Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Posted on October 15, 2009
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No one will give you a specific cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. IBS is a motility disorder some experts say. An oversensitive or hyperactive gut is another possible cause of IBS. and the gut will react to changes influenced by stress, food and hormones.
Typically the bowel habit in IBS becomes chaotic. There is no surprised, therefore that it is considered a motility disorder. The transit time from ingestion of food to excretion is abnormal.
In diarrhoea the transit time is faster and in constipation it is slower. IBS is generally divided into two groups, constipation predominant and diarrhoea predominant. Some have diarrhoea and constipation alternating. Stools in IBS can vary from watery and unformed to hard pellets.
Some say there is a link between diet and IBS.
IBS symptoms can be triggered by certain foods. Just eating food stimulates intestinal muscle activity. This is the Gastro-Colic reflex and develops in response to food entering the stomach. Gastro-Colic reflex in IBS is strongest after fatty or large meals. This results in abdominal pains and or diarrhoea.
Food is not a cause of IBS but can trigger symptoms.
One suggestion is that the fault that results in IBS resides in the Nervous System. The gut has a complex network of brain cells called the Enteric Nervous System. This “Brain of the Gut” is connected to the Brain. Some researchers believe that to understand IBS, we have to understand the workings of the Enteric Nervous System.
The Gut has the richest supply of serotonin in the body. This chemical is closely connected to the nervous system. At present a lot of research is focused on gut serotonin receptors.
Contractions of the smooth muscles of the gut are affected by serotonin. Low levels of serotonin lead to constipation and higher than normal levels cause diarrhoea.
Psychological factors such as anxiety, stress and depression can affect the gut. Trauma suc h as physical, sexual and emotional abuse can affect the gut. In IBS, records show a higher incidence of such trauma. Addressing these issues may produce better long term results.
Gastroenteritis as a cause of IBS: IBS can develop is 20-30% of cases of severe gastro-enteritis. Escherichia coli, Salmonella shigella and Camplobacter jejuni are the most common organisms involved. Serotonin levels in gastro-enteritis is very high and in cases that develop IBS this high level continues.
In some women, symptoms fluctuate during the menstrual cycle. The two hormones that control the menstrual cycle are oestrogen and progesterone. These hormones can affect the colon and the passage of residue along the gut. In some women IBS is worse at certain stage of their cycle.
Yeast according to Prof. Jonathan Bostoff of The Meddlesex Hospital could be a possible cause of IBS. These patients have reduced levels of friendly bacteria, Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria in their large bowel. This results in overgrowth of Candida.
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