Irritable bowel syndrome: The disorder no one wants to talk about
Second only to the common cold as being the most frequent cause of absenteeism from work and school, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) results in almost three million doctor visits a year. Approximately one in five Americans suffer from IBS, but millions refuse to seek treatment because they are too embarrassed to discuss their symptoms.
"People need to understand there is nothing to be embarrassed about," says
Jeffrey Kutscher, MD, chief gastroenterologist at Virtua Memorial. "IBS is a very common problem."
Vincent McLaughlin, MD, chief gastroenterologist at Virtua West Jersey, agrees. "Embarrassment is common and natural, but patients need to be reassured that we deal with this everyday. There is no reason for them to feel uncomfortable."
What is IBS?
Can IBS lead to something worse?
Does anything help relieve symptoms?
Get it out in the open
What is IBS?
IBS is a disturbance in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, which is responsible for moving water and waste materials through the colon. People with IBS may react more strongly to certain foods and outside influences, like stress. This reaction can lead to diarrhea (movement of water and waste materials speeds up), or constipation (movement slows down), and causes symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, nausea and bloating.
"IBS is characterized by chronic, recurrent, intermittent or alternating bowel movements," says Dr. McLaughlin. "The cause of IBS is not clear, but stress, diet and certain medications can make symptoms worse." Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from IBS. Thirty percent of patients will find their symptoms fade over time, but most will experience intermittent symptoms for the rest of their lives.
Can IBS lead to something worse?
It's important not to confuse IBS with other diseases, such as colitis or Crohn's disease, which are considered types of inflammatory bowel disease. There is a distinction between IBS and inflammatory bowel disease. "Inflammatory bowel is an abnormal or inflamed gastrointestinal tract. In IBS, there is no inflammation. It is strictly a movement or motility problem, meaning the body either moves waste too fast or too slow. IBS does not lead to inflammatory disease or cancer," says Dr. Kutscher, who is board certified in gastroenterology. However, people who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease need to have regular check-ups because they are at a greater risk for colon cancer.
Does anything help relieve symptoms?
Many researchers and physicians suggest keeping a food journal to document eating habits. This helps people find out what foods make their symptoms worse. Some foods commonly known to cause problems are alcohol, artificial sweeteners, carbonated beverages, dairy products, fried foods and red meat. Dr. McLaughlin says: "Changing diet, behavior and fiber intake reduces symptoms by up to 70 percent and no further medications are necessary." Some physicians may recommend anti-spasmodic therapy, antidepressants or a combination of several treatments, such as fiber supplements and exercise.
"There are new medications being developed that we are very excited about," says Dr. Kutscher. "These medications actually treat the problem instead of just masking the symptoms." Some doctors believe the problem is a chemical called serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical the body produces and is often associated with chemical imbalances in the brain that cause depression. But 90 percent of the chemical is located in the gastrointestinal tract and researchers believe serotonin has a direct affect on IBS. The new generation of drugs being evaluated either blocks or stimulates the action of serotonin at specific receptor sites within the gastrointestinal tract.
Get it out in the open
It's understandable that no one wants to talk about gas, diarrhea and constipation. But for people with IBS, these uncomfortable subjects are part of daily life. Symptoms and feelings are significant and should be discussed. "It's important for people to talk about how they're feeling," says Dr. Kutscher. "Explaining the disorder to a significant other is extremely important. Even telling co-workers is significant so they have a better understanding of the symptoms."
Having a full understanding of the disease and keeping a sense of humor are key in battling the embarrassment. Individuals experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned should talk to their physician so he or she can rule out a more serious problem. Remember, there are 40 million other Americans experiencing the same thing.