, nervous, nutritional.
How is IBS diagnosed?
The diagnosis of IBS is made by a doctor based on clinical picture, and also exclusion of other causes:
– General blood tests, urine, feces
– Tests for occult blood, parasites
– Ultrasound of the abdominal organs
– Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy (if organic damage is suspected)
– Tests for gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, dysbiosis
If no visible pathologies are found after a standard examination, but symptoms last for more than 3 months, the diagnosis of IBS is likely.
How is irritable bowel syndrome treated?
Treatment does not involve a single pill. It phased and individual program, which includes:
– Changing your diet — switching to low-FODMAP foods (less cabbage, legumes, dairy)
– Calm eating — in small portions, without haste, regularly
– Antispasmodics — to reduce pain (as prescribed by a doctor)
– Pro- or prebiotics — to restore microflora
– Psychotherapy or support from a psychologist
– Physical activity — recommended daily
– Sleep regularity — as a stabilizer of the gut-brain axis“
Some patients find it helpful to maintain food diary — to identify personal “triggers.”.
What is the prognosis for IBS?
IBS does not cause complications such as cancer or ulcers, but can last for decades, periodically worsening. The worst thing is not to diagnose and not to treat. The best thing is to learn to live with this condition, controlling symptoms and maintaining usual activity.
