What are the causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
No one will give you a specific cause of IBS. IBS is a motility disorder some experts say. A hyperactive or oversensitive gut is another possible cause of IBS. and the gut will react to changes influenced by stress, food and hormones.
With the typical chaotic bowel habit of IBS, it is not surprising that it is thought of as a motility disorder. There is an abnormality in the transit time of ingested food.
Sometimes it is slower than normal causing constipation and other times it is faster causing diarrhoea. There are two types of IBS, diarrhoea predominant and constipation predominant. In some cases constipation and diarrhoea alternate. In IBS stools can vary from watery and unformed to hard pellets.
Some say there is a link between diet and IBS.
IBS symptoms can be triggered by certain foods. Just eating food stimulates intestinal muscle activity. This is the Gastro-Colic reflex and develops in response to food entering the stomach. In IBS, large meals, fatty meals or just the wrong meal can trigger a very strong gastro colic reflex. This strong gut contraction can cause abdominal pains and or diarrhoea.
There is no evidence that food causes IBS but certain foods and the volume consumed at one time can trigger symptoms.
One suggestion is that the fault that results in IBS resides in the Nervous System. The Enteric Nervous System is a complex interconnection of brain cells in the gut. To understand IBS, experts think you need to understand how the Enteric Nervous System works.
The Gut has the richest supply of serotonin in the body. This chemical is closely connected to the nervous system. At present a lot of research is focused on gut serotonin receptors.
Serotonin affects the nerves in the intestine and controls contractions of the smooth muscles of the gut. Low levels of serotonin lead to constipation and higher than normal levels cause diarrhoea.
Psychological factors such as anxiety, stress and depression can affect the gut. Trauma suc h as physical, sexual and emotional abuse can affect the gut. In IBS, records show a higher incidence of such trauma. Addressing these issues may produce better long term results.
Gastroenteritis as a cause of IBS: IBS can develop is 20-30% of cases of severe gastro-enteritis. Escherichia coli, Salmonella shigella and Camplobacter jejuni are the most common organisms involved. Serotonin levels in gastro-enteritis is very high and in cases that develop IBS this high level continues.
In women with IBS, the hormones progesterone and estrogen vary during the menstrual cycle and the symptoms may fluctuate. These hormones can affect the colon and the passage of residue along the gut. In some women IBS is worse at certain stage of their cycle.
Yeast according to Prof. Jonathan Bostoff of The Meddlesex Hospital could be a possible cause of IBS. These patients have reduced levels of friendly bacteria, Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria in their large bowel. This results in overgrowth of Candida.
Tags: Hypnosis NLP
