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Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Strategies for Managing a Complex Condition

by Richard Glickman-Simon, MD

Home | Health Information Center | Wellness Centers | Alternative Health | Article

HCA image Researchers have not yet come up with a coherent scientific explanation, let alone a cause, for irritable bowel syndrome and its debilitating symptoms. This means that there is no cure or even a comprehensive treatment. There are ways to manage symptoms, though.

A Common Diagnosis

Women are diagnosed with IBS more often than men. The main symptoms are abdominal pain, usually associated with bloating and gas, and a change in bowel movements—diarrhea, constipation, or alternating bouts of each. Mucus may be present with diarrhea, but there is no blood or pus.

Because tests show no abnormalities, IBS is usually diagnosed after other diseases have been ruled out.

IBS may be suspected when a person has recurrent abdominal pain with at least 2 of the following features:

Pain is relieved after a bowel movement
The onset of pain is associated with diarrhea or constipation

Lifestyle Changes

Dietary Restrictions

Since IBS primarily affects the GI tract, dietary changes are a good place to start. Many people benefit from avoiding certain foods and ingredients, such as:

Caffeine
Alcohol
Fatty foods
Gas-producing vegetables and legumes

For those who find a connection between their symptoms and what they eat, avoiding those foods can be helpful.

Fiber

Depending on your age and gender, general guidelines recommend aiming for 25-38 grams of fiber in your daily diet. Fiber may improve the colon's function and reduce symptoms, especially in people who tend to be constipated. However, if your IBS symptoms are mainly gas and bloating, fiber may cause you to have more abdominal discomfort. Your doctor can help you select good sources of fiber based on your symptoms. Examples include:

Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes
Raw bran

If you want to increase the amount of fiber in your diet, add small amounts at a time. Adding too much fiber too quickly can lead to a flare-up of IBS symptoms.

Peppermint

Of the many herbs and supplements that have been recommended for IBS, peppermint oil is one of the few backed by some scientific evidence. The recommended dose is 0.2 milliliter (ml) capsules 3 times daily after meals. Be sure to take the enteric-coated form, so that the capsule will not be broken down in the stomach before it reaches the intestines. Talk to your doctor before taking any herbs and supplements. They could affect medicines that you are taking or conditions that you have.

Stress Management

Stress management may be able to ease IBS symptoms. Some treatments that may be used to decrease stress include:

Relaxation response—This may include techniques like meditation, guided-imagery, and progressive relaxation.
Biofeedback—Biofeedback involves being monitored with a machine that provides information about the body, like how tense the muscles are. The person can then use this information to take steps to reduce stress.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)—CBT can help people to address their thought patterns and behaviors and manage how they react to their condition and symptoms.

Exercise

Participating in a regular exercise program can help improve bowel function and other IBS symptoms. If you would like to start exercising, check with your doctor to make sure you are healthy enough.

Education

Anther important part of treatment is becoming educated about IBS and ways to reduce the symptoms. Joining a support group may also be a good way to learn about the condition and to share your experiences with others.

Medications

In addition to lifestyle changes, there are a number of medications that may be helpful in treating the individual symptoms of IBS. In some cases, these medications may be used in combination. Examples include:

Probiotics
Antispasmodic agents
Antiflatulants
Antidiarrheal agents
Low-dose antidepressants
Pain relievers
Serotonin receptor agonists and antagonists (also called 5-HT3 antagonists)
Antibiotics

These medications, while often helpful, are no substitute for a comprehensive lifestyle approach. By modifying your diet, managing stress, and making other healthy changes, you can work to address your IBS symptoms.

RESOURCES:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Self Help and Support Group
http://www.ibsgroup.org

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
http://www.nccam.nih.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

The Canadian Association of Gastroenterology
http://www.cag-acg.org

Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca

References:

Biofeedback. EBSCO Natural and Alternative Treatments website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated July 2012. Accessed January 20, 2016.

Fiber: how to increase the amount in your diet. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at:
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Updated December 2010. Accessed January 20, 2016.

Irritable bowel syndrome. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed January 20, 2016.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated September 1, 2015. Accessed January 20, 2016.

Peppermint. EBSCO Natural and Alternative Treatments website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated August 2013. Accessed January 20, 2016.

Relaxation therapies. EBSCO Natural and Alternative Treatments website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated July 2012. Accessed January 20, 2016.

4/30/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
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Moayyedi P, Ford AC, Talley NJ, Cremonini F, Foxx-Orenstein AE, Brandt LJ, Quigley EM. The efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review. Gut. 2010;59(3):325-32.

7/16/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
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Dorn SD. Systematic review: self-management support interventions for irritable bowel syndrome. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2010 May 22. [Epub ahead of print]

2/25/2011 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
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Pimentel M, Lembo A, Chey WD, et al. Rifaximin therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome without constipation. N Engl J Med. 2011;364(1):22-32.

4/22/2011 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
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Johannesson E, Simrén M, Strid H, Bajor A, Sadik R. Physical activity improves symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Gastroenterol. 2011 Jan 4. [Epub ahead of print]

Last reviewed January 2016 by Michael Woods, MD
Last Updated: 2/18/2014

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