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Everything You Need to Know About Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritate bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common digestive condition that affects the large intestine. In recent years, more and more people in the United States have been developing IBS. Why? Moreover, how does IBS affect the body? Is it possible to control the symptoms? In this blog, we’ll offer more insight and help you make better decisions for your body and overall health.

1. IBS: An Overview

IBS develops over time. In most cases, diet is the biggest trigger. As people consume processed, packaged, manufactured, and animal-based foods, they burden their digestive system unnecessarily.

The intestinal walls are lined with muscles. As food passes through the digestive tract, these muscles contract to allow easy passage. When heavy food is consumed, the colon muscle contracts more than it normally would. This causes cramping, abdominal pain, and bloating. Other symptoms include constipation, diarrhea, and excess gas.

IBS can also be genetic. Moreover, it can be triggered by anxiety, tension, food intolerance, emotional stress, or a serious digestive tract infection.

2. Can I Treat IBS?

You can control IBS by identifying your triggers and taking the right course of action. We recommend visiting an experienced, qualified gastroenterologist. Based on your symptoms, family history, lifestyle, and medical history, they’ll determine your condition type. There are generally three types of IBS:

1. IBS with constipation (IBS-C)
2. IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D)
3. IBS with mixed bowel habits (IBS-M)

You may be required to take food allergy tests. Based on your specific triggers, your doctor will ask you to eliminate certain foods from your diet. These generally vary. However, trigger foods normally include refined grains, dairy, carbonated drinks, and processed foods.

A whole-food, plant-based diet is extremely effective in alleviating symptoms and improving the gut microbiome. If changing your diet does not improve your condition, you may need a colonoscopy.

3. Getting Started

As one of the most reputable hospitals in Houston, we put patient care first. Our team treats a wide range of conditions, from IBS to joint pain, sleep disorders, and gynecological issues. We offer hip replacement surgery, pain management treatment, sports injury treatment, breast cancer biopsy, and more. Visit our search page to find the right doctor near you.