Have you ever heard of irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia? These two conditions, though different in nature, are interlinked in ways that you may not realize.

Let’s dive in.

When Our Bodies Begin to Speak: Unraveling the Mysteries of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS as it’s commonly known, can be likened to an unruly tenant residing in your gut. Imagine a scenario where you’ve rented out a space in your home, and suddenly, the tenant begins to cause trouble, turning your peaceful life upside down.

Well, that’s precisely what happens with IBS.

Your gut, which should function smoothly, begins to disrupt your routine with bouts of diarrhea or constipation, coupled with abdominal pain and bloating.

IBS: Not Just Another Digestive Issue

Contrary to popular belief, IBS is not merely a “digestive issue”. It can also significantly impact a person’s quality of life, leading to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. It’s as if that unruly tenant in your gut is throwing wild parties late into the night, causing distress and affecting your peace of mind.

What’s Fibromyalgia, Then?

Now let’s turn our attention to fibromyalgia.

Think of fibromyalgia as a form of overzealous bodyguard. It’s supposed to protect you, but it misinterprets regular, everyday signals as threats and overreacts, causing widespread pain and fatigue throughout your body.

Fibromyalgia: More Than Just Body Pain

Just as IBS isn’t merely a “digestive issue”, fibromyalgia isn’t simply a “pain issue”. It can cause sleep disturbances, mental fog (also known as “fibro fog”), and even mood disorders.

Imagine trying to get some rest, but that overzealous bodyguard keeps waking you up over perceived threats. It’s exhausting, right? That’s fibromyalgia for you.

The Unexpected Connection: IBS and Fibromyalgia

You’re probably thinking, “Well, these conditions seem quite different. How can they be related?”

Here’s where the plot thickens.

Researchers have found that many people with fibromyalgia also have IBS, and vice versa. It’s as if the unruly tenant and the overzealous bodyguard decided to form an unfortunate alliance, wreaking havoc on your well-being.

Diving Deeper: Why are IBS and Fibromyalgia Interlinked?

Earlier, we touched upon the curious connection between IBS and fibromyalgia, and now we’re going to take a deeper dive into this fascinating intersection. While on the surface, these two conditions appear to affect entirely different systems, the digestive and the muscular, there’s a common thread binding them together.

This shared link is believed to be related to how the body processes pain and stress.

Consider a piano. The keys are expected to produce certain notes when pressed. But what if some keys start to play louder than others, regardless of how softly you press them? That’s similar to what’s happening in the bodies of those with IBS and fibromyalgia.

Your brain, in this analogy, is the pianist, and the keys are the nerves in your body. In conditions like IBS and fibromyalgia, some keys (nerves) play louder (send stronger signals) than they should. The result? Amplified pain and discomfort.

This oversensitivity, known as central sensitization, is a primary factor in both conditions. It can result in IBS symptoms, such as abdominal discomfort and bowel habit changes, and fibromyalgia symptoms, like widespread pain and fatigue. The simultaneous presence of both conditions is often a manifestation of this heightened sensitivity.

An Integrated Perspective: Unveiling the Treatment Approach

Having understood the intertwining paths of IBS and fibromyalgia, it’s clear that a traditional, siloed approach to treatment might not be sufficient. Instead, an integrated, multidimensional approach often proves to be more successful.

Think of this integrated approach as conducting an orchestra. Each instrument has its role to play, but when they all come together under the guidance of a skilled conductor, they create a symphony. Similarly, the treatment plan for IBS and fibromyalgia needs to address the different aspects of these conditions in harmony.

Physical Health Interventions

Physically, you might need medications to control specific symptoms. For IBS, these could include antispasmodics, laxatives, or anti-diarrheal drugs. In the case of fibromyalgia, pain relievers, antidepressants, or antiseizure drugs might be prescribed.

Diet and Lifestyle Modifications

Then comes the role of diet and lifestyle modifications. For IBS, identifying and eliminating trigger foods, such as dairy or gluten, can help. Regular exercise can also improve symptoms. Similarly, for fibromyalgia, a balanced diet and regular physical activity can significantly reduce fatigue and improve quality of life.

Mental Health Support

Don’t forget, the mind and body are interconnected. Both IBS and fibromyalgia can take a toll on mental health. Psychological interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), can be effective in managing the mental health aspects. Mind-body techniques like yoga, meditation, and deep-breathing exercises can also help.

Remember, managing IBS and fibromyalgia requires a careful balance of medication, self-care, and lifestyle changes. It’s about creating a symphony of treatments that work together to provide relief.

This integrated approach reminds us that our bodies are complex systems where everything is interconnected. By addressing both IBS and fibromyalgia together, we stand a better chance of managing these conditions and improving quality of life.

Living with IBS and Fibromyalgia: Real-Life Stories

Many people live with these conditions and manage them successfully. Like Anna, a 35-year-old woman who found relief through a combination of medication, diet modification, exercise, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. She was misdiagnosed by many physicians before a rheumatologist linked her conditions and began treating them both. Her multimodal (different types of therapy) helped her control her symptoms. Of course, she was not cured but she reports her symptoms have improved and she has less flares.

Conclusion: Navigating Life with IBS and Fibromyalgia

IBS and fibromyalgia might sound daunting, but remember that these conditions can be managed with the right approach. It’s all about understanding your body, listening to its signals, and taking the necessary steps to ensure your unruly tenant and overzealous bodyguard are kept in check.

So, that’s the story of irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia: two conditions, intertwined in complexity, but conquerable with knowledge, patience, and the right treatment approach.

Not only does it impact the joints, but it can cause damage to other organs and tissues found throughout the body, including the lungs, heart, blood vessels, eyes, and the skin.

It seems to also be inextricably connected to gut health. Many individuals who are diagnosed with RA (or with other autoimmune disorders) have co-occurring gastrointestinal (GI) issues.

In fact, it appears that this baffling co-morbidity occurs more often than not. In other words, if you have RA, there is probably a good chance that you currently have or will develop GI problems.

That begs the question of “How are RA and GI issues linked and can either be cured?” The answer is, as indicated below, complex, but those with RA and GI should know that it is possible to reverse the severity of symptoms.

What Exactly Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of chronic inflammatory disease (as well as an autoimmune disorder) which is most highly characterized by inflammation around the joints.

It tends to be most noticeable in the hands but can occur in any of the joints found throughout the body.

Unlike osteoarthritis, RA inflicts its damage to the synovium (which is a type of lining) around your joints, causing the surrounding ligaments and tendons to wear down.

Over time, this degeneration can result in serious loss of bone density and deformity of the joints themselves.

Additionally, because it is an autoimmune disease, having RA means that your body is attacking itself by mistake.

As Dr. Ana-Maria Orbai writes, autoimmune diseases arise as a result of your body being unable to tell the difference between which cells are yours and which are foreign invaders.

Essentially, your autoimmune system creates an overactive response and ends up attacking your healthy cells as if they were harmful invaders (such as a virus).

Scientists are still uncertain as to what causes autoimmune diseases like RA to manifest.

There does appear to be a strong genetic component, as RA tends to be passed along through bloodlines.

Although having a blood relative with RA can put you at risk for also having it, this is not a solid guarantee that you will develop signs of RA.

There are a few other risk factors for RA that you should be aware of. RA tends to be most predominant in women and typically manifests when a woman is between 40 and 60 years of age.

Your environment and lifestyle choices can also factor into the equation, especially when it comes to obesity and smoking habits.

What Is Causing My Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (or IBS for short) is not one singular symptom but a complex grouping of symptoms, many of which can occur together.

A lot of people think of IBS as being just an ongoing case of upset stomach, but the truth is that IBS is the result of serious changes occurring within your gastrointestinal tract.

Like RA and other autoimmune disorders (which can also co-occur with IBS), the underlying cause of IBS is not yet scientifically known. However, researchers and doctors speculate that multiple things can cause IBS.

Some of the most commonly-reported issues that seem to cause IBS to include stress, anxiety, depression, intolerance or sensitivity to certain foods, bacterial infections, and an overabundance of unhealthy bacteria in the small intestine.

Again, as with autoimmune diseases, some individuals seem to be genetically predisposed to IBS.

The key to figuring out what is causing your IBS is to focus on the foods that you consume.

While there is no hard-and-fast medical test for this, you can attempt to undergo a gut detoxification process with the help of a trained nutritionist.

As Choung and Talley state, numerous studies on those who do diet eliminations and challenges have shown that the removal of trigger foods can improve IBS symptoms.

Some of the foods known to be culprits behind IBS symptoms include wheat, dairy, fried food, hot spices, caffeinated beverages, and gluten.

Many of those who have RA also have these food intolerances, and some choose to cut these foods from their diets in order to help decrease inflammation.

How Is RA Connected With IBS?

As you can probably discern from reading the last few sections, there is a pretty strong connection between RA and IBS. But what exactly is that connection, and why is it so common? The answers might surprise you.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are multiple studies out there that indicate that high levels of bodily inflammation are responsible for causing RA and IBS symptoms.

Inflammation can be caused by several factors, ranging from the food you eat to the high-stress lifestyles we tend to live.

Additionally, approximately 20 to 30% of individuals with RA also develop Fibromyalgia, a condition which results in chronic, widespread pain and includes IBS symptoms.

The most important thing to know about inflammation is that it exists in a vicious cycle. While symptoms might seem to start in one area of your body (for example, in your GI tract), the inflammatory cytokines that get activated spread throughout your entire body.

As Dr. Kelly Brogan asserts, these cytokines are responsible for inflicting damage from oxidative stress on your mitochondria and bodily tissues.

Inflammation of the upper GI tract (stemming from the mouth to the end of your stomach) can cause tearing in the stomach’s lining, ulcers, bleeding, and irritation in your esophagus.

This tends to be a common issue in RA patients who have been prescribed non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for extended periods of time.

Meanwhile, problems in the lower GI tract (in other words, the large and small intestines) include colitis (which is swelling that occurs in the large intestine) and diverticulitis (inflammation in the sacs which surround your intestines).

Another culprit behind RA inflammation and gut issues is Candida albicans. According to Lisa Richards, Candida – an overgrowth of fungus – wreaks havoc on the immune system.

Multiple studies conducted in recent years have shown that Candida is responsible for causing inflammation in the gut as well as various tissues throughout the body. More specifically, Candida impacts the production of pro-inflammatory TH17 cells and their interleukin, IL-17.

How Healing The Gut Helps To Treat RA Symptoms

So, where does the healing process begin? The answer might not be one that is easy to accept and enact, but it is crucial to consider. According to 4AHealthyGut Website, Changing your diet and exercise habits is a great way to kick-start the process of reversing your symptoms.

As Clint Paddison (a chronic RA patient and founder of the Paddison Program) discusses in this video, figuring out which food sensitivities and allergies might be causing inflammation is important in shaping your RA-friendly diet.

There are specific foods which appear to cause gut inflammation almost across the board and are foods you should consider removing from your diet.

Foods containing gluten, wheat, and dairy products tend to be the biggest triggers of bodily inflammation and GI issues.

Various types of meat (especially fattier meats) can also cause problems. While you should consider removing these foods from your diet, you do not have to remove them all right away.

Incrementally deleting these foods can help ease you into your diet, and you might also learn along the way that you react poorly to foods you would not have suspected could cause such problems, such as foods high in histamines.

Exercise is also an important element of your healing process. Even milder forms of RA can make exercise feel painful and exhausting.

However, in order to combat RA, you need to move your body. The key is finding the types of exercise that increase joint and muscle flexibility and get your blood circulating throughout your entire body.

Many individuals with RA have found that doing water exercises on a routine basis encourages greater mobility in their joints.

Joint tenderness, swelling, and pain seem to decrease for many people with activities like water aerobics and regular swimming sessions.

Also, quite a few studies have found that practicing yoga provides many benefits for those coping with symptoms of RA and other autoimmune diseases.

Yoga is low-impact, so you will not have to worry about incurring additional damage to your joints.

Even the most basic yoga poses can yield major results by providing muscle tone, flexibility, and developing that crucial core strength.

Practicing yoga for just 15 minutes to half an hour a couple of times per week can decrease inflammation and help you feel stronger and more energized.

Yoga also comes with the added perk of providing many people with inner relaxation through meditated breathing.

Walking is another form of exercise that doctors tend to recommend to their RA patients.

Starting off at a slow-but-steady pace in a place where you feel secure, you can start to develop strength in your legs and pelvic area.

Wearing supportive shoes and staying hydrated while you walk is important, and as you do more walking, you will likely notice yourself feeling more energized and less inflamed.

What Are My Treatment Options?

Aside from lifestyle and dietary changes, there are additional treatment options that can help you decrease your RA inflammation. Some doctors will prescribe you with corticosteroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologics, or Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors.

For more chronic cases, surgery might be necessary to repair damaged joints, but it is often the last resort for doctors and their patients.

There are quite a few herbs and natural supplements on the market that are known for their anti-inflammatory properties.

Turmeric is, according to the Arthritis Foundation, is one of the herbs most commonly used to treat stiffness and inflammation in RA patients.

It has a long history in Ayurvedic medicine, as it has long been known to clear excess mucus and aid in the healing of wounds. It can easily be included in meals and mixes well with ginger in herbal teas.

Probiotics are another potential source of healing, especially when it comes to your gut. Probiotics help by introducing billions of healthy bacteria into your gut, which then work to flush out unhealthy gut microbiota that is known to cause inflammation when they accumulate.

Probiotics can come in kefir and yogurt, but if you have histamine or lactose intolerance, you will need to consider avoiding those sources.

Instead, you can opt for non-dairy forms of yogurt and kefir or purchase over-the-counter probiotics from your local drug store.

Is There a Cure For RA or IBS?

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for RA or IBS. While scientists are still working to uncover the root source of these conditions, it appears that the best hope for living a healthy and functional life is to make the important changes to your diet and exercise routine. Discovering what might be triggering inflammation in your gut is a major step in the healing process.

Another step that you might wish to consider taking is becoming active in RA support groups. This not only provides you with opportunities to learn more about RA and how to combat it, but it also invites you to participate in a network of emotional support from others who understand your struggles.

Find people with RA who have already made major lifestyle changes or who are willing to become your accountability partners throughout your healing journey.

Rheumatoid arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome are a common co-morbidity that team up to make life a little bit more painful.

While there is still no known medical cure, you can begin to reclaim your health by removing inflammatory foods from your diet and finding the right exercises that help to increase flexibility in your joints while decreasing inflammation.

Anyone who is afflicted with irritable bowel syndrome knows the multiple discomforts that can occur.

A dysfunction in the digestion tract, IBS can lead to pain, frequent bowel movements, frequent urination, constipation, bloating, and more.

The syndrome can additionally alter your emotional and psychological states by causing issues like insomnia, anxiety, and depression.

Some researchers have even deemed some probiotics “psychobiotics” for their ability to positively affect your psychological state in the gut-healing process.

Furthermore, many naturopath doctors will tell you that the body’s immunity begins in the gut, so IBS can affect the immune system too.

IBS patients who aren’t finding relief are turning to natural remedies, such as the use of probiotics, “good” microorganisms that assist the body.

Probiotics can regulate digestion and lessen IBS symptoms in a fairly short period of time.

In one study, Tina Didar, et al. assessed the effects of probiotic supplements vs. placebo in 1793 patients. The test mostly measured improvements in distention, abdominal pain, flatulence and global symptoms.

It was found that probiotics are more effective than placebo in relieving these symptoms.

What are Probiotics Anyway?

Did you know that we’re more microbe than we are human? Probiotics are members of the larger sect called human microbiomes.

They make up all the tiny microscopic organisms that have set up tiny ecosystems on and within the body. For the most part, these organisms aren’t harmful and contribute greatly to our well-being.

However, our diets and other facts have contributed to less “good” microbes or probiotics, and therefore “bad” ones are able to proliferate.

The good news is that we can repopulate our bodies with probiotics, which mostly reside in the gut, to help stave off issues like IBS.

This npr.org video explains the gist of microbiomes, probiotics and their important role in our health.

Which Probiotics Are Most Effective For IBS?

There are a variety of probiotic cultures in addition to many brands that contain one or more probiotic cultures. You might be wondering which ones to choose.

Although all probiotics can have some part in appeasing IBS symptoms, there are a few that are rather promising, according to a National Institute of Health study called “Probiotic Therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.”

• SCM-III- Consisting of Lactobacillus helveticus, Bifidobacterium sp, and L.acidophilus, SCM-III improves bloating, bowel movements and abdominal pain associated with IBS.
• VSL#3- This probiotic blend consists of Lactobacillus strains ( L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, L. casei, L. plantarum, and L. acidophilus), Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus, and bifidobacterium ( B. infantis, B.breve, and B.longum). VSL#3 is said to alleviate abdominal bloating.

Other organisms great for IBS include the following:

• L. gassari- Anyone with IBS may find that maintaining a healthy weight is difficult due to improper elimination and lack of nutrient retention. This lactobacillus train has been purported to assist especially with obesity. A study by Kadooka, et al. found that l.gassari can improve metabolic disorders and lower body weight, especially abdominal fat.
• L. rhamnosus- A National Institute of Health article was written by Marijke E. Segers and Sarah Lebeer purports l.rhamnosus treats and prevents diarrhea, promotes immune response and treats gastrointestinal infections. It can also help heal eczema and inflammation.
• L. paracasei- This bacteria occurs in multiple strains and is found during the making of cheese and in the fermentation of dairy products. Authors Nouria Belkacem, et al. discuss the immune system benefits of l. paracasei. Specifically, it can restore immunity and stability within the intestines, where most of the immune system resides.
• Saccharomyces Boulardii- According to Lynne V McFarland, this probiotic yeast is used to treat IBS because of its anti-diarrhetic effect and its ability to eliminate H.pylori, a harmful bacteria which can lead to IBS.

What Are the Best Probiotic Brands for IBS?

Different probiotic supplements will contain a variety of probiotics in unique combinations. It can be tough deciding which ones suit your needs. For this reason, you can find reviews below of some of the best probiotics on the market.

Check the prices for best Probiotic Supplement for Digestive Health on Amazon

Goodbelly Probiotic Supplement

Goodbelly probiotic supplement contains 10 billion live Lactobacillus Plantarum cells, one of the SCM-III probiotics.

In a study conducted by Ducrotté, Sawant and Jayanthi, two-hundred and fourteen patients suffering from IBS were divided into placebo and Lactobacillus Plantarum groups.

After 4 weeks, it was obvious that abdominal pain, bloating and frequency of bowel movements decreased more in the LP group than the placebo group.

The study proves that Lactobacillus Plantarum is effective at relieving IBS symptoms.

Ingredients

• lactobacillus Plantarum (10 billion live cultures)
• Hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose capsules
• Vegetable form magnesium stearate
• potato starch

PROS

• Relieves symptoms associated with IBS, like constipation, bloating and abdominal pain
• Easy to take the pill form
• Non-GMO
• Sugar-free
• Gluten-Free
• Dairy-Free
• Vegan
• Strengthens the Immune System
• Metal container

CONS

• It may take longer to work for some users.
• Some may experience worsening of stomach discomfort.

Check the prices for the bestseller Hyperbiotics PRO-15 Probiotics on Amazon

Hyperbiotics Pro-15 Probiotics

This unique formula contains 15 separate probiotics. In addition to the larger quantity of organisms, it contains, hyperbiotics are in pearl tablets that slowly release the bacteria throughout the day.

Ingredients

• B. bifidum
• S. thermophilus
• B. breve
• L.gassari
• L.casei
• L. rhamnosus
• B. infantis
• B. longum
• L. reuteri
• L. paracasei
• B. lactis
• L. salivarius
• L. Plantarum
• L. acidophilus
• L. fermentum
• prebiotic Fructooligosaccharides
• sodium carbonate
• pectin
• stearic acid
• turmeric
• guar gum
• hydroxyproplyL methylcellulose
• microcrystalline cellulose

PROS

• Contains 15 probiotics
• Promotes weight loss
• Cures acne
• Treats mold poisoning
• contains turmeric to boost the anti-inflammatory effect of probiotics
• Pearl tablets can reach the large intestine
• time-released formula prevents intestinal upset
• Mood booster

CONS

• Some users experienced worsened symptoms.
• It may cause a histamine reaction

Check the prices for the NOW Saccharomyces Boulardii on Amazon

NOW Saccharomyces Boulardii

This gluten-free formula comes in veggie capsules. 10 billion CFUs of Saccharomyces boulardii are proven effective at balancing the flora in the gut and treating IBS symptoms.

Ingredients

• 10 billion CFUs of Saccharomyces boulardii
• Organic inulin fructooligosaccharides
• guar gum
• cellulose capsule

PROS

• Organic Inulin
• treats diarrhea
• gluten-free
• vegan
• treats ulcers
• lessens bloating
• balances the gut microbiomes
• treats leaky gut

CONS

• Some users reported no improvement.

Check the prices for bestseller VSL 3 High Potency Probiotic Capsules for Ulcerative Colitis on Amazon

VSL # 3 High Potency Probiotic Capsules

VSL # 3 contains 112.5 billion VSL # 3 probiotics in each capsule and few added ingredients.

Ingredients

• L. Plantarum
• L. acidophilus
• L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus
• L. casei
• Streptococcus salivarius ssp.
• Thermophilus
• B. infantis,
• B.breve
• B.longum
• stearic acid
• microcrystalline cellulose
• cornstarch
• silicone dioxide
• magnesium stearate
• hydroxyphyl methylcellulose

PROS

• treats chronic diarrhea
• great for bloating and gas
• helps alleviate ulcerative colitis symptoms

CONS

• Needs to remain refrigerated
• May cause adverse effects in some users

Check the prices for the bestseller for Jarrow Formulas Ideal Bowel Support on Amazon

Jarrow Formulas Ideal Bowel Support L. Plantarum 299v

This formula is a dairy-free, vegan L.plantarum supplement that is proven effective for treating IBS.

Ingredients

• Lactobacillus Plantarum 299v
• hydroxypropylmethylcellulose
• vegetable magnesium stearate
• potato starch

PROS

• Prevents bloating
• Promotes regularity
• gluten-free
• dairy-free
• stable at room temperature

CONS

• May cause adverse effects in a small percentage of users

Check the prices for Align Probiotic Supplement on Amazon

Align Probiotic Supplement

This probiotic comes from a highly reputable company. It’s also one of few products that contain b.infantis, one of the essential probiotics for IBS.

Ingredients

• Bifidobacterium 35624
• Sucrose
• Hypromellose
• Sodium caseinate
• Propyl gallate
• Titanium dioxide for color
• Gellan gum
• Magnesium stearate
• Microcrystalline cellulose
• Trisodium Citrate Dihydrate

PROS

• works 24/7
• balances gut flora
• highly effective in the treatment of IBS

CONS

• Some users experienced worsening of symptoms.
• Lots of added ingredients

Check the prices for bestseller IBS Treatment by IBS Formula on Amazon

IBS Formula IBS Treatment

Thi is a vegan, gluten-free, non-gmo formula specially made for IBS sufferers. It treats symptoms such as gas, bloating, pain and diarrhea. It contains herbs with naturally occurring probiotics and other constituents to provide IBS relief.

Ingredients

• Ginger root
• Lycopene
• Papaya powder
• Black walnut hull powder
• Psyllium powder
• Hyssop leaf
• Slippery elm bark
• Inulin
• Aloe Ferox Powder
• Chlorella
• Acai berry extract
• Vegetable magnesium stearate
• Cellulose

PROS 

• Contains superfood extracts
• plant-based
• vegan
• non-gmo
• gluten-free
• relieves all symptoms associated with IBS

CONS

• May worsen symptoms
• May cause heart palpitations

Final Thoughts

Now that you are familiar with how probiotics can be used to treat IBS, you should feel free to experiment with the various brands.

As research has shown, they can make a huge difference in your everyday life, providing much-needed relief so you can live symptom-free.

Irritable bowel symptom, also known as IBS, is a relatively common disorder, afflicting a considerable segment of the population, according to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic.

Although a fairly significant percentage of the population is afflicted with IBS, only a fairly small number of individuals are afflicted with severe symptoms.

The most common symptoms of IBS include bloating, cramping and abdominal pain.

Other symptoms include excess gas, diarrhea, or constipation, according to John Hopkins University Medical Center.

In some cases, a person with IBS suffers mild symptoms. In a smaller number of cases, these symptoms can prove to be severe and approach the juncture of being debilitating while they persist.

There are some steps you can take to assist in combating an IBS flare up. Keep in mind that while these suggestions may be effective in your case, if you believe you may have IBS, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Your doctor can confirm that you suffer from IBS and not some other medical condition.

Progressive Relaxation Exercises

One strategy that you can employ as means of controlling the symptoms of an IBS flare up is progressive relaxation exercises.

These are exercises that are designed to relax the muscles of your body, according to Dartmouth University. This type of exercise is designed to relax the muscles of your body one at a time.

The process of progressive relaxation exercises begins by tightening the muscles in your feet.

You then work your way upwards, to your calves, hips, and upward. For many individuals, progressive relaxation exercises prove effective at minimizing the symptoms associated with IBS.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback is a process designed to assist you in controlling certain bodily functions, according to Harvard Medical School. During biofeedback, sensors are attached to your body.

These sensors are designed to sensors attached to detect certain changes in such things as your pulse, skin temperature, brain-wave pattern and some other types of physiological functioning.

Individuals afflicted with IBS indicate that they do experience relief through biofeedback.

More often than not, a person suffering from IBS requires multiple biofeedback sessions before notable improvement is experienced in his or her symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Counseling

Stress can contribute to, or even be a major underlying cause of, IBS. As a result, in some situations, counseling designed to address stress and anxiety can be useful in paring down the symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome, according to Stanford University School of Medicine.

In this day and age, there are counselors and therapists that have specialized experience in assisting women and men who suffer from IBS.

Dietary Changes

In most cases, certain foods are apt to trigger IBS symptoms for a particular individual.

If you discover that you are afflicted with irritable bowel syndrome, one of the first steps you need to undertake is an analysis of what you have been eating and drinking.

Odds are strong that in a fairly short period of time you will be able to identify certain food or beverages that result in an IBS flare up.

With many people suffering from IBS, making dietary changes in the form of avoiding certain foods or beverages makes a notable difference in reducing symptoms of the condition.

In some cases, once the offending foods or beverages are eliminated from a person’s diet, that individual ends up experience relief from IBS symptoms in fairly short speed.

Eat High Fiber Foods

If you are diagnosed with IBS, consider upping the amount of fiber you consume in your diet.

The reality is that consuming high fiber foods oftentimes proves to be an important step in lessening the symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome.

In point of fact, you can realize a number of other important benefits by increasing your intake of fiber on a regular basis.

Drink Plenty of Fluids

The average adult in the United States does not consume enough healthy fluids during the course of a given day.

Specifically, a considerable number of Americans simply do not drink enough water.

The amount of water a person needs to consume depends on a number of factors, including his or her weight and activity.

With that said, there is a regularly utilized suggestion that an individual should strive for consumer eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. For most people, this proves to be a decent reference point.

Drinking an appropriate amount of fluids, particularly water, can be useful in reducing and even preventing the symptoms of IBS.

Individuals who reach and maintain an appropriate level of fluid intake tend to have a more extended reprieve from the symptoms of IBS.

Get Appropriate Sleep

Sleep and the functioning of your gastrointestinal system may seem unrelated. In reality, the lack of proper sleep can have a seriously negative impact on all aspects of your body’s functioning.

Not getting enough sleep can trigger or enhance the symptoms of IBS for some individuals.

There is a direct relationship between lack of sleep and stress. There is a link between increased stress and IBS.

Thus, if you suffer from IBS symptoms, and you do not get enough sleep, you should consider seriously examining your sleep habits. Generally speaking, an adult should sleep an average of seven hours a night.

Regular Exercise

Regular exercise can provide you with a multitude of benefits. If you are afflicted with irritable bowel symptom, regular exercise may be helpful in reducing the symptoms of the condition.

What constitutes an appropriate amount of exercise depends on a number of factors, including your age, weight, and overall physical condition.

Before you embark on an exercise regimen, to address the symptoms of IBS or some other reason, you should consult with your primary healthcare provider.

Medication

If one, or a combination, of these non-medicinal approaches to addressing the symptoms of IBS prove ineffective, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss medications that may be helpful to you.

There are numbers of over-the-counter and prescription products that might provide you some level of relief from the symptoms of IBS.

Not to worry, in this article, we’ll explain what IBS is in full and in a way that you’re not likely to forget in a while.

But perhaps there are still many of you who do not yet know what Omega 3 is then? We’ll be explaining this too.

We’ll also be outlining what it is used for and linking it with IBS while trying to answer the question; can omega 3 be used with IBS.

Also, make a special note of all the health benefits of using omega 3.

What is IBS?

The first thing to know about this widely used term is that it is an acronym (abbreviation) of irritable bowel syndrome.

The next thing to know about IBS is that, as a syndrome, it does not deal with one debilitating or uncomfortable medical problem but a series of symptoms.

Such symptoms typically include abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, cramping, and diarrhea.

While sufferers will encounter pain in many instances, in a lot of other cases the worst that will be felt is discomfort and, emotionally speaking, embarrassment.

One sufferer openly described the trauma and challenges that he has to go through each day.

For one thing, he was compelled to be close to a toilet at all times, choosing routes which give him quick access to public toilets when emergencies arise.

He also mentions that it can take him up to two hours to get ready for work each day.

What is omega 3?

Omega 3 is omega 3 fatty acids. The shorter description is more widely used and easier to remember. But omega-3 fatty acids are considered to be essential fatty acids.

They are essential, mainly because the human body is not able to manufacture them. To compensate, people derive these fatty acids from the food sources in which omega 3 is stored.

The fatty acids are mainly derived from fish – tuna and salmon are two popular sources.

They are also found in other marine sources such as algae. Of interest to vegetarians is the fact that omega 3 fatty acids can also be found in nut oils and seeds.

Omega-3 fatty acids are clinically defined but best remembered by their acronyms as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid).

What omega 3 is used for

It is still being emphasized as we publish this article with the poser; can omega 3 be used with IBS, that the use of this essential fatty acid quite literally finds its way to the heart of most people who specifically have a need for them.

It continues to be emphasized, more than anything else, that the use of omega 3 helps prevent and manage heart disease.

Along with that, the fatty acids help lower high blood pressure and cholesterol. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-blood clotting properties (along with the benefits).

The essential fatty acids are also of benefit for the prevention and treatment (when necessary) of diabetes, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, depression and certain forms of cancer.

Can omega 3 be used with IBS?

Now, let’s answer the vital question that began this Chronic Body Pain article. Can omega 3 be used with IBS?

And the short answer to that is that omega-3 fatty acids ‘help reduces the risk and symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel disease’.

Let’s call this an open book test because the question was not entirely and directly answered in the source used, however, the logical explanation remains that these essential fatty acids, of benefit to users in most instances among a myriad of symptoms and diseases, can and, in fact, should be used by people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Health benefits of using omega 3

The goal always being on cures and remedies for treating and reducing chronic body pain, extensive details are consistently provided to users of the website on the medical and clinical diagnoses and subsequent treatments thereof.

However, Chronic Body Pain is health-oriented and always explores the alternatives.

Omega 3 can, therefore, be considered as a healthy alternative to the clinical treatment of IBS, however, sufferers (as one subject disclosed his experiences) will probably know by now that they must still rely on prescribed treatment in the context of their peculiar condition.

We close this article on a health-oriented note by listing just some of the health benefits of using omega 3 fatty acids.

• Beneficial effects in the treatment of bipolar stress disorder.
• Therapeutic effect among children suffering from ADHD.
• Helps decrease inflammation in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis.
• Therapeutic value is also derived, when omega 3 is used, during the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C.
• Can help delay cognitive decline among elderly men.

Finally, have you ever wondered about the expression that is uttered when someone unexpectedly dies, usually an elderly grandmother or grandfather; he passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Although this is not as common, people suddenly collapsing and dying as well, is not unheard of either. But the use of omega 3 is also known to reduce such incidences of sudden death.

Now that you know what IBS is, you also have a better picture of what causes i. You also know that if you happen to be suffering from irritable bowel syndrome that it is not the end of your world.

With proper treatment and care while effectively managing your syndrome, you now know that you can continue to enjoy a healthy and wholesome life rather than unnecessarily endure the indignity of dealing with (previously) unmanageable and uncontrollable bowel movements.

The bonus here is that you also have a knowledgeable heads-up on omega 3, what it can be used for and most especially, all the health benefits of using this supplement.

We often don’t think about digestion unless we have a problem caused by food – i.e. constipation, diarrhea and upset stomach.

But what if you have a chronic problem with these conditions? You more than likely have an issue with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that is a very common condition that negatively impacts your colon – also known as the large intestine.

The symptoms one gets from IBS are very uncomfortable, although not as severe as the more severe stomach conditions like Crohn’s disease and forms of ulcerative colitis that are versions of IBS.

One bit of good news is that IBS is not likely to be much more of a problem that can damage the tissues within the colon or lead to a higher risk of colon cancer.

Regardless, one will want to find relief from these pains and issues and that can easily be done with little to no cost by following one of several natural remedies.

These are also a lot safer than some of the mass-produced “miracle drugs” that are available in the pharmacy market.

Common forms, variants

There are three main types of IBS – one with constipation, one with diarrhea and one with a combination of the two that can seem like the most unpleasant.

When you are dealing with IBS that comes with constipation will usually include a large amount of pain coming from your stomach, along with some bloating and gas.

The bowel movements are very few and far between, sometimes inconsistent, that can be very difficult to pass due to their hardness or shape.

Then there is the IBS with diarrhea that comes with a very similar pain in your stomach, but you will have a more urgent need to visit the restroom several times throughout the day and night.

The stools are loose and can sometimes seem more like water without a lot of firmness.

What’s worse is when you have a combination of the two where you have loose stools in between larger and tougher to pass bowels.

Some scientific studies have found that there are some people who have IBS could find themselves dealing with an alternating rotation of all three types – depending on which types of foods trigger their condition – wheat, dairy, meats, chocolate, alcohol, carbonated beverages, lentils and other foods. IBS can also be caused by a combination of hormones and stress.

Why go with natural methods?

Like many medical conditions, it can be a lot easier and safer for your body to go with a more natural way of dealing with your IBS symptoms – no matter how severe they are in your individual case.

Let’s not forget that by using a medicine or method that is 100 percent natural, you are less likely to deal with potentially negative side effects that come from the artificial chemicals that are used as ingredients in mass-produced prescription drugs.

In addition to all of the above, they natural remedies are also likely to contain a number of essential vitamins and minerals that can help other parts of your body.

They are also a lot more cost-effective than those expensive pharmaceuticals.

Common symptoms that natural remedies can alleviate

IBS can lead to a number of painful side effects that can come from eating certain foods that your body is unable to handle.

First, you might feel some extra bloating around your midsection that can also include extra gas that your body will want to pass. Both will also include some cramping pains within your abdominal region.

Additionally, you will sometimes have either diarrhea or constipation – sometimes you might even find yourself dealing with both where you have a blockage that once you pass, you will find looser stools that can also include some mucus.

These symptoms can be quite severe at times depending on what you eat and how much of an impact it can have on your digestive system.

About 20 percent of the American population will be diagnosed with IBS after approaching their doctor about the symptoms they are dealing with on a regular basis.

While IBS is not likely to lead to cancer, you may need to see a doctor about potentially bigger issues like bleeding with your stools, feeling pains in your abdominal area at night and finding yourself losing weight.

Using one of several natural remedy methods can help you alleviate those side effects easily.

Option 1 – Reduce things that impact your intestines

Like it was mentioned at the beginning of this article, we may sometimes forget how much we negatively affect our digestive tracts with the types of foods that we consume.

One of the best things we can do to help improve your digestive health is to make some changes to our daily diet – starting with reducing how many foods you eat that are fried.

That means not having corn dogs, mozzarella sticks and other foods cooked in fat and/or oil.

Another food that can cause a lot of damage to your intestines includes spicier foods because of the capsaicin that can be found in hotter peppers, causing your colon to be more susceptible to having diarrhea.

It also doesn’t help if you drink a large amount of coffee or other highly caffeinated beverages.

It’s also a good idea if you can avoid eating the types of food that are well known for causing gassiness – including vegetables like cabbage and broccoli, or baked beans and green beans.

There are also a lot of negative artificial sweeteners found in chewing gum and a variety of candy that includes substances like sorbitol and mannitol that cause diarrhea as well.

Your intestines are also impacted by other activities beyond consuming food – like smoking. For one thing, the nicotine found in cigarettes can actually cause the symptoms of IBS to show up faster.

There’s also the fact that smoking leads to you swallowing air and that will lead to someone having more problems for those who might be very sensitive to that extra gas in the stomach.

Option 2 – Gain a handle on dealing with your stress

While the types of foods that you eat in a regular basis can be the most common triggers, higher levels of stress can also be a major cause of the IBS issues that a number of people are dealing with.

Finding ways to reduce stress in your life can be quite simple by trying to schedule yourself time to meditate in a very quiet room away from the hustle and bustle of life.

It also helps if you are able to add some yoga into your daily schedule, as well as trying a breathing exercise where you inhale or exhale for five-second periods for about a minute and thinking about nothing but that breathing pattern for about a minute – this will not only calm you down, but it’s a method used by mixed martial artist George St. Pierre.

Another thing you can do to help yourself is to find a good place to relax, whether it’s a favorite chair where you can watch your favorite television show or a sporting event or a good lawn chair or hammock where you can rest under some cool shade.

But what might work to help find your stress triggers is to keep a journal for chronicling any IBS instance you deal with – nothing some of the things you did during the day.

Over time, that journal will allow you to find trends that can help discover what might be a trend of what is causing your issues.

Maybe knowing what stress is leading to your stomach and colon pains might be the key to healing yourself by eliminating the stresses of life.

Option 3 – Increase your fiber intake

While you make a move to eliminate certain foods in your daily diet, you should actually look in increase the consumption of foods that have a large amount of fiber that will actually absorb the liquid that might be within your bowels so that they can actually have more firmness to help reduce the amount of diarrhea – but not too much to where you become constipation.

Beans can help with that, as well as whole grain oatmeal, and a number of fruits – i.e. apples, berries and citrus fruits like grapefruit.

This help provides soluble fiber that will help with preventing IBS with diarrhea.

Now if you are constantly dealing with constipation as your form of IBS, you can always look into consuming foods with a more insoluble fiber – found in whole wheat and whole grain options, greens found in salads and other foods – to help make the stools a lot easier to pass throughout the intestines and colon.

But you don’t want to consume too much fiber or else you’ll find yourself dealing with a combination of gas and bloating, so it’s best to eat no more than eight grams every day and gradually increase by a few grams a day until you reach a maximum number of about 30 grams daily. There are also fiber supplements you can take if eating more fiber is tougher for you.

If you go with a diet that has an increased amount of fiber, then you will be better off drinking up to eight glasses of water every day in an effort to help the fiber get through your digestive system a lot easier.

Option 4 – Take your time, watch how much you eat

In addition to being one of the most common reasons for gaining a large amount of weight, eating too much in one sitting in a short amount of time can actually negatively impact your colon and intestines due to overstimulation.

The best thing you can do is eat several smaller meals – like three regular-sized meals and two to three snack sessions in between.

It’s also very important to drink more water during this time as well and cutting out the extra sugar and caffeine in coffee, soda, and energy drinks.

An easy way to eat better is to slow down your pace, take smaller bites and focus more on chewing – a good rule of thumb is to chew each bite about 10 to 20 seconds to not only to prevent eating too fast, but also to reduce the risk of choking when you swallow.

This also helps in reducing the amount of air that is swallowed when eating way too fast – this can actually cause a painful accumulation of gas that is considered a common trigger of IBS.

That faster pace of eating can also lead to your stomach getting too full before your body can register that it is beyond that point of comfort – which can lead to other IBS problems like stomach cramps, pains, and indigestion.

Option 5 – Try adding yogurt to your diet

There are a number of benefits that can come from eating more yogurt, especially Greek yogurt.

That’s because it contains a large number of active bacteria that is commonly known as live cultures that will actually help counteract the effects of the negative bacteria and harmful impurities that can accumulate along the digestive tract and colon – it can also be a big cause of diarrhea that is a key symptom of IBS.

Now if dairy is a big problem as one of your IBS triggers, you can actually find dietary supplements that are composed of one or more of the live cultures found in Greek yogurt.

For example, you can take an acidophilus supplement that can actually include more than one million live organisms that can help clear your digestive system of those negative impurities – just make sure you take this daily supplement before eating in the morning.

Option 6 – Drink more tea

As you eliminate the number of beverages that are filled with large amounts of sugar and caffeine, you can replace that by drinking one or two cups of tea in an effort to provide some relaxation for your digestive system while helping prevent any spasms or buildup of gas and bloating.

It is pretty difficult to tire of drinking tea overall when you consider that there are a number of different types of tea to enjoy – green, black, white, fruit-based and several herbal options.

One that is commonly recommended for people is peppermint tea – and make sure you aren’t actually picking up a box of black tea that is flavored to taste like peppermint.

Peppermint is also a very beneficial supplement to take as well because of how the oil from the peppermint leave can actually reach your digestive tract pretty easily to help break down the accumulated toxins along the intestinal and colon walls.

Another very beneficial tea is ginger, which helps reduce the symptoms of IBS – just like most fresh teas.

The best way to prepare a cup is to throw grated ginger – about a teaspoon’s worth – into a cup that is filled with hot water.

You will have to let the ginger steep in the water for at least 10 minutes before you remove the chunks of ginger before drinking.

There are also natural bags of ginger-based tea, which you should drink anywhere from four to six cups every day.

Option 7 – Increase your physical activity

It shouldn’t be a surprise for anyone when exercise is used to talk about improving any part of your lifestyle to reflect healthy changes.

That doesn’t mean you need to work out by lifting heavy weight for hours every day, but it can be as easy as getting out of the house and going for a walk for at least 30 minutes per day – or any other kind of noncompetitive exercise like swimming or riding a bicycle.

How does exercising regularly help with your IBS issues? Your body becomes more relaxed after some physical activity, which leads to the body’s natural release of endorphins that help reduce pains you might be experiencing in an effort to help keep different parts of your body running efficiently and effectively.

The different types of IBS can make life very difficult and can cause problems in trying to effectively work in the office.

It can also be that much more of a problem if you are working in a retail environment where you are on your feet and the cramps and pains linked to gas, bloating and indigestion can keep you from being able to do different tasks like stocking shelves, loading a vehicle’s trunk for an elderly customer or even concentrating on counting change back to help break a $20.

Going with one of these natural remedy methods won’t cost too much money and if you don’t have the tools in your home already, you can likely find the different foods and teas at a nearby grocery store – the dietary supplements that were also mentioned can be found in various vitamin and supplement stores.

You can avoid a number of foods and triggers that will make it harder for you to function and feel good.

You can also put other things in your diet that will make it easier for you to deal with your IBS in an effective way.

If you’ve never heard of irritable bowel syndrome, we’re going to give you an idea as to what it is and we’re going to give you an idea as to how dried fruit can affect your IBS.

What is IBS?

IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is not actually a specific disorder that can be diagnosed with tests and other things.

It’s actually something that people will get diagnosed with after a doctor has exhausted tests for other options that may have the same symptoms that you are suffering from.

It’s one of those diseases that you get diagnosed with because there just isn’t another name to call it.

Some people will experience some of the symptoms associated with it, while others may not even see any of them, and even others will only deal with one.

It’s quite an odd disorder. Here are some of the symptoms that may come up.

• Abnormal pain in the abdomen, especially in the lower part.
• Excessive gas or bloating that may be around on a regular basis, especially when you wake up in the morning or lie down to go to bed at night.
• Constipation, diarrhea, or irregular bowel movements that don’t seem to be on any sort of schedule that you can deal with on a regular basis.
• Inability to “hold it” when you have to use the bathroom, or having an urgency that requires you to immediately go to the bathroom or you will end up losing some urine or stool when you’re trying to get to the bathroom.

These symptoms are just the beginning, and many people have to change their eating habits and lifestyles in order to make sure that they can actually enjoy the foods that they are eating.

However, IBS has a lot of different treatment options, which is why a lot of people are always looking for the best ways to feel better with the disorder.

Lots of foods can help with it too. That’s why we’re going to be talking about dried fruits in the next section.

Can Dried Fruit Affect Your IBS?

Dried fruit can actually be great for people with IBS. Many people will eat it as part of everything that they are dealing with.

They may throw a bit in their mouth in the morning or eat it to get a little bit of sweet as part of their diet.

No matter what it is that you’re looking to do or prevent, dried fruits can be a great way for you to feel better and to get some extra nutrients. But how does it help you with IBS?

The fiber content is a big part of what is helpful for IBS. When you have IBS, it can be hard to pass stools or it can be difficult for you to get solid stools.

By eating dried fruits, you’re actually going to make it easier to pass your stools and you won’t have to try and fend off some of the frustrating symptoms that you may deal with otherwise.

The fiber also makes it easier for you to digest foods in general, so those big chunks that don’t digest well are actually going to be easier to digest if you have a good amount of fiber.

By eating dried fruits (specifically prunes and dates), you will find that you’re passing stools easily.

Another consideration is the fact that most dried fruit is dried without the peel.

Fruit peels can be one of the most difficult things for you to eat and digest, and so you have to try and take them off as much as you can in order to ensure that you’re going to be able to eat them without a lot of pain.

Since people want to eat fruit (due to fiber content, as mentioned above), how can you find that balance?

Dried fruit is a great way to do this because it allows you to get those nutrients without fighting off the problems with the peel.

Dried fruit is also good for you in general. As mentioned above, there are a lot of nutrients in there, which makes it great for your body and gives you the bit of energy that you need in order to be able to get through your day.

Get some dried fruit in your diet and you will notice that you have more energy and you feel great, too.

If you can eat fruit without the peel, do that too, but dried fruit is a great, quick way for you to be able to get the results that you need as well.

Are you looking for some other tools that you can use in order to ensure that you’re going to be able to function well?

Do you want to prevent flare ups and make it easy for you to feel good throughout the day or week that you’re actually out and doing things?

No matter what it is that you may need, your doctor is going to play a big role in helping you to feel great about it.

Talk to them to see what they suggest about your diet and work with them to get the most out of everything that you’re doing with your diet.

They’re a great resource for you and you should utilize their expertise and knowledge in your treatment.

In the long run, you will feel a lot better and you will get your IBS under control enough so that you can enjoy eating more.

References:

http://www.webmd.com/ibs/guide/ibs-triggers-prevention-strategies

http://www.theibsnetwork.org/what-is-ibs/

http://www.helpforibs.com/diet/how_to_eat.asp

Your stomach is a very sensitive place that you are trying to deal with on a regular basis. For some people, it can be especially hard to allow things to “sit well,†no matter what it is that you’re trying to eat.

In some cases, you may be fending off a disorder that is usually referred to as irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. What is IBS, and what are the most common symptoms that you see during a flare up? Let’s take a look.

What is IBS?

Irritable bowel syndrome, usually just referred to as IBS, is a disorder that is actually made up of a number of things.

In short, if your doctor cannot figure out other issues that you may have as a part of your symptoms, or the symptoms just don’t seem to match with any sort of diagnosis, then they may tell you that you have IBS.

The issue is, there are a lot of different stomach issues that you may have, or you may not have some symptoms that are the “earmark†of various diseases, and in those cases, you may not be able to figure out exactly what it is that you have. You can also check the Best Probiotics For IBS.

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IBS gives you a nice umbrella to be under and it makes it better for your doctor to try and move forward with whatever treatment that you’re going to need.

Obviously, IBS can be paired with other issues as well. It’s common to have IBS with GERD, acid reflux, Crohn’s, and a number of other diseases that affect your digestive system.

Your doctor will make that determination for you and help you to figure out the best way to move forward so you can eat and enjoy life in a comfortable way.

What Are The Most Common IBS Flare Up Symptoms?

In some cases, you may end up having an IBS flare up. What is an IBS flare up? In short, it’s a moment when your body just starts to get annoyed or “flared up†because of something that you ate or did.

The IBS is then triggered and it becomes difficult for you to go ahead and try to fend off whatever it is that you’re feeling. What are the most common things that can happen during one of these flare ups?

Pain or spasms in the abdominal area, specifically around the stomach or the intestines. The lower it is in your abdomen, the more you want to pay attention to it and possibly get an evaluation so that you can see what is going on.

If your bowels are not acting as they normally would (you aren’t having bowel movements in a normal pattern), it could be a sign of IBS.

Keep an eye on when you’re having bowel movements and how often in order to get a better idea as to whether or not this may be a problem that you’re dealing with.

Constipation and/or diarrhea as a result of eating or drinking something that would be referred to as a trigger for the issue.

Passing gas (flatulence or belching), especially if it happens excessively and you are uncomfortable and/or in pain before you actually pass the gas from your system.

Incontinence, which means that you are passing urine (and in extreme cases, fecal matter) if you are unable to get to the toilet after an urgent feeling of going to the bathroom.

If you feel like you have to urgently go to the bathroom, even when seconds before you didn’t feel like you had to do anything.

If this happens regularly (and you end up with incontinence, as listed above), then you will want to take care of it with some help from your doctor.

Any sort of pain in or around the rectum area. While this could be a sign of other bowel issues, or, if you are a man, it could signify that you have an issue with the prostate. If this is a symptom that you’re dealing with, then you want to make sure that you talk to your doctor as soon as possible in order to prevent further issues as possible.

Your stools change in substance or structure (and do so without having a cause that is obvious, like illness).

Feeling like you have to have a bowel movement, but you actually aren’t able to pass anymore at that point in time.

Odd rumbling noises within your stomach during the day, even if you are not hungry and/or you aren’t digesting food at that point in time (you haven’t eaten within a couple hours of the loud noises). Sometimes, your stomach will feel uncomfortable when it makes those noises as well.

These aren’t the only symptoms, of course, and in some cases, you may have one or two and never see the others that people are dealing with. As with any disease, some people are going to react one way, and others are going to react another way.

Learn to listen to your body and make sure that you understand how it should be reacting so that you don’t have to try and fend off these issues when they come. Have a plan and know how you’re going to take care of things when this happens.

As with any other disorder, you don’t want to try and diagnose yourself. If you see some, or many, of these symptoms while you’re taking care of yourself, then you may want to make an appointment to talk to your doctor in order to make sure that you’re going to be able to get what you need in terms of treatment.

Talk to your doctor about your options and look around to see what could be the best thing(s) for you to do and take care of. That way, you can get care and get back to enjoying all of the foods that you’ve always been eating.

What Does an IBS Flare Up Feel Like?

An IBS flare up is essentially a time during which your IBS symptoms drastically worsen.

It can be triggered by a variety of issues, ranging from stress to allergies, that cause your gastrointestinal system to act out.

There is a wide range of symptoms involved in an IBS flare up.

The key feeling in an IBS flare up is simply that your bowels are not behaving like they normally do. You may end up having far more bowel movements than normal, or you may barely have any.

In many cases, this unpredictability can end up causing you to have sudden bowel urges that leave you sprinting to the bathroom.

When you do feel an urge to go to the bathroom, you might find that it fades away randomly without any actual bowel movements.

There are frequently strange rumbling noises in the stomach, regardless of how frequently you are eating or going to the bathroom.

After you do use the toilet, stools might be suddenly watery or unusually firm even when you are getting enough fiber and water.

IBS flare-ups are also quite painful. There are frequently spasming pains in the stomach and lower torso region.

You might feel like you are bloated or uncomfortably full, and there is typically a lot of flatulence accompanied by pain. Some people find that the area around the rectum gets inflamed and painful too.

Keep in mind that each person with IBS is different. You may experience all of the symptoms of a flare up, or you might just have to deal with one or two at a time.

To learn a bit more about how it feels from a person with IBS, watch this informational Youtube video by Tayla Mary.

How Long Does an IBS Flare Up Last?

During an IBS flare up, it can feel very exhausting and depressing, and many people worry that they will just be stuck feeling like this forever.

Fortunately, this is not entirely true. According to Nursing Times, the average length of an IBS flare-up is just two to four days.

However, flare length can vary from person to person, so some people may have flares for a couple weeks at a time.

It is also possible for one flare to start almost as soon as the previous one had ended.

If your flare-ups are lasting for months, it is typically a sign that you are encountering something that triggers your IBS almost daily.

How Can You Calm an IBS Flare-Up?

There are a few things you can do to ease your symptoms while in the middle of an IBS flare up.

Probiotics, which are found in yogurt, sauerkraut, and supplements, help to restore your gut bacteria after bouts of diarrhea, so they help to make digestion a little easier for you.

It may also be helpful to include a little gentle fiber like chia seeds or psyllium husk if you are dealing with constipation.

Those who are dealing with a lot of pain can benefit from over the counter pain medicines or a heating pad placed over the stomach.

If you are stuck in the bathroom, the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders suggests that you take loperamide which is also known as Immodium.

This medication lowers intestinal contractions, so the gut does not process waste as quickly.

Which Foods Should You Eat During an IBS Flare-Up?

During an IBS flare up, it is important to stick to plain foods that will not aggravate your symptoms. Foods to avoid will include anything that is overly greasy, caffeinated, alcoholic, or spicy.

Many people also find it helpful to avoid short-chain carbohydrates, which are found in grains, legumes, dairy, and certain fruits, because they can lead to extra gas and be bloating because they are difficult to digest.

Certified Nutritionist Elaine Brisebois recommends that people with an IBS flare up mainly focus on liquid foods.

Bone broth, vegetable broth, and other clear soups provide plenty of calories without containing a lot of aggravating ingredients. They also provide water needed to prevent nasty bouts of constipation from occurring.

Getting a little bit of soluble fiber can be helpful in firming up the stool, but many fibrous foods can make gas and bloat worse. Good options for gentle fiber include bananas, jasmine rice, cooked carrots, cooked green beans, and cooked oats.

How Do You Recover From an IBS Flare-Up?

Once you start to calm down the symptoms of your IBS flare up, it will be time to focus on recovery and preventing further attacks.

Many IBS flares are triggered by stress, so it is important to try to stay calm in your daily life.

Avoid stressful situations when possible and try guided meditation, yoga, or other relaxation techniques.

Your body will most likely be feeling tired and sore after the flare-up, so try to go easy on yourself. Be sure to get plenty of sleep and avoid any aggressive exercise.

According to a study by the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Journal, you should continue to eat natural probiotics after your IBS flare up ends to ensure that your gut has enough helpful probiotics.

As the flare-up starts to go away, you can begin slowly getting back to your normal diet. Gradually add in more fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, and spices instead of suddenly going back to eating whatever you want.

It may be wise to continue eating cautiously for a few weeks to avoid a recurrence. Gradually increase your fiber intake and continue to avoid caffeine.

References:

http://www.webmd.com/ibs/features/irritable_bowel_syndrome

http://patient.info/health/irritable-bowel-syndrome-leaflet

http://www.theibsnetwork.org/what-is-ibs/

Many people believe that inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is the same exact thing as irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. However, this is not true at all.

The truth is that inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is much different than irritable bowel syndrome. IBS does not result in inflammation, ulcers, or other bowel damage.

IBS is actually a much less serious issue, and is also known as functional bowel syndrome. This basically means that the digestive system appears to be perfectly normal, but it’s not functioning as it is supposed to.

An Explanation of IBS

As already mentioned, irritable bowel syndrome is also referred to as functional bowel syndrome, which means that though it looks like there’s nothing wrong, there is something going wrong in the functioning of the bowels.

It is estimated that somewhere between 7-10 out of 100 people across the world suffer from IBS. However, most of these people do not see a physician regarding their symptoms.

The symptoms of IBS vary from person to person and can last for a long time. IBS does not cause you to develop cancer or shorten your life in any way.

Individuals suffering from IBS very rarely have constant, ongoing symptoms. In most cases, an individual will have symptoms off and on for years- and may even go months, or even years, without ever having symptoms- but the symptoms will typically come back at some point.

Symptoms of IBS

Following are some of the common symptoms associated with IBS:

• Changes in patterns of bowel movements
• Excess gas/bloating
• Lower belly pain
• Mucus in stools

If you have had these symptoms for six months or more and experience pain in your belly for at least three days each month, you may have IBS- if at least two of the following statements are true:

• A bowel movement relieves pain
• Changes in bowel movement frequency is associated with the pain
• Change in the appearance/consistency of bowel movement associated with the pain

Since there are no structural issues present in the intestines, some people think that this disorder is “all in their head.” However, this isn’t true- these symptoms are all very real. There are many different causes that can be addressed in order to relieve these symptoms.

Other Symptoms

In some cases, individuals with IBS will experience lower belly pain in conjunction with constipation that is typically followed by a bout of diarrhea. Others may have some pain and a mild case of constipation, but no diarrhea.

Some indivuduals have symptoms that don’t have an effect on the intestines, such as the following:

• Depression/anxiety
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Backache
• Unpleasant taste in mouth
• Sexual problems (reduction in desire, or pain during sex)
• Insomnia
• Urinary symptoms
• Heart palpitations

The symptoms of IBS typically occur during stressful times, after a meal, or for women, during menstruation.

Treating IBS

– As much as possible, avoid stress, as many physicians have stated that emotional conflict is one of the major triggers for IBS

– Take part in moderate- not strenuous- exercise on a regular basis. If your body is fit, you’re more likely to have a healthy colon.

– Pay attention to your medications- things such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and even vitamin C can cause irritation in the mucus of your intestinal tract.

– Reduce consumption of dairy products, as they can aggravate already irritable bowels. Keep in mind that dairy products contain calcium, which is valuable for your body, so you should not eliminate them from your diet. If you are lactose intolerant, speak with your physician about taking medications to treat this.

– Increase consumption of dietary fiber such as whole grain cereals and breads, veggies, and fruits. Fiber helps you to distend your colon, which helps to reduce spasms. Make sure that you’re eating enough fiber to make your bowel movements soft and easy to pass without straining.

– Avoid laxatives and OTC fiber supplements, as they result in bloating and irritability.

– Avoid eating large meals, as they cause bowels to become hyperactive and overdistended.

– If you have lots of gas, drink less apple and grape juices and avoid gas forming foods.

– Limit consumption of foods that are high in fat and avoid caffeine, sorbitol, chocolate, and alcohol.

Explanation of IBD

Inflammatory bowel disease, also known as IBD, includes disorders such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The term describes a group of disorders that involve inflammation of the intestinal tissues.

Medical professionals say that the cause is most likely an immune reaction that the body has against its own tissues. So, it is considered an autoimmune disorder.

As mentioned, two of the major forms of inflammatory bowel disease are Crohn’s disease, or CD, and ulcerative colitis, or UC.

Crohn’s disease can involve any area of the gastrointestinal tract- from the mouth to the anus- though it most commonly affects the colon, small intestine, or both. Ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, is limited to the large intestine or the colon.

If you’re suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, you know that it gets worse and then it will get better for a while. When you’re experiencing severe inflammation, the disease is active- and the individual will have a flare-up of their symptoms.

When there is little to no inflammation, the individual typically doesn’t have active symptoms, and the disease is considered to be in remission.

Symptoms of IBD

Just as with any other chronic disease or illness, an individual suffering from IBD will typically have periods of flare-ups with severe symptoms. This will be followed by a period of time where the symptoms seem to decrease, and even disappear altogether and they seem to be in overall good health.

Basically, the symptoms will range from mild to severe, and will typically depend heavily on the part of the intestinal tract that is involved. Following are the common symptoms of IBD:

• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Bloody diarrhea
• Fever
• Urgency to have a bowel movements
• Loss of appetite/weight loss
• Anemia, or iron deficiency, as a result of blood loss

Treating IBD

– Try using OTC anti-diarrheal medications to help control mild symptoms of IBD.

– Ask your physician about aminosalicylates, which can help to treat intestinal inflammation in individuals with IBD.

– Consider corticosteroids to treat inflammation that doesn’t respond to treatment with aminosalicylates. Pills, as well as IV injections, are usually used to treat the bowels above the rectum and foams or enemas can be used to treat the rectum. The most common corticosteroid used to treat IBD is prednisone.

– When all else fails, consider using immunosuppressive medications such as cyclosporine to treat your IBD.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a sort of food allergy that is caused by many different factors, such as: food sensitivity, stress, immune system dysfunction, colon infection, and even due to poor diets.

Lactose intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome have very similar symptoms, meaning that an individual who has lactose intolerance could be suspected as having irritable bowel syndrome, and vice versa. Following is an explanation of the difference between the two- despite their similarities.

Lactose Intolerance

If you have lactose intolerance, the following symptoms will typically begin about thirty minutes to two hours after consuming foods/drinks that contain lactose: nausea (occasionally with vomiting), gas and bloating, diarrhea, and cramps. These are usually fairly mild, but can sometimes be quite severe, depending on your level of lactose intolerance.

It has been said that approximately thirty to fifty million Americans are afflicted with lactose intolerance. There are certain ethnic groups that are much more likely to be affected by this than others. Those that are more prone to developing lactose intolerance are: Hispanic, Native Americans, Jews, African Americans, and Jews.

The older you get, the more likely you are to develop lactose intolerance because of the fact that the production of the lactase enzyme in your small intestine begins to decrease.

There is no medical cure for lactose intolerance. You must learn to control your diet properly, and possibly take lactase supplements- either in drop or tablet form. The drops must be placed in the milk 24 hours before you plan to drink it so that the lactose can be pre-digested for you.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

This is another of the most common ailments of the gastrointestinal system of American people. Around forty percent of Americans suffer from the disorder, just before the age of thirty-five. The signs and symptoms of IBS include pain, diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, cramps, diarrhea, and constipation.

While there are some individuals with irritable bowel syndrome have diarrhea- with constantly watery stools, others have the opposite end of the spectrum- constipation, with hard, infrequent bowel movements.

In some individuals, the symptoms will disappear after a while, as long as their food habits are properly regulated. However, there are others whose symptoms will reappear after several months.

As with lactose intolerance, there is no medical cure for irritable bowel syndrome. It can only be controlled by diet, a healthy lifestyle, and a relaxed (non-stressed) approach to life.

Irritable bowel syndrome is caused by an improper diet and being stressed. The medical world is still pretty baffled by what actually causes irritable bowel syndrome. Some react to certain foods, while others are not. The immune system could be involved somehow in causing irritable bowel syndrome. Quite often, it is basically due to high levels of stress.

Those who have IBS will feel the need to go to the bathroom after they are shocked or excited. IBS is very closely related to your stress levels and your emotional well-being. Poor diets and pasteurized, processed foods can also possibly contribute to IBS, if you’re not sure exactly what food is causing your IBS flare-ups.

More recent research has begun to show that there is an abnormal presence of the chemical serotonin in the gastrointestinal tract that could indicate irritable bowel syndrome.

Lactose Intolerance Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The symptoms of both irritable bowel syndrome and lactose intolerance overlap so much that you may think you have irritable bowel syndrome, when you really have lactose intolerance- or vice versa. A study in Italy showed that out of 240 individuals who were diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, 157 of them actually had lactose intolerance. Diagnosis is crucial in this situation.

There are several tests that can be done to diagnose lactose intolerance, from eliminating and then slowly reintroducing milk to your diet to an intestinal biopsy (the last test, typically only done as part of a research process).

There are also several tests that can be done to determine whether or not you have irritable bowel syndrome such as testing of stool samples, x-rays, blood tests, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or others. When you have a colonoscopy done, your physician will pass a camera in a tube through your anus, taking snapshots of your colon.

He/she will also gather information such as your medical history, an analysis of your symptoms, when your cramps start and end, and more. These all play a significant role in the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome.

If you have already been positively diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, you can check yourself for lactose intolerance.

Differentiating between Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Lactose Intolerance

Actually, it is pretty simple to tell the difference between irritable bowel syndrome and lactose intolerance. All you have to do is put yourself on a lactose free diet for a while- some say a week or two, some say three to four weeks.

If your symptoms begin to subside, then you are most likely lactose intolerant. If you have doubts, visit your physician and have a hydrogen breath test done.

Or, you can go on other diets that you suspect cause irritable bowel syndrome and observe your findings for a few weeks. If your symptoms do subside when you’re on the lactose free diet, but recur when you’re on an ordinary diet- it could be that lactose intolerance is what is behind your symptoms. Either way, confirmation with your physician can be quite helpful.

Though the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and lactose intolerance do overlap, there is a difference between the two and it is critical that you find out which one you have if you expect to get any relief from your symptoms.