All About Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Everyone suffers from an upset stomach occasionally, and this is normal. However, if a person is consistently suffering from an upset stomach, then they may have IBS.
What is IBS?
IBS is a fairly common bowel disorder in which the large intestine is easily irritated and disrupted. In fact, IBS affects about 10% of the American population, affecting both men and women among all age ranges.
The causes of IBS are unknown and there are no definitive ways to test for the disease.
Symptoms
IBS manifests itself differently from person to person, and even more there is a wide variation of symptoms that a person with IBS experiences, and the symptoms can come and go without warning.
As a result, it is difficult to recognize and diagnose IBS. But some telltale signs that a person may be suffering from IBS include alternating diarrhea and constipation, nausea, vomiting, and acid reflux.
Often, these symptoms will occur shortly after a meal and last for a few hours or a few days.
When to see a doctor?
If symptoms of IBS are beginning to interfere with a person’s day to day life, then it may be time to see a doctor.
Of course, dealing with IBS is a sensitive issue, but a person should not feel embarrassed and put off seeking help.
For example, a person can utilize telemedicine to see a primary care physician for their initial inquiry about IBS, thus alleviating some of the awkwardness associated with talking to the doctor about digestive issues.
Foods to Avoid with IBS
The root cause of IBS may be unknown, and there may be no cure for IBS, but altering the diet is the best thing a person can do if they suffer from IBS and want to take the natural approach to treating their symptoms.
With this in mind, there are foods that a person should avoid if they are dedicated to diminishing their IBS symptoms. For example, acidic foods are good to avoid if a person suffers from IBS. Even fruit can be too acidic for a person with IBS, so it is best to limit fruit intake if a person suffers from IBS.
Additionally, some people find that cutting out gluten and dairy eases their IBS symptoms significantly.
The best thing to do is eliminate all potentially aggravating foods, and slowly reintroduce certain foods to pinpoint which foods exacerbate IBS symptoms and which foods are easy on the stomach.