Irritable bowel syndrome may sound unfamiliar, but it is actually a disease caused by a dysfunction of the intestinal tract, sometimes referred to as “intestinal cramps”, “idiopathic constipation” or “neurological diarrhea It is sometimes called “intestinal cramps”, “idiopathic constipation” or “nervous diarrhea”. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome do not have lesions in their intestines, but are very sensitive to stimuli, as if the intestines have become an old man who can’t hold his fire.
The “unpleasant” includes being cold, eating greasy food or eating prostration, being in the mood of fear, anxiety, sadness, depression and so on.
The number of people who get this disease is increasing every year as the pace of life and work accelerates and the stress of life intensifies. Irritable bowel syndrome is very common in China and around the world, and can occur in both men and women, but is most common in middle-aged women.
Important note: Do not dismiss irritable bowel syndrome because you do not have a lesion in your intestines when you get it. Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic condition that exists for many years. Although it is not life threatening, the discomfort and inconvenience caused by repeated attacks can affect the patient’s quality of life. Therefore, it is important to actively treat irritable bowel syndrome.
Who is prone to irritable bowel syndrome?
Although the number of patients with irritable bowel syndrome is high, less than 1/5 of them visit the hospital. Who is prone to irritable bowel syndrome?
People with psychological disorders. About half of the patients with irritable bowel syndrome are psychologically disturbed.
People who have had irritable bowel syndrome in their family. It is common to have irritable bowel syndrome in a family, and it is common for parents to have the disease and for children to have the disease as well. Some people cannot eat cereals, milk, coffee, chili peppers, certain fruits, or alcoholic beverages, and will develop the disease immediately after eating these foods.
People who are mentally and emotionally ill. Stressful work, stressful life, the stimulation of events such as unemployment, death of relatives, interpersonal tension, divorce, family disputes, etc. can promote the onset of the disease.
Irregular life. People who often stay up late, eat and sleep irregularly are prone to get this disease.
What are the common manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome?
Patients with irritable bowel syndrome commonly experience the following discomfort
Abdominal pain often occurs around the belly button, in the middle of the lower abdomen or in the left lower abdomen, and the location of the pain is not fixed. There is no certain pattern of when the abdominal pain occurs and how long it lasts, and it usually subsides after defecation or exhaustion, and rarely comes on after sleeping.
Diarrhea or constipation can be manifested as diarrhea or constipation. In diarrhea, the stool is mostly pasty, frequent, but small in volume, and no stool after sleep. Those with constipation have difficulty in defecation and can only pass hard, dry, sheep’s egg-like stools.
Abdominal distension, nausea, loss of appetite, stomach rumbling, increased burping or farting.
Neurological disorders, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, dizziness, sweating, polyuria, chest tightness and other neurological symptoms. Women often have dysmenorrhea, and the onset is often worse during menstruation.
How do doctors diagnose irritable bowel syndrome? The symptoms described above are not the only symptoms that can be found in irritable bowel syndrome. Therefore, it is important not to diagnose yourself with irritable bowel syndrome based on the above-mentioned symptoms, but to go to the hospital in time to be diagnosed by a doctor.
The doctor will go through a series of tests to see if there are other organic gastrointestinal pathologies. Only if it is determined that there are no other gastrointestinal pathologies, combined with the patient’s symptoms, will the doctor make a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome.
What drugs do doctors use to treat irritable bowel syndrome?
Doctors treat irritable bowel syndrome with some of the following classes of medications
Medications that regulate gastrointestinal function. Irritable bowel syndrome is a disease in which the intestinal tract becomes dysfunctional, so doctors use drugs that regulate gastrointestinal function, such as Desutex (pivetronium bromide), Spamin (oxybutynin), and Sulley Qeynon (bumetrexed).
Drugs to regulate mental status. For people with psychiatric symptoms such as depression or anxiety, doctors sometimes use sedative and hypnotic drugs.
Antidiarrheal or diarrhea-relieving drugs. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome often have abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, etc. For these manifestations doctors will use antidiarrheal drugs, laxatives, etc., such as compound phenylephrine and fosone.
Drugs to regulate intestinal flora. Doctors will choose some live bacteria or prebiotic preparations that can adjust the intestinal flora, such as Rejuveno, Pepcid, Gold Diflucan and Lactulose (Dulcolax), etc.
Related knowledge: Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome can also use traditional Chinese medicine, mainly to soothe the liver and regulate qi, strengthen the spleen and dampness, and regulate the spleen and stomach.
What should patients with irritable bowel syndrome pay attention to in their daily life?
It is not necessary to worry too much about the condition because irritable bowel syndrome can be cured, and it is important to maintain a good state of mind to cure the disease. If necessary, you can receive help from a psychologist.
Correct the bad habits of life, so that you can start and stop living at times and be relaxed. Three meals a day should be regular and quantitative.
Perform appropriate and regular exercise to strengthen the body.
Figure out which foods are related to the onset of the disease and avoid eating foods that cannot be tolerated. Eat less dairy products, soybeans, lentils, sweet potatoes, onions, raisins, carbonated drinks and other foods that produce a lot of gas in the intestine to avoid aggravating abdominal pain and bloating. Patients with diarrhea should eat a light diet, less greasy food, less fruit or juice such as pears and grapes; patients with constipation should eat more high-fiber foods such as bran, celery, scallions, leeks and other nutty foods such as peanuts and walnuts.