Thursday, July 27, 2017

Imagine

“Imagine the worst stomach pain you’ve ever had. I have that 24 hours a day.” (Keith Adkins)

There are some embarrassing ailments in life that people only talk to a doctor about (in whispering tones) when all other options have been exhausted.  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition of the bowel that causes episodes of abdominal cramps, bloating, and either constipation (or diarrhea). IBS comes in three types: IBS going with Constipation (IBS-C), IBS going with diarrhea (IBS-D), and Unsubtyped IBS (IBS-U).

Other symptoms that can occur include: nausea, headache, belching, poor appetite, tiredness, backache, depression, fatigue, gas, mucus in the stool, muscle pains, feeling quickly full after eating, heartburn, and bladder symptoms. IBS causes lots of mild to severe discomfort. It is incurable, but simple changes in one’s lifestyle can ease the severity of symptoms. Though IBS affects the working of the bowel, there is otherwise nothing wrong with the bowel.

The truth spells out a demanding (but not unmanageable) life challenge:

·        IBS is the most common gastrointestinal disorder, which leads to $1.6 billion per year in health-related spending in the US.

·        IBS is more commonly diagnosed in women (25 to 54 years) than in men (1.5 to 3 times higher).

·        For people with an IBS biological relative, the risk for developing IBS is twice as high.

  • ·        IBS is a very real problem for 60 million people (20 percent of Americans). Bottom of Form

 
·        Most people with IBS experience symptoms, including abdominal pain/discomfort, for an average of 8.1 days per month.

·        IBS people have twice as many days off work (compared to the general population). In addition, they experienced more days in bed or feel less productive at work because of their symptoms.

·        Approximately two-thirds of people with IBS reduced their activity level compared to healthy individuals. They found it difficult to make new friends, and have a variety of relationships. 

As not to increase IBS bathroom visits, you should keep far away from grains (oatmeal and barley), root vegetables (like carrots and parsnips), fruits (berries, oranges, grapefruit, and mangos), legumes (peas), fried food, beans, caffeinated drinks, and processed foods. What follows are natural, home remedies for IBS that could be helpful to you:

·        A fresh, ripe banana helps with IBS symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, and gas.

·        Cabbage juice can be an effective treatment for IBS constipation.

·        Carrots help with the IBS symptoms of constipation and diarrhea.

·        Chamomile tea is loaded with the antispasmodic property and rich in the amount of tannins, which can provide a great source of relief of IBS diarrhea.

·        Eat small, regular meals. (Don’t skip them.) This can aid in regulating the function of the bowel in regards to IBS diarrhea, it is better to eat small and regular meals that will even make you better. If you have constipation, consuming foods that are rich source of fiber will move the food through the intestines.

·        Fennel seeds reduce the intestinal spasms as well as the bloating that is associated with IBS.

·        Ginger helps with IBS gas removal and bloating reduction.

·        Oat bran can help with the IBS symptoms as it pertains to stools. They will get soft, and then pass out easily and painlessly.

·        Peppermint eases the IBS symptoms of bloating, cramping, burping, and diarrhea

·        Soluble fiber absorbs the liquid found in the intestines, and aids in fighting off IBS diarrhea.

·        Thirty minutes of regular exercise helps to relieve the stress connected with IBS.

·        Yogurt (with live cultures) becomes an effective remedy for IBS diarrhea.

People say love is the best feeling, but I think finding a toilet when you've got diarrhea is better.”People say that love is the best feeling, but I think finding a toilet when you have diarrhea is better.” (Rotten eCards)[i]




[i] Sources used:

·        “15 Effective Home Remedies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)” (https://authorityremedies.com/home-remedies-for-irritable-bowel-syndrome)

·        “5 Simple Steps to Cure IBS without Drugs” by Mark Hyman, MD

·        “How Common Is IBS?” (https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/what-is-ibs/statistics)

·        “Irritable Bowel Syndrome” (https://patient.info/health/irritable-bowel-syndrome-leaflet)

 
 

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