Irritable Bowel Syndrome in a Nutshell
According to statistics, from 15 to 50 % of adult population suffer from irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. Women of childbearing age are subjected to this disease most of all.
Sometimes the initial course of IBS begins after 40 years. In this case a careful medical inspection is especially necessary (probably, at this age the disease has developed as the consequence an organic pathology).
Far from all people with irritable bowel syndrome address to the doctor, hence, not everyone knows about the diagnosis. Statistics say, not more than 10 % of the total amount of IBS patients call the doctor and get diagnosed.
Irritable bowel syndrome is the irritation of intestinal receptors that results in the functional disorder of the colon. Usually it occurs because of lactose and other sugars, fatty acid, alimentary agents, purgatives, infections caused by dysbacteriosis, etc.
Quite often irritable bowel syndrome develops after acute intestinal infections accompanied with dysbacteriosis. People with unstable mentality and also those who has gone through nervous breakdowns caused by a serious physical or psychological load are most subjected to it.
Most often abnormal intestinal motility and various hormonal disorders lead to pathology of the intestines in case of irritable bowel syndrome. Also IBS can become an instinctive protection against stress (there is such psychological phenomenon). A high level of anxiety, hyperexcitability, sleeping disorders, and depressions are characteristic of IBS patients.
However many of these signs do not precede irritable bowel syndrome and, on the contrary, accompany it during its development. In that case they practically disappear in course of treatment.
Dietary habits play an essential role in occurrence of some symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. The normal motility of an intestine assumes presence of such volume of intestinal contents which is necessary to excite receptors of intestinal walls. The volume of intestinal contents is determined first of all by the amount of ballast substances that hold water, absorb toxicants, stimulate motility, etc.
Besides, motor disorders characteristic of IBS can be connected with other collateral factors. The peak of motor activity of the left departments of the colon and the rectum is marked in the morning after breakfast. That’s why in most cases defecation happens in the morning after meal. Refusal from full breakfast and haste during food consumption in the morning suppress normal functioning of gastrointestinal reflex and result in constipation. Therefore, constipation is a usual symptom of irritable bowel syndrome.
Gynecologic disorders also can be the causes of IBS. The intensity and periodicity of IBS symptoms among many women is directly proportional to the clinical course of gynecologic disorders.
According to medical statistics, the majority of patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome has a superfluous bacterial growth in the small intestine in 68,8 % of cases and 98,4 % of IBS patients have dysbacteriosis of the colon.
Among the consequence of irritable bowel syndrome there are disorders of motor, secretory, digestive and other functions of the small intestine. Thus, contents with aggressive properties get to the colon. Because of the changes of microflora caused by dysbacteriosis processes of digestion and adsorption are also upset in the colon. Motor and secretory functions of the colorectum can be consequently disturbed as well.
By: Devin Greenfield
About the Author:
Sometimes the initial course of IBS begins after 40 years. In this case a careful medical inspection is especially necessary (probably, at this age the disease has developed as the consequence an organic pathology).
Far from all people with irritable bowel syndrome address to the doctor, hence, not everyone knows about the diagnosis. Statistics say, not more than 10 % of the total amount of IBS patients call the doctor and get diagnosed.
Irritable bowel syndrome is the irritation of intestinal receptors that results in the functional disorder of the colon. Usually it occurs because of lactose and other sugars, fatty acid, alimentary agents, purgatives, infections caused by dysbacteriosis, etc.
Quite often irritable bowel syndrome develops after acute intestinal infections accompanied with dysbacteriosis. People with unstable mentality and also those who has gone through nervous breakdowns caused by a serious physical or psychological load are most subjected to it.
Most often abnormal intestinal motility and various hormonal disorders lead to pathology of the intestines in case of irritable bowel syndrome. Also IBS can become an instinctive protection against stress (there is such psychological phenomenon). A high level of anxiety, hyperexcitability, sleeping disorders, and depressions are characteristic of IBS patients.
However many of these signs do not precede irritable bowel syndrome and, on the contrary, accompany it during its development. In that case they practically disappear in course of treatment.
Dietary habits play an essential role in occurrence of some symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. The normal motility of an intestine assumes presence of such volume of intestinal contents which is necessary to excite receptors of intestinal walls. The volume of intestinal contents is determined first of all by the amount of ballast substances that hold water, absorb toxicants, stimulate motility, etc.
Besides, motor disorders characteristic of IBS can be connected with other collateral factors. The peak of motor activity of the left departments of the colon and the rectum is marked in the morning after breakfast. That’s why in most cases defecation happens in the morning after meal. Refusal from full breakfast and haste during food consumption in the morning suppress normal functioning of gastrointestinal reflex and result in constipation. Therefore, constipation is a usual symptom of irritable bowel syndrome.
Gynecologic disorders also can be the causes of IBS. The intensity and periodicity of IBS symptoms among many women is directly proportional to the clinical course of gynecologic disorders.
According to medical statistics, the majority of patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome has a superfluous bacterial growth in the small intestine in 68,8 % of cases and 98,4 % of IBS patients have dysbacteriosis of the colon.
Among the consequence of irritable bowel syndrome there are disorders of motor, secretory, digestive and other functions of the small intestine. Thus, contents with aggressive properties get to the colon. Because of the changes of microflora caused by dysbacteriosis processes of digestion and adsorption are also upset in the colon. Motor and secretory functions of the colorectum can be consequently disturbed as well.
By: Devin Greenfield
About the Author:
Devin Greenfield writes for About Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Visit this website to learn more about the subject.
Allergies – Food Allergies
In this article we’re going to focus on one of the most annoying types of allergies, especially to people who love to eat.
You go out to the local pizza parlor, order two slices with extra cheese, sit down at the booth with your pizza in one hand and coke in the other and chow down. A few hours later after you’ve arrived back home just in time to watch your favorite TV show, suddenly your stomach feels like it’s about to erupt like a volcano. You run like a madman to the bathroom just in time to experience what seems to be the complete emptying of your insides.
Welcome to the world of food allergies and intolerances.
In the case of the runs after eating a couple of slices of pizza most likely you’re lactose intolerant which is just one type of food allergy. Technically, you can be allergic to just about any kind of food but there are some that seem to be more common that others.
Before we go any further let’s define exactly what a food allergy is. Food allergies can be broken down into 2 categories. The first one is hypersensitivity. This is an adverse reaction of the immune system itself and is unrelated to any actual physical effect of the food or food additive. These reactions are caused by immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies.
The second category is food intolerance. This is actually caused by the food itself and is not a function of the immune system itself overreacting to the food or food additive. The symptoms of an intolerance may be very similar to those of an actual immune symptom reaction but the causes are quite different.
Of the two, actual immune system reactions are the more common, though it does appear that a trend to intolerances, such as lactose intolerance, is on the rise. What actually happens with food allergies is that people with allergies produce IgE antibodies to specific epitopes in the food allergen. These antibodies bind to IgE receptors on the mast cells of tissue that are on the skin, digestive tract and respiratory system. The exposure of these antigens causes the release of histamines. This ultimately results in mucus secretion and muscle contraction which then leads to a wide range of symptoms which can range from unpleasant to serious or even severe. How severe?
Allergic reactions to food can be fatal almost immediately following the ingestion of food. Probably one of the most prevalent and dangerous of these food allergies are people who are allergic to peanuts. Just recently, as of this writing, a girl died simply from kissing someone who had recently eaten peanuts. That is how dangerous these allergies can be.
Less severe reactions to food allergies are oropharyngeal pruritus, angioedema, stridor, cough, dyspnea, wheezing, and dysphonia.
Aside from peanuts, the most common foods that people are allergic to are tree nuts, and shellfish.
Unfortunately the best way to avoid food allergies is to have a food allergy test done and then to avoid the foods that show positive on the test.
By: Anezka
About the Author:
You go out to the local pizza parlor, order two slices with extra cheese, sit down at the booth with your pizza in one hand and coke in the other and chow down. A few hours later after you’ve arrived back home just in time to watch your favorite TV show, suddenly your stomach feels like it’s about to erupt like a volcano. You run like a madman to the bathroom just in time to experience what seems to be the complete emptying of your insides.
Welcome to the world of food allergies and intolerances.
In the case of the runs after eating a couple of slices of pizza most likely you’re lactose intolerant which is just one type of food allergy. Technically, you can be allergic to just about any kind of food but there are some that seem to be more common that others.
Before we go any further let’s define exactly what a food allergy is. Food allergies can be broken down into 2 categories. The first one is hypersensitivity. This is an adverse reaction of the immune system itself and is unrelated to any actual physical effect of the food or food additive. These reactions are caused by immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies.
The second category is food intolerance. This is actually caused by the food itself and is not a function of the immune system itself overreacting to the food or food additive. The symptoms of an intolerance may be very similar to those of an actual immune symptom reaction but the causes are quite different.
Of the two, actual immune system reactions are the more common, though it does appear that a trend to intolerances, such as lactose intolerance, is on the rise. What actually happens with food allergies is that people with allergies produce IgE antibodies to specific epitopes in the food allergen. These antibodies bind to IgE receptors on the mast cells of tissue that are on the skin, digestive tract and respiratory system. The exposure of these antigens causes the release of histamines. This ultimately results in mucus secretion and muscle contraction which then leads to a wide range of symptoms which can range from unpleasant to serious or even severe. How severe?
Allergic reactions to food can be fatal almost immediately following the ingestion of food. Probably one of the most prevalent and dangerous of these food allergies are people who are allergic to peanuts. Just recently, as of this writing, a girl died simply from kissing someone who had recently eaten peanuts. That is how dangerous these allergies can be.
Less severe reactions to food allergies are oropharyngeal pruritus, angioedema, stridor, cough, dyspnea, wheezing, and dysphonia.
Aside from peanuts, the most common foods that people are allergic to are tree nuts, and shellfish.
Unfortunately the best way to avoid food allergies is to have a food allergy test done and then to avoid the foods that show positive on the test.
By: Anezka
About the Author:
Author writes articles on different topics. To know more, visit:
acne exposed treatment,
allergies-treatment.com