So What Is IBS, And How Do I Know If I Have It?

Although the most easily addressed cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms is diet, stress also commonly triggers or exacerbates attacks. Stress inhibits the parasympathetic nervous system, while stimulating excessive adrenaline production, which upsets the rhythmic muscle contractions of the G.I. tract.

It is important to note that there are definite variations among individuals in this regard, and that there appear to be two categories of sufferers in terms of colon sensitivity: those whose attacks are triggered solely from stress, who need only control their diets during times of duress to keep symptoms at bay; and those whose attacks are triggered by a combination of foods and stress both, and who must carefully monitor their diets at all times.

Additionally, many women find that menstrual cramps will cause IBS to flare, as the excess prostagladins associated with uterine contractions can trigger gastrointestinal spasms.

Interestingly, hot and humid weather can also play a role in IBS attacks, in two ways: 1) heat is a stressor, and 2) air pressure changes from humid weather fronts can affect the levels of serotonin in the body, which in turn reduces a person's pain tolerance. Finally, a night without adequate sleep is often directly correlated to IBS attacks the next day. There is no evidence whatsoever that IBS sufferers fit a typical psychological profile, such as having abusive childhoods or being prone to depression. To the contrary, all reliable research suggests that this is strictly a physical problem, and should be treated as such.(13) IBS has not been shown to lead to any other syndrome or disease. No link has been established between IBS and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis. IBS does not lead to colon cancer.(14) Because so much remains unknown about IBS, there is frequently a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding about the syndrome among patients and physicians alike. (15) This lack of understanding can lead to misdiagnosis and even unnecessary surgery. In particular, women with IBS face an increased risk of unwarranted hysterectomy or ovarian surgery,(16) and their reported rate of abdominal or intestinal surgery (aside from cesarean sections) is almost double that of women without IBS.(17) Despite the enormous social and economic costs of IBS (it is the second leading cause of worker absenteeism, behind the common cold),(18) medical research in this area is severely underfunded. IBS receives less than 1% of digestive disease research funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH).(19) This book is the end result of my personal experience and research, and came about when I realized that every other IBS sufferer I was coming in contact with was desperate for help, as they had been treated as dismissively by their doctors as I was by mine.(20) I have met people whose doctors have told them they are being "silly" because they are unable to leave their house and go to work due to blinding pain and diarrhea.(21) I have met people who have been told that their abdominal pain is "normal", and that suffering from diarrhea up to 14 times a day is no cause for concern. I have met people whose doctors have told them to "stop whining", or that they "didn't want to hear any more complaining".(22) I have met people who are unable to drive, work, sleep, eat, socialize, and take vacations, in short, unable to live a normal life because they must endure extreme agony every day. Some have even had gastroenterologists tell them that "diet doesn't affect IBS". This is like saying that the air you breathe doesn't affect your lungs. I find it inexcusable that so many people are offered absolutely no dietary help whatsoever from the medical authorities they consult when it is virtually impossible to control IBS without proper eating habits. The nutritional advice offered in this book should be common knowledge to gastroenterologists, family doctors, nutritionists, and dieticians, and it should be routinely provided to IBS patients. Unfortunately, it is not. As a result, many people continue to suffer needlessly from this syndrome. My hope is that this book will provide people with the information that has so dramatically helped me, so that it may in turn help them. Take immediate control of your symptoms with Eating for IBS. Continue reading excerpts from Eating for IBS.                     Excerpted from Eating for IBS. View Endnotes. All content is copyrighted by Heather Van Vorous and MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED without permission.