Beat the Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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.
