HARTSVILLE - Because March is colorectal disease awareness month, the focus of this article is irritable bowel syndrome, a fairly common problem. Many people suffer from its symptoms, which range from constipation to diarrhea and cramping to excessive gas.
It is a lifelong problem for many people causing frequent social problems due to its unpredictable symptoms. Some people choose to avoid social situations and obligations rather than risk the embarrassing problems an irritable bowel might bring.
The good news is that irritable bowel syndrome does not harm a person. It does not cause weight loss, malnutrition or cancer, and it does not shorten one’s life.
There are illnesses, however, that cause similar symptoms. Lactose intolerance, infections and other intestinal illnesses should be checked by doing blood tests and stool cultures, by testing for blood in the stool or by doing a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy.
There are a number of treatments that can be useful in treating this problem. The first step is to add bulk-forming laxatives to your diet. They will increase the fiber in the bowel that can make the muscle around the bowel less spastic. The fiber will also absorb fluids thus decreasing diarrhea as well as constipation.
If this is not enough, it may be helpful to add medicines that relax the bowel. These will usually give some degree of relief. Low doses of antidepressants are useful in some cases.
Since stresses are apt to make the symptoms worse, it is wise to avoid stressful situations and to learn relaxation techniques. Routine physical exercise also gives many people a level of relief.
For more information about this topic or any other health related topic, see your physician. If you do not have a physician, call Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center for a physician directory at (843) 339-4195.
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