Learning to Live with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Nothing can be more embarrassing at the time then, when sitting amongst a very large crowd of people, and then, during the highlight of a performance, your IBS decides to kick in. You feel the bloating, distention, and the incredible pain in your stomach. As you try to excuse yourself through this sea of individuals, you pray that you can make it to the bathroom on time because you are not sure whether it is going to be a large buildup of gas or something worse. Does this sound familiar to you? It sure does to me. After doing research, I have found out the following about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

IBS is also called spastic colon, irritable colon, or spastic colitis. It is not a disease, but instead, is called a 'syndrome.' A syndrome is a collection of symptoms.

IBS is one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders. Twenty percent of the American population has IBS, most of whom are women. The symptoms of IBS start at an average age of about twenty. Because the symptoms resemble those of gastrointestinal, hormonal, and reproductive diseases, it sometimes takes a while to diagnose. In addition, the symptoms for the same person can be different from week to week.

It is important to remember that IBS is not a disease and will not do any harm to the intestines, nor will it cause any internal bleeding.

Some of the things that may attack or trigger the IBS are the following: eating large meals, bloating from gas in the colon, certain medications, gluten products, milk products, alcohol, caffeinated drinks, and stress of any kind.

One natural way to deal with IBS is to learn stress management. Another way is by eating the right foods. Keep a journal of the foods that irritate your stomach. Try eating foods rich in fiber, but do it gradually. Also, gradually increase your intake of fruits and vegetables.

Drinking six to eight glasses of water each day will help. Avoid carbonated beverages, as they will cause gas buildup. Avoid eating large meals or large portions of food. Try eating low fat meals high in carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, and whole grain bread and cereal.