Irritable bowel syndrome: symptoms, treatment

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (SRT) is a functional pathology that is chronic. The peculiarity of the disorder is that its symptoms are recurrent and appear from time to time, depending on external factors.

Painful sensations and discomfort in the abdomen, the need for frequent toilet, diarrhea and constipation - all these signs indicate that the patient develops irritable bowel syndrome. Treatment of the disease must be made necessarily. Otherwise, this condition can lead to serious consequences for the body.

General information

Irritable bowel syndrome, the causes of which can be very diverse, is diagnosed only if the inherent clinical picture manifests itself for at least 12 months.

The main signs of pathology:

• Difficulty in emptying (the need for defecation occurs less frequently than 3 times in 7 days);
• Liquid and frequent stools (the patient is forced to visit the toilet 3 or more times per day);
• Muscle tension of the sphincter and abdominal cavity during the visit to the toilet;
• Imperative urging, requiring urgent emptying;
• Sensation of fecal remnants in the large intestine;
• Presence of mucus in stool.

These are only the most common complaints of patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms of impairment are more acute if a person experiences a stressful condition.

As mentioned above, the disease is not biological but functional. In favor of this statement, the following facts accompanying irritable bowel syndrome with constipation or diarrhea say:

• Different types of patient complaints;
• Repeated treatment in a medical institution;
• Non-progressive pathogenesis;
• Preservation of body weight.

Additional Information

It is difficult to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome, since its signs are similar to some other pathologies that arise in the human gastrointestinal tract. To differentiate the described states, which is extremely necessary for choosing options for getting rid of the disease, many diagnostic procedures are used:

• Ultrasound (US) examination of abdominal organs and systems;
• Gastroduodenoscopy;
• Study of biopaths of the intestinal system;
• Irrigoscopy.

Also taken into account are the results of laboratory studies of biological specimens of feces, blood and urine and recommendations received after colonic and sigmoidoscopy.

All this complex allows to establish with sufficient accuracy the signs accompanying irritable bowel syndrome. How to treat the described pathology?

The choice of these or other physiological and medical procedures directly depends on the symptomatology of the disorder. Various kinds of diets and psychotherapeutic methods are widely used. The need to prescribe pharmacological agents is determined individually, based on external manifestations of the disease. Mainly used:

• Antispasmodics;
• Antidiarrhoeic agents;
• Laxative tablets;
• Antidepressants.

Types of violation

Irritable bowel syndrome in women and men is divided into two main types.

1. Pathology, accompanied by constipation. It has the following features:

• Difficulty in defecation;
• The feces leaving the anal opening have a solid consistency;
• The delay of the remains of the products of vital activity in the rectum.

2. Violation, combined with diarrhea. It is characterized by:

• With a loose stool;
• Sphincter stress when visiting the toilet;
• Secretion of mucus from the anus.

Spread of the disease

The irritable bowel syndrome described in this material in children and adults is observed in approximately 7-10% of the population of our planet. As for the countries of the Old World, every fifth inhabitant has pathology.

In addition, it should be noted that representatives of the weaker sex are approximately twice as likely to be affected by the pathology in question.

The average age of patients seeking treatment is 25-40 years.

Factors affecting the appearance of a violation

In some cases, irritable bowel syndrome, the symptoms of which are described above, appear more often. This is influenced by certain subjective and objective reasons listed below.

1. Genetic predisposition. The risk group includes individuals whose close relatives had previously been diagnosed with this pathology. In addition, the appearance of a disorder is often diagnosed in twins developing from a single fetal egg. All this allows us to draw a conclusion about the genetic nature of the disease.
2. Psychological disorders. Depressive state of a person, constantly pursuing his sense of anxiety, disturbances in sleep, hysterical and mental abnormalities can provoke irritable bowel syndrome. Studies in this area show that the disease often develops in people who were previously affected by physical or mental violence, sexual harassment and the like.
3. Violations of muscular functions of the rectum. Such a condition leading to the appearance of the described symptoms occurs after eating on a background of a stressful state due to suppression of the myoelectric activity of the fibers of the large intestine.
4. Visceral hyperalgesia. By this term is meant a reduction in the pain threshold below the level required by the body or a decrease in the intensity of perception of pain. As a consequence, irritable bowel syndrome. Treatment in this case is somewhat different, it requires the elimination of pathological factors.
5. Traumatic effect on the gastrointestinal tract or its defeat by various infections. As a result of such external influences, a situation may arise where discomfort and pain in the colon appear. They are a sign of the pathology discussed above. Irritable bowel syndrome and Oddi sphincter dysfunction are diagnosed in about 30% of people who had previously suffered an intestinal infection.
6. The influence of hormones. Symptoms of the disorder often occur in women during menstrual bleeding, when the body's natural balance of the normal hormonal background changes.

Diagnostics

As mentioned above, the signs accompanying irritable bowel syndrome are very similar to many diseases of the stomach and small intestine. Therefore, the main difficulty of diagnosis is to distinguish between these two states.

When diagnosing it is necessary to take into account the whole complex of external symptoms that make up the clinical picture of CPTK: pain in the abdomen, frequency and consistency of bowel movements and so on. By the way, the presence of this particular type of pathology is evidenced by other signs that at first glance are not related to the digestive system:

• headache;
• A lump in the throat;
• Absence or disturbance of sleep;
• Lack of oxygen;
• Frequent urge to urinate;
• Sensation of noise in the ears;
• General weakness of the body;
• Dryness in the oral cavity.

Methods for establishing signs of disease

Diagnostics SRTK consists of two main stages:

1. Establishment of an anamnesis of the disease (symptoms preceding the onset of pain in the intestine).
2. Immediate study (includes many different medical techniques).

The information provided by the first stage is collected during the conversation with the patient. It is necessary to find out the severity and frequency of the appearance of pain in the area of the colon, the name and quantity of foods consumed, the mental state, as well as the previously taken medications.

When the patient shows blood in the feces, the body temperature is raised, there is a decrease in body weight - most likely, it will be a case of a disease of the gastrointestinal tract, rather than CPTK.

During a direct examination, palpation of the patient's abdominal cavity reveals an increased muscle tone in the anterior wall.

Methods for differentiation of types of pathologies

Irritable bowel syndrome and disorders associated with the gastrointestinal tract can be divided into several so-called dangerous signs. If they are available, there is no need to talk about the SRTK.

Let us dwell on the main:

• The appearance of the first cases of discomfort and pain in patients whose age exceeds 50 years;
• Constant elevated body temperature;
• The presence of malignant (cancerous) tumors in close relatives of the patient;
• The appearance of blood in the stool;
• Disorder of the functions of the gastrointestinal tract at night;
• Reduction in weight of the patient for no apparent reason;
• Changes that are detected in the process of examining the analysis of human blood;
• Polyphecal (an abnormally large excretion of feces from the body).

For more accurate diagnosis, many additional medical procedures are performed: blood tests, fecal matter studies, colonoscopy. The latter is especially relevant in the elderly, as it allows to identify and remove formations of a different nature in the large intestine.

When conducting a survey of women, an additional consultation with a gynecologist is recommended.

SRT and pathology not associated with the gastrointestinal tract

Among other things, during the diagnosis it is necessary to distinguish the considered violation from other diseases not related to dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract. These include:

1. Chronic diseases of an inflammatory and infectious nature. Examples include Crohn's disease, giardiasis, ulcerative colitis, tumors, ischemic colitis and chronic pancreatitis.

2. Pathologies associated with the normal functioning of the endocrine system of the body. Dysfunctions of the endocrine glands cause diabetes mellitus of varying severity, some of which have the same external signs as the SRTK.

3. Chronic disorders caused by the constant impact of external dietary factors : the constant use of fatty foods, the abuse of alcoholic beverages and coffee, carbonated drinks, a sharp change in the habitual diet.

4. Effects of pharmacological agents. Symptoms of CPTK are often similar to the side effects that occur with prolonged intake of antibacterial drugs, laxative, mineral complexes containing potassium, iron, calcium and other elements.

Treatment

There are several different therapies used to eliminate irritable bowel syndrome. Treatment with folk remedies, dietology, drug therapy - a specific way of exposure is determined individually, taking into account the pathogenesis of the disorder.

Regardless of the method used, treatment should be directed towards the following goals:

• Normalize the mode of food intake;
• Restore the permanent composition of microorganisms, the habitat of which is the large intestine of man;
• Normalize the processes of digesting food and absorbing useful elements through the walls of the intestine;
• Stabilize the psychoemotional state of a person;
• Ensure the intake of a sufficient number of vitamins and microelements necessary for the body;
• To normalize the process of bowel evacuation.

Exposure without drugs

Let us consider specific types of therapy that allow us to eliminate irritable bowel syndrome. Diet in this case is one of the most preferred methods.

When diagnosing CPTC, you should stop using various smoked foods, alcoholic beverages, chocolate, coffee and foods that cause the formation of a large number of gases. Favorably on the intestines in this case affect fruits, vegetables and sour-milk products. It is also recommended to eat meat and fish cooked in a double boiler.

Specific recommendations for consumed foods vary depending on the types of CPTC: with diarrhea or constipation.

When the liquid stool is necessary to supplement the diet with jelly, porridges from various types of cereals, pasta, potatoes. Absolutely contraindicated vegetables, consisting of coarse plant fibers, fruits, peas and beans, spicy spices, fresh pastries, raw milk, wine, kvass, beer and carbonated sweet drinks.

During problems with emptying it is recommended to consume buckwheat porridge, dried apricots, prunes, baked apples. It is better to replace sugar with any analogues. Sea kale, bran, vegetable oil helps.

Naturally, it is not recommended to eat foods that are used to combat diarrhea.

In addition to nutrition, moderate work of the large intestine is facilitated by moderate physical activity, walking and other motor activity.

Pharmaceutical products

In especially difficult cases, or when the disorder becomes neglected, it is possible to cope with the symptoms of CPTC only with the use of certain medications. In this case, the treatment is divided into several phases.

1. Getting rid of pain in the intestines. For this, various kinds of antispasmodics ("No-Shpa", "Meverin", etc.) are used.

2. Fighting diarrhea. The best medicines that contain loperamide ("Imodium", "Lediumum", etc.) help. It reduces the manifestation of the liquid stool due to the action of the active substance on intestinal peristalsis. This allows you to increase the time of passage of food through the intestine, improves the absorption of fluid and electrolytes. In addition, the activity of the sphincter increases, which helps to keep the feces in the intestine. The dose of drugs containing loperamide is selected individually by a doctor.

3. Elimination of constipation. In this case, it is advisable to choose the medicinal products that are of vegetable origin. Good help is given to preparations containing in one form or another the seeds of plantain. There are many people's councils.

4. Separately, the treatment of the disorder in patients who suffer from CPT caused by psychological disorders is performed . Treatment is performed exclusively under the supervision of a specialist, antidepressants or various kinds of inhibitors are used.

Conclusion

Above, the symptoms accompanying irritable bowel syndrome, the treatment, the diet recommended with it, and other ways of getting rid of the ailment have been described above.

It should be noted, however, that, like any other violation, the SRTK requires mandatory consultation with the appropriate specialist, who will conduct the diagnosis and prescribe specific methods of treatment. Only in this case, the fight against the disease will be successful and will not harm the body.