What is irritable bowel?

How does the disease occur

The mechanisms involved in the development of the irritable bowel, as favorable factors, the following are accepted:

• Alterations in intestinal motility of unknown cause
• Gastric or intestinal hypersensitivity to psychological factors or stress.
• Food intolerances
• Hormonal disturbances
• Genetic factors

What are the symptoms of irritable bowel?

The most frequent symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are:

• Nonspecific abdominal discomfort
• Abdominal pain mild or moderate intensity colic (acute) that improves after defecation
• Need or desire to defecate
• Meteorism (intestinal gas)
• Abdominal distension
• Changes in bowel rhythm with episodes in which the diarrhea alternating with episodes in which the constipation.
• nausea or vomiting

Diagnosis of the disease

The diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome is made by the internist or the specialist in digestive pathology in the consultation of the medical center or hospital. Diagnosis consists of exclusion of other diseases that can give the same symptoms and rule out the presence of an organic cause that is responsible for the symptoms that the patient presents and is based mainly on:

• Physical exploration of the patient
• Symptoms that shows
• Result of the complementary studies that they are carried out as blood, urine and stool tests; imaging studies, endoscopy or taking a biopsy among others; all results should be normal.

Treatment

Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic process, which occurs in the form of more or less frequent crises and It does not have a curative treatment but it does have a symptomatic one. Current possible treatments include:

1. Diet

• Avoid foods or drinks that trigger or worsen symptoms
• Avoid the consumption of toxins such as alcohol or tobacco
• Include cereals with bran in which they facilitate the formation and elimination of feces
• Avoid heavy or highly seasoned meals
• Avoid fizzy drinks and flatulent foods
• Increase the intake of fiber (fruits and vegetables) in periods of constipation and avoid dairy products or stimulants (coffee, tea, chocolate ...) in periods of diarrhea
• Avoid stressful situations

2. Physical exercise

Since it helps regulate intestinal transit.

3. Medications

During crises, symptomatic treatment: antidiarrheals, laxatives, stimulants of intestinal mobility, analgesics, anxiolytics, etc.

Irritable bowel prevention

The patient must know his disease and avoid those factors that can trigger disease crises or outbreaks. The possibilities currently available include:

• Hygienic-dietary measures: Temporarily avoid those foods and beverages that trigger or worsen your symptoms (tobacco, coffee, spices, alcohol, tonic, soups in envelopes, cocoa, dairy products, cheeses, yogurt, pastries, cakes, ice cream, butter, ...)
• Use Wheat Bran Supplements: 4 to 8 tablespoons a day, mixed with liquids or food.
• Avoid large meals, more frequent and less abundant meals are preferable.
• Avoid carbonated drinks and flatulent foods like: cabbage, chickpeas, lentils, onions, leeks, peas, nuts and canned.
• Avoid, as much as possible, situations that make you nervous or stressful
• If the constipation it will be necessary to advise the increased fiber intake (fruits, vegetables, cereals, salads, ...). If diarrhea is predominant, avoid dairy products, coffee, tea, and chocolate.
• Get physical exercise appropriate to your age and avoid sedentary lifestyle.
• Drugs: only when the intensity of the symptoms so advises, aimed at controlling the predominant symptom and for a limited period of time. They can be spasm inhibitors (spasmolytics), motility stimulants (prokinetics), antidiarrheals, laxatives, antidepressants, and anxiolytics.
• Other: psychotherapy, acupuncture and hypnotherapy.

Remember to protect your family with it to be protected before any disease such as irritable bowel that requires diagnosis, tests and treatment appears.

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Dra. Cristina Muñoz Gil Family and Community Medicine Specialist