Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Stress

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Stress

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be a painful and embarrassing disease. While stress is not a direct cause of IBS, stress can aggravate IBS symptoms. Reducing stress can help to relieve IBS symptoms.

While most of us suffer from IBS symptoms some time in our lives, people with IBS suffer the symptoms of IBS often and with little warning.

This can be embarrassing and painful for the sufferer of IBS. Despite prevalence rates of around 20% of the American population, little is known about the causes of IBS.

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IBS is an intestinal disorder that can cause discomfort and distress.

IBS can be characterized by cramping, pain in the stomach, constipation, bloating and diarrhea.

This means that IBS sufferers have bowels that are sensitive and easily upset.

Other symptoms of IBS may include nausea, heartburn, abdominal fullness, bloating or the feeling of needing to get to the restroom quickly.

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The cause of IBS is not full understood yet. There are a number of myths that abound - these include:

"stress is the cause of IBS" or

"it was something that I ate which caused IBS".

However, the research shows that the cause of IBS is not completely understood.

IBS is characterized by increased sensitivity of the nerve endings in the gastrointestinal tract - this may alter the muscle contractions in the colon.

Stress and IBS

While stress does not cause IBS, the symptoms that characterize IBS may be affected.

Stress increases muscle tension and this in turn can affect the sensitivity of the colon.

For example, stress has increased the motiliity and sensation of the colon in IBS sufferers compared to non-IBS sufferers.

How this occurs is not certain. But stress can increase the sympathetic neural stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract - which can increase the sensitivity of the colon.

While the cause of IBS is unknown, factors that can trigger IBS include stress, diet, infection or changes in routine.

When people are stressed, they often report feeling butterflies, or may experience cramps.

In people who suffer IBS, the colon is very sensitive, with the the mind becoming more aware of the sensations in the colon.

As you become more aware of these unpleasant sensations, this may create a vicious cycle between the mind and the bowel, resulting in more symptoms of IBS.

Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

There are a number of treatment options available for you if you suffer from IBS. These include:

Using a diary to monitor what factors worsen or bring on symptoms. Different foods and different stressors may result in flare ups for different people.

Use stress management options such as:
use IBS hypnosis which has been successful for improving IBS symptoms
biofeedback can be used to relieve the symptoms of IBS
other relaxation techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation which may improve the blood flow to the gut - something that stress tends to inhibit - and so improves digestion and the movement of food through the bowel.

Contractions in the bowel can be stimulated by exercise - which can enable the passing of waste and gas products. A study found that those who did moderate exercise (such as walking) for 30 minutes five times a week reported a significant improvement in constipation symptoms. I talk more about how to maintain and appropriate exercise and stress management program.