Irritable Bowel Syndrome can affect people of all agesIt is said that between 25 and 55 million peoplein the United States (10-20% of the population) suffer fromIBS.Irritable Bowel Syndrome involves the dysfunction of thebowel area. It is said that between 25 and 55 million peoplein the United States (10-20% of the population) suffer fromIBS. It is commonly known that most people who suffer fromIBS do not seek treatment for it. Irritable Bowel Syndromeis known as a close second to the common cold forabsenteeism from work or school. It can affect people of allages and backgrounds, as well as children.Irritable Bowel Syndrome is symptomatic with abdominal painand altered bowel functions such as constipation anddiarrhea. Some people have occasional symptoms and othershave symptoms that can be disabling.Normally, muscles in the bowel contract a few times a day,which results in a bowel movement. It has been noted that ina person with IBS, those muscles are highly sensitive tostimuli or triggers. Triggers such as food and stress cancreate a strong response in a person suffering from IBS. Forexample, a person that does not have IBS may be able toeat a salad or mixed vegetables without a problem, butsomeone with IBS would respond strongly with pain, diarrhea,or constipation. Although the cause of IBS is unknown, itseems to be that underlying abnormality in the contractionsof the bowel are suspect.The cause of IBS is officially unknown from the mainstreammedical community due largely to the fact that most medicalpractitioners seldom perform the specialized diagnostictesting needed to rule out conditions such as parasites orCandida, which may be the unsuspected cause of the disorder.These conditions are often overlooked by most doctors butare normally not overlooked by holistic practitioners. Otherconditions that need to be over-ruled where IBS symptoms areconcerned are diverticular disease, infectious diarrhea,lactose intolerance, celiac disease and infection in thesmall intestine from bacterial growth.Since doctors had not been able to identify an organiccause, diagnosis has traditionally been set on"psychological neurosis." Stress can certainly aggravatesymptoms but there appears to be more important factors aswell.The colons of IBS sufferers seem to be more sensitive andmore reactive to stimulation than those of most people.Intestinal spasms are resultant of ingestion of certainfoods/medicines or from abdominal distention caused by gasand or emotional stress. Normally these factors would notcause GI stress in the unaffected person, but for IBSsufferers, these can be triggers for painful abdominal
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