Irritable Bowel Syndrome Medications and Their Effectiveness

January 13, 2010 by mbelcher · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS 
Despite being a fairly common disorder (affecting roughly 30% of the population), irritable bowel syndrome remains a mystery to us. Most do not really know what its symptoms are and, more importantly, how it can be treated.

This condition is usually associated with abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, bloated stomach, noisy tummy, dizziness, sickness, backaches, flatulence, and slow digestion. It could also cause people to suffer emotionally.

When you start experiencing any of these symptoms, consult with your doctor. During your visit, help him make the correct diagnosis by providing him with relevant information about your disorder. Let him know when it all started, how bad the pain is, and how often do these symptoms surface.

And even if this is a benign condition, you need to follow the doctor’s orders to the letter. Not doing so will make the pain more intense and force you to take leave of absence or refrain from doing your daily duties.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Medications

After examining your history and laboratory results, your doctor will prescribe a medicine to address your problems. Among the most recommended medicines for this disorder are Alostron and Tegaserod. Alostron effectively decreases abdominal sensitivity as well as relieves other symptoms of this disorder.

This also works for pregnant women, who are more likely to experience more intense pain. Tegaserod increases the movement of your intestines and as a result, eases the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

These medicines will help make you well enough to go about with your daily routines and activities. With their help, you could be having irritable bowel syndrome but still feel up for the challenges of day-to-day life. These are especially helpful to those experiencing severe pain, diarrhea, or constipation, but don’t respond to other medications.

A word of caution though: don’t drink these medicines on your own. If Alostron or Tegaserod is suited for your condition, your physician will give a prescription for any of these. This expert will determine, based on your severity and response to other medications, which one is more appropriate for you.

In addition, your doctor will most likely ask you to consult a nutritionist, a professional who will create a proper diet for you. You need to stick to this diet because it is the only thing that can prevent your irritable bowel syndrome from recurring.



By: Jessica Bradbury

About the Author:

Article written by Jessica Bradbury, she has a site dedicated to bottom line information on irritable bowel syndrome treatments and a IBS Symptoms.



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Food Allergy Symptoms to Look Out For

January 12, 2010 by mbelcher · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS 
Sometimes a feeling of uneasiness and discomfort ensues immediately after a meal. It is often thought to a result of a food allergy. In most cases however this sick feeling is a result of some food intolerance rather than a food allergy. The difference in food intolerance and an allergy is mostly noticed through the difference in timescale and severity of the symptoms.

To understand and diagnose the difference between the two it is important to know the symptoms of food allergy which affects the patient much more severely. Food intolerance symptoms may manifest themselves in a few hours time, or even a day after. In case of allergies, the onset is immediate and generally within an hour. Food allergy occurs when the immune system strikes a food protein incorrectly and leads to an overreaction by the body and production of certain chemicals.

A few of the leading symptoms which occur during food allergy are:



Skin rashes and itching



Severe diarrhea and vomiting



Stomach cramps



Skin swelling especially on tender regions like eyelids, lips and inside the mouth



Runny nose and blocked nasal tract



Inflammation of the throat, trachea and larynx



Headaches



Fatigue and dizziness



Joint pains



Hives



These are the most common food allergy symptoms that affect most adults, and it is important to visit a medical professional as soon as you experience any of these signs. In cases of food intolerance smaller degrees of similar symptoms might occur, but they usually disappear after a short while. In cases of food allergies these symptoms get even more pronounced and severe and may also lead to severe breathing problems or diarrhea. A regular food intolerance like lactose intolerance manifests itself even when a person has consumed any dairy products and results in bloating, gas, vomiting or diarrhea.

It is important to identify the concerned allergen which is causing the food allergy so that it can be avoided in the future. These symptoms need to be identified immediately since delaying treatment might lead to malfunctioning of internal systems .A few things need to be kept in mind like checking food labels when buying food items or checking with the waiter at the restaurant about the ingredients used to prepare a dish. Some patients are so vulnerable that medical practitioners even advise them to carry self-injectible epinephrine, which helps during sudden allergic attacks.



By: melvillejackson

About the Author:

Food Allergy Symptoms – For over 20 years, the ALCAT Test has provided both patients as well as healthcare professionals with a tool to successfully overcome a wide variety of conditions which result from chemical sensitivity and food intolerance.



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Baby Food Allergies – All you Need to Know

January 12, 2010 by mbelcher · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS 
In recent year we have seen an increase in the susceptibility of allergies. Baby food allergies are of particular concern as the source may be difficult to detect.

Baby food allergies are as common as adult food allergies.

If your baby appears distressed for no apparent reason or has unexplained areas of itchiness to the skin, then perhaps he or she has a baby food allergy.

What is an Allergy?

An allergy can be defined as an intolerance to a particular substance when touched, inhaled, injected or ingested.

When our body is exposed to a substance that causes an allergic reaction the response may be nasal or respiratory congestion, itchy or runny nose, watery eyes, diarrhea, or itchy rashes anywhere on the body.

Baby Food Allergies – Can My Allergies be Passed on to my Baby?

If you tend to have an allergic reaction then your baby may have a tendency to be allergic also.

However you and your baby may not share the same food allergies or be allergic to the same substances.

You may have asthma, while your child may develop hay fever.

Baby Food Allergies – How to detect them

It can sometimes be difficult detecting the cause of baby food allergies. If you think your infant has a baby food allergy, eliminating the following products from their diet may help.

• Milk and dairy products

• Eggs

• Nuts

• Shellfish

• Citrus Fruits

Once you have eliminated each of these food groups from your baby’s diet, you can begin to reintroduce them gradually one by one.

Wait a few days before the introduction of an additional food group and do not mix food groups.

If your baby has a baby food allergy you be able to detect it by monitoring his or her reaction to the introduction of these individual food groups.

Baby Food Allergies – Can they be prevented?

Breastfeeding your baby for the first six months of his or her life helps to reduce the incidence of allergies earlier on in life.

Try to avoid giving your baby pre-prepared foods that contain additives, or tinned or packaged foods.

Baby Food Allergies – When are they Most Likely to Occur?

Baby food allergies can occur at any time. Many babies are allergic to, or have an intolerance to cows milk and your baby may develop an allergy to other milk or wheat products, shellfish, nuts or citrus fruits.

If your baby has an allergic reaction after eating a particular food, you should see the signs within an hour.

Baby Food Allergy – Signs to Look For

The symptoms of a baby food allergy could include swelling or itchiness of the lips or tongue, wheezing or a skin rash.

Some babies may develop an intolerance to particular food groups.

If your baby has a food intolerance, symptoms might include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, colic or wind.

Treating Baby Food Allergies

As long as you can find the cause, then the best way to treat a baby food allergy is to refrain from giving your baby that particular food.

If your baby is experiencing related symptoms then the allergy could be pollen related rather than a baby food allergy. Non food substances that could also cause an allergic reaction include pet hairs, tobacco smoke, feather pillows, perfume or dust mites.

Baby Food Allergies – Healthy Alternatives

If your results indicated that your infant is experiencing baby food allergies, here are some non allergic foods that you can try introducing into their diet.

• Mangoes, apples, grapes

• Barley, oats, rye

• Cauliflower, carrots, sweet potatoes

• Chicken, salmon

If in any doubt you should seek professional help to determine whether it is a baby food allergy or something more serious.

Baby food allergies are quote common and with a little work are fairly easy to detect. Once you have detected the source of your baby’s food allergy, the simplest way to eliminate the symptoms is to remove the cause.



By: Sacha Tarkovsky

About the Author:

MORE FREE INFO

On all aspects of health and more on babies visit our website for a huge resource of articles, features and downloads and at http://www.net-planet.org/index.html



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Diet That Works for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

January 10, 2010 by mbelcher · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS 
Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that can be characterized with several symptoms. Hence, it is very important to reach to the root cause of the problem in order to determine better treatments to improve the condition.

First, it is very important to start on with a diet that’s meant to improve the condition. Understand that there are certain problematic foods that can trigger off symptoms such as bloating, constipation and diarrhea.

There is absolutely no standard diet that can be used by all those with irritable bowel syndrome. The problem and symptoms vary from person to person. Hence, the diet prescription varies accordingly.

However, there are certain common guidelines and food groups one needs to focus on in order to steer clear of irritable bowel syndrome. In case, a diet plan does not seem to work at all, you need to consult a health care practitioner.

Certain lifestyle change and the way one takes his or her meals should be altered. Usually people are accustomed to take three large meals in a day. This is where the problem arises.

Large meals have the tendency to cause strain and compaction inside the stomach. Hence, it is advisable to take 4-5 small meals in a day as compared to the traditional three regular meals. This habit will help in eliminating the root cause that’s responsible to trigger off irritable bowel syndrome.

One should also reduce the in take of fat-based foods. The fat is hard to digest. In fact, it gets digested in a slow pace. Poor digestion is one of the major causes of irritable bowel syndrome. When the food is not digested properly, it may cause gas inside the intestine. This results in the rise of many symptoms, thereby, aggravating the problem.

Dietary fat restricts the movement of gas slower from the stomach to small intestine. People may suffer from discomfort due to this interruption of a primary function of the body.

Doctors usually prescribe increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, wheat- based products and beans. All these food items work towards providing relief from gastrointestinal tract vices. Fiber intake improves the bulkiness of the stool. This further helps in easy and better removal of the stool.

An adequate fluid intake of at least 1.5 liters on a daily basis is very important. The major source of fluid intake must be derived from plain water. You may also opt for some amount of dilute tea or juices. One should steer clear of carbonated soft drinks and coffee.

Regular and light exercises are important for reducing symptoms. Here are certain food items you should avoid when on a diet for irritable bowel syndrome.

- Caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee and soda

- Alcohol

- Wheat

- Carbonated drinks such as soda

- Dairy products

- Fried foods

- Citrus fruits

- Artificial sweetness

- Fatty food items

- Red meats

- Chocolate

- Gluten

You must take special care of including foods rich in fiber such as kidney, beans, lima beans, whole-grain breads and cereals

Also include a lot of fruits and vegetables in your irritable bowel syndrome diet.



By: Bertil Hjert

About the Author:

For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about Irritable Bowel Syndrome please visit IRRITABLE BOWEL ADVICE and ACID REFLUX EXPERT



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Dog Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Dog Health

January 9, 2010 by mbelcher · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS 
Dog irritable bowel syndrome is very popular condition in dogs of all types and breeds and effects thousands each year around the world. Its common occurrence can cause many symptoms and these can often include diarrhea, blood in the feces, and reoccurring bouts of diarrhea with little being produced each time and possible straining while this is happening.

It begins when something upsets the digestive system of the dog; this could be an abnormal food, or some kind of poisoning of the system. When this happens the first reaction of the dogs body is to try and remove the offending substance that is causing irritation of the stomach, and this is often done through diarrhea and often because of the stomach irritation the dog will make itself sick to stop the pain that is occurring as soon as possible.

You may want to think of dog irritable bowel syndrome as a kind of allergic reaction but inside the dog somewhere along the digestive system, this often occurs in the last bit of the process before the anus. This is the most common place for irritable bowel syndrome to happen and most cases will be due to this.

This condition may well pass quite quickly and the food intolerance may stop after a short time, but in other cases you may want to take you dog to the vet to have further tests done to determine if there are other problems to be treated as well as this one, or maybe just to seek further advice on how to treat the condition in the best possible way for your dog.

In the case of the vet being shown this type of condition they may take several tests and ask many questions about the dogs behaviour in the last few weeks amongst other things. Then treatment normally following on from confirming dog irritable bowel syndrome will be to give he dog a very bland diet of food for a short period of time and when the symptoms have stopped the dog will then normally be eased gently back onto the foods that are stronger and the foods they used to eat. The reason for gradually doing this process is so that the irritation is not triggered again and the symptoms start again.

Inmost cases once the dog s back on normal tasting full flavour food the irritable bowel syndrome in your dog will stop, but some dogs do tend to have it more than others, for more advice on what to do in these situations you should contact you vet and take the appropriate actions.



By: John Williams

About the Author:

For more information on Dog Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Dog Health take a look at this Dog Training website.



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