Irritable Bowel Syndrome

It is important to note that Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not a disease but a functional disorder, which really means that your bowel is working as optimally as it should. Also called sastic colon, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS is one of the most common reasons why people visit a doctor. There are many smptoms by which a doctor knows you are suffering from IBS. They are abdominal cramps with severe pain, bloating, gas, alternate diarrhea and constipation, etc.

While doctor can easily diagnose Irritable Bowel Syndrome, by studying the symptoms, he or she may also advise some medical tests, to be doubly sure. Medical tests also confirm whether you are suffering from any other diseases.

The medical tests which confirm Irritable Bowel Syndrome are normally :

* Physical exam - where the doctor examines you physically in his chamber.

* Blood tests - to detect any abnormality

* X ray of the bowel: This x-ray test is also called a barium enema or barium meal. Barium is a thick liquid, which when inside the bowel show up better on the x ray. Before doing the x ray, barium is inserted into the bowel through the anus.

* Endoscopy: This is a process to look inside your bowels through a tube which has a camera attached at the end. The doctor inserts the thin tube into your bowel.

Till date, no cure has been found to treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome completely. But the symptoms could be relieved by following the steps give below :

* A change in your diet pattern. You must know which foods trigger the symptoms and which do not.

* You must take the prescribed medicines regularly on time.

* Remove stress from your life. Avoid stressful situations as these trigger IBS symptoms. Yoga and medicines could help you calm down.

You could try a combination of all the above, to check which is best suited for you.

There are many foods which you may like, but have to stop taking them, as they trigger symptoms of Irritable Syndrome and can worsen the situation.

Some foods which make IBS worse :

* fatty foods like french fries

* milk products like cheese or ice cream

* chocolate

* alcohol

* caffeine (found in coffee and some sodas)

* carbonated drinks like soda

If you wish to find out which foods cause problems for you, you could write down this information on a regular basis:

* a list of all foods you had during the day. * what were the symptoms you have * when do the symptoms occur * what foods make you feel bad

Then take this list and show it to your doctor. He could advise the right diet plan for you.

Know about foods which relieve symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome :

* Foods which are rich in Fiber content. It relieves constipation as fibers are essentially bulk-producing stool softeners, which make defecation less strenuous.

Some foods with fiber:

* bran, bread, cereal, beans, fruit, and vegetables. * Fruits like - Apples and Peaches. * Vegetables like - Broccoli, raw cabbage, carrots, raw peas, Kidney beans and Lima beans * Whole-grain bread * Whole-grain cereal