Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment

Unfortunately, many people suffer from IBS for a long time before seeking medical treatment. And as many as 70% of people suffering from IBS are not receiving medical care for their symptoms.

At the current time, a cure has not been found for IBS, but a range of treatment options are available for the symptoms of IBS. A doctor will be able to advise you on the most appropriate treatment options for your particular symptoms. In addition, you will be encouraged to reduce any stress and also make particular changes to your diet.

The following classes of treatment are available for the symptoms of IBS:

Drugs and Medicines
A range of medications are important for the treatment of the symptoms of IBS. The range of medications used to treat the symptoms of IBS include laxatives, anti-diarrhea medicines, antispasmodics, and antidepressants.

The medications available specifically to treat IBS are:
- Alosetron Hydrochloride (Lotronex)
- Tegaserod Maleate (Zelnorm)

Always follow your doctor's instructions when using any medications and always watch out for on any adverse side-effects.

Diet and Lifestyle Changes
For many people, careful selecting the food they eat can help reduce the symptoms of IBS. Food is a well known trigger for triggering and worsening the symptoms of IBS.

Before changing your diet, however, keep a journal for every meal that you eat for at least several weeks, and record the date, time, and foods that you eat during the day along with the duration and severity of any IBS symptoms that arise.

Note there is one dietary element you should include as part of your eating plan and that is fibre. Fiber is useful in maintaining colonic and digestive health. However, the amount of fiber in the western diet has been decreasing due to the consumption of higher proportions of highly processed, low-fiber foods.

Other good foods include Apples and Applesauce, Avocados (though they do have some fat), Bananas, Barley, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Chestnuts, Corn meal, Flour tortillas, Kidney beans, Lima beans, Mangoes, Mushrooms, Noodles, Oatmeal, Papayas (also digestive aids that relieve gas and indigestion), Parsnips, Pasta, Peaches, Potatoes, Quinoa, Rice, Rice cereals, Rutabagas, Soy, Spinach, Squash and pumpkins, Sweet potatoes, Turnips, White breads that are high quality and preservative-free, such as French bread and sourdough. Don't eat whole wheat or whole grain bread, Yams

Likewise there are also certains foods you should avoid and/or cut down. These include:

- Alcohol is a gastrointestinal irritant and often triggers IBS attacks.
- Artificial fats, such as Olestra, can cause abdominal cramping and diarrhea.
- Artificial sweeteners, such as sorbitol, can trigger pain, cramps, gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
- Biscuits, Chocolate, Crackers, Dairy products, Doughnuts, Egg yolks, French fries, Mayonaisse, Margarine, Oils, Pastries, Wheat based products.

The above is a useful outline on what foods you should and shouldn't avoid but to read in more detail all about foods and IBS then please make sure and visit our section on Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diet.

Coping with IBS
Living with irritable bowel syndrome can present a range of challenges each day. The symptoms may be painful or embarrassing, and they can seriously affect the quality of your life.

These suggestions may help you cope more easily:

- Learn as much about IBS as you can. By being informed about your condition, you can take better charge of it.
Seek out others with IBS and talk with them about how they deal with their symptoms. For example try doing a search on the Internet for online forums and chat groups. There are lots of people who have or had the problem and are willing to share how they are dealing with the problem.
- Identify the factors that trigger IBS. Keep a journal for every meal that you eat for at least several weeks, and record the date, time, and foods that you eat during the day along with the duration and severity of any IBS symptoms that arise.

Complementary and Alternative Medicines
The following non-traditional therapies may help relieve symptoms of IBS:

•  Acupuncture: Acupuncture can be used to relax and reduce muscle spasms and improve bowel function. Researchers have found that acupuncture can provide relief from chronic pain, and there is some evidence that acupuncture can help relieve the symptoms of IBS in some cases.

•  Herbs: Peppermint is a natural antispasmodic that can relax the muscles in the intestines. Be careful though, as peppermint can also aggravate heartburn. Before taking any herbs, check with your doctor to be sure they won't interact or interfere with any other medications that you may be taking.

•  Hypnosis: Various researchers have reported success in reducing the symptoms of IBS with hypnosis. Hypnosis can reduce abdominal pain and bloating. During hypnosis, a trained professional teaches you how to enter a relaxed state and then guides you as you imagine your intestinal muscles becoming smooth and calm.

•  Probiotics: Probiotics are "good" bacteria that normally live in your intestines and are found in certain foods, such as yogurt, and in dietary supplements. People with IBS may not have enough good bacteria in their intestine, and adding probiotics to your diet may help ease the symptoms of IBS.