Join the 'Irritable Bowel Syndrome' group to help and get support from people like you. How it works
Health Tip: What Triggers Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Posted 2 Nov 2011 by Drugs.com
-- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common cause of intestinal bloating, irregularity, gasiness, and cramps. While it has no known organic cause, the condition may be aggravated by emotional stress and other typical factors. The American Gastroenterological Association mentions these common triggers of IBS: Eating foods that produce excess gas. Taking certain medications that can trigger colon spasms. Drinking too much alcohol. Drinking chocolate milk. Consuming caffeine. Menstruating among women. Read more
Related support groups: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
'Fecal Transplants' Show Promise for Gastrointestinal Ills
Posted 1 Nov 2011 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Nov. 1 – They sound disgusting, but doctors say "fecal transplants" – once shunned by the medical establishment – are proving useful against a range of gastrointestinal ailments, new research says. Presenting at the American College of Gastroenterology annual meeting in Washington, D.C., researchers report that the therapy can ease severe irritable bowel syndrome and nasty bacterial infections. Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) involves taking feces from a donor, typically a spouse or relative though it could be anyone, after a light colonoscopy prep. That sample is then mixed "with some saline so that it's a consistency that can be aspirated into 60 cc syringes," explained Dr. Mark Mellow, one of the researchers presenting findings at the meeting. The patient then undergoes a routine colonoscopy during which the mixture is inserted. The idea is that this new, transplanted ... Read more
Related support groups: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Clostridial Infection
Past Trauma May Contribute to Bowel Disorder
Posted 31 Oct 2011 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Oct. 31 – Major psychological and emotional events experienced over a lifetime may contribute to the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to a new study. Researchers looked at 2,623 people and found that psychological and emotional traumas – such as divorce, death of a loved one, house fire, car accident, and mental or physical abuse – were more common among adults with IBS than those without the condition. Dr. Yuri Saito-Loftus, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., was scheduled to present the findings Monday at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in Washington, D.C. "While stress has been linked to IBS, and childhood abuse has been reported to be present in up to 50 percent of patients with IBS, at a prevalence twice that of patients without IBS, most studies of abuse have focused on sexual abuse with sparse ... Read more
Related support groups: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Science Probes How Probiotic Yogurts Affect Your Gut
Posted 26 Oct 2011 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 26 – Researchers have put the health promises of popular probiotic yogurts to the test and found they may alter the way in which food is metabolized. But whether that means probiotic foods and supplements can improve your health remains to be seen, they said. "Federal regulatory agencies are increasingly interested in evaluating all the health claims being made by probiotic food manufacturers," said study co-author Dr. Jeffrey Gordon, a biologist and director of the Center for Genome Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine, in St. Louis. "So what we did was try to develop a model for the human gut that can give us a way to measure the effects." What they saw, Gordon said, "is that adding a few billion of these microbial organisms to a gut community already containing tens of trillions of bacteria can, in fact, influence the metabolism of food ingredients. ... Read more
Related support groups: Diarrhea, Urinary Tract Infection, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Eczema, Bladder Cancer
Mindful Meditation Might Ease Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Posted 9 May 2011 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, May 9 – A simple meditation technique can help ease the torment suffered by people with a chronic bowel disease, a new study has found. The research, done at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, found that women with irritable bowel syndrome who practiced "mindful meditation" had more than a 38 percent reduction in symptoms, far surpassing a nearly 12 percent reduction for women who participated in a traditional support group. Moreover, meditation helped reduce psychological distress and improved quality of life, the study found. One of the study authors said the practice, based on a Buddhist meditative technique, "empowers" patients to deal with an illness that is difficult to treat. "It's not easy to treat IBS [irritable bowel syndrome], even with the best standard medical approaches," said study co-author Olafur Palsson, an associate professor, clinical ... Read more
Related support groups: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Scientists Discover How Peppermint Soothes Gastric Pain
Posted 23 Apr 2011 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, April 22 – New research offers insight into how peppermint helps relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia report that peppermint activates an "anti-pain" channel in the colon. This contributes to relief of pain from inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. "Our research shows that peppermint acts through a specific anti-pain channel called TRPM8 to reduce pain-sensing fibers, particularly those activated by mustard and chili," Dr. Stuart Brierley said in a university news release. "This is potentially the first step in determining a new type of mainstream clinical treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. This is a debilitating condition and affects many people on a daily basis, particularly women who are twice as likely to experience irritable bowel syndrome," Brierley added. Peppermint is often recommended by ... Read more
Related support groups: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Peppermint
Exercise Helps Ease Irritable Bowel Symptoms
Posted 31 Jan 2011 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, Jan. 28 – Increasing one's physical activity routine can help improve symptoms among irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients, Swedish researchers report. Vigorous activity can also help keep IBS symptoms from worsening among such patients, the researchers said. The authors noted that IBS is a disease that affects between 10 percent to 15 percent of people around the world, and is typically characterized by abdominal pain/discomfort, constipation, diarrhea and bloating. The current observations stem from a small study of 102 IBS patients between the ages of 18 and 65. Over a three-month period, half of the participants maintained their normal lifestyle, while the other half was randomly assigned to increase their physical activity, with a suggested goal of moderate to vigorous activity three to five times per week for 20 to 30 minutes a session. Both groups received telephone ... Read more
Related support groups: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Antibiotic May Help Ease Irritable Bowel
Posted 6 Jan 2011 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 5 – A two-week course of an antibiotic relieved bloating and other symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, a common gastrointestinal disorder, for more than two months after treatment ended, new research shows. Researchers say the antibiotic, rifaximin, made by Salix Pharmaceuticals, is the first treatment for irritable bowel syndrome that gets at the underlying cause of the condition, rather than just treating the symptoms. The findings are published in the Jan. 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The research involved 1,260 people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but no constipation. They took either rifaximin or a placebo three times a day for two weeks. In the four weeks after treatment, nearly 41 percent of those who'd taken rifaximin reported "adequate relief" of IBS symptoms, compared with about 32 percent of the placebo group. When asked about ... Read more
Related support groups: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Xifaxan, Rifaximin
Health Tip: Diet Can Help Irritable Bowel Symptoms
Posted 29 Dec 2010 by Drugs.com
-- While controlling stress and taking certain medications can help manage symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), monitoring your diet and eating habits can have the most significant impact, the American Dietetic Association says. The group offers these suggestions: Create a schedule for meals, and stick to it. Instead of three large meals, eat smaller meals throughout the day. Chew your food carefully and eat slowly. Eat foods high in fiber, such as whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Drink plenty of water, while avoiding caffeine and alcohol. Keep a diary of any IBS symptoms and the corresponding foods you eat – to see if there's an association between a particular food and onset of IBS. Read more
Related support groups: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Brain Structure Changes Found in Irritable Bowel Patients
Posted 27 Jul 2010 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, July 27 – Women with irritable bowel syndrome have increases and decreases in gray matter density in areas of the brain that play a role in attention, emotion regulation, pain inhibition and the processing of information from the gut, new research suggests. Similar brain structural changes have been noted in patients with pain disorders such as lower back pain, migraines and hip pain. Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS – which can cause pain and discomfort in the abdomen, along with constipation, diarrhea, or both – affects about 15 percent of the U.S. population, mainly women. Among those in the medical field, IBS is currently considered a "functional" syndrome (the digestive tract is not working properly), rather than an "organic" disorder (which would involve structural organ changes). "Discovering structural changes in the brain, whether they are primary or secondary to ... Read more
Related support groups: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Choir Singing May Relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Posted 24 May 2010 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, May 24 – For people suffering with irritable bowel syndrome, singing in a choir could be just what the doctor ordered, a team of Swedish researchers reports. The benefits of relaxation commonly associated with choir participation might actually have a positive effect on the symptoms of the disorder, at least in the short-run, study author Christina Grape of Stockholm University and colleagues suggested. Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a common gastrointestinal disorder that can be influenced by certain psychological factors, such as stress. Discussion groups, including ones for group or behavioral therapy, for example, have previously been shown to help improve IBS symptoms. In their report, the study authors wondered if choir groups, which are popular in Nordic countries, might have the same effect. The researchers decided to stack both activities up against one another ... Read more
Related support groups: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Shift Work Linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Posted 27 Mar 2010 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, March 26 – Shift work increases the risk for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), new research shows. "We know that people participating in shift work often complain of gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea," Dr. Sandra Hoogerwerf, an assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, said in a university news release. "These are the same symptoms of IBS." In a study involving 399 nurses, she and her colleagues found that those doing shift work – especially rotating shifts – were significantly more likely to develop IBS and abdominal pain than were those who worked a standard daytime schedule. The study was published online recently in the American Journal of Gastroenterology. "We know the colon has its own biological clock and that's what increases the likelihood of having a bowel movement in the first six ... Read more
Related support groups: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Colonoscopy Not Needed for Most With Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Posted 17 Mar 2010 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, March 17 – People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) aren't at increased risk for polyps, colon cancer or inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and, in most cases, don't require a colonoscopy, U.S. researchers say. Symptoms of IBS, which affects 10 percent to 20 percent of Americans, include recurrent abdominal pain or cramping in connection with altered bowel habits. The condition is more common among women than men. "Patients and doctors get nervous about the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. They think the symptoms represent something more sinister," lead author Dr. William D. Chey, professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, said in a news release from the school. "This study should reassure doctors and patients that typical IBS symptoms are not indicators of a more serious disease." He and his colleagues conducted the ... Read more
Related support groups: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Soluble Fiber, But Not Bran, Soothes Irritable Bowel
Posted 12 Jan 2010 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, Aug. 28 – People with the chronic condition known as irritable bowel syndrome may find relief by consuming soluble fiber (psyllium). But they'll get no relief – and perhaps more bowel upset – from bran, a new Dutch study found. IBS, which involves chronic abdominal discomfort and irregular bowel habits, affects about one in 10 Americans. Some experts have advised increased intake of dietary fiber, but data on the effectiveness of this approach has been limited. In the study, published online Aug. 28 in BMJ, a team at the University Medical Center Utrecht had 275 adult patients with IBS consume either 10 grams of psyllium (soluble fiber), bran (insoluble fiber) or a placebo twice daily for three months. They then checked patient symptoms at one, two and three months, including abdominal pain and quality of life. The researchers found psyllium to be most effective in treating ... Read more
Related support groups: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Metamucil, Psyllium, Konsyl, Fiber Therapy, Hydrocil, Laxative Natural, Reguloid, Laxmar Orange, Genfiber, V-Lax, Alramucil, Modane Bulk, Konsyl-Orange, Fiber Eze
New Guidelines Issued for Management of IBS
Posted 18 Dec 2008 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Dec. 18 – A leading organization of gastroenterologists has released new guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The guidelines, issued by the American College of Gastroenterology and published in the January issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology, essentially replace a 2002 document. "The world of IBS is changing quickly because of more therapies and an increased awareness. It is considered a 'real disease,' " said Dr. Lawrence Brandt, chairman of the group's IBS task force and chief of gastroenterology at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. "A lot of new drugs are being developed, and a lot of work still needs to be done, but there's enough new information since the last time." An estimated 7 percent to 10 percent of people have IBS, which can involve abdominal pain, bloating and other discomfort, including constipation and ... Read more
Related support groups: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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