IBS and Stress

IBS is one of those conditions in which there is still debate on its cause, but what we know for sure is that it is a common problem related to the digestive system and intestines, which affects one in five of us.

IBS is characterized by chronic abdominal pain and discomfort, bloating, wind, constipation and diarrhea, all of which have a significant impact on quality of life of patients.

is also accepted that IBS is a loss of muscle contractions in the intestines. Food travels through the digestive system and intestines and the speed with which it so depends on how hard or how gently squeeze the hoses to the movement called peristalsis, the automatic functions are blissfully unaware of when everything is working properly.

After that, though, as we discover the cause, things become a little more uncertain because many hypotheses have been put forward, including physiological disorders, food intolerance, sensory conditions including visceral hypersensitivity and cutaneous hyperalgesia, psychological factors and stress.

, however, there is little evidence to support some of these explanations, and it is important to realize that, for example, not every IBS sufferer has, for example, lactose intolerance food, and not every person with lactose intolerance is IBS.

Recent studies indicate a possible connection between the perception of pain in IBS and fibromyalgia, but again, not everyone with IBS has fibromyalgia, and not all fibromyalgia sufferers have IBS. However, this does not mean that there are further links to be discovered that will provide a better understanding of any circumstances, in particular felt the pain pathways to deal with the symptoms.

What many people do not agree though that if you have IBS, then the stress and psychological factors will undoubtedly play a significant role in your condition, regardless of the underlying cause of your IBS symptoms.

your body react when you feel anxious or worried, and as a result, the brain releases chemicals that help the body cope with this problem. It is a natural reaction in the short term can help to overcome the event causing the anxiety. However, if a period of worry and stress continues long term, the brain sometimes overcompensate and release too many chemicals can lead to problems with the immune system, digestive system and your heart which can eventually lead to long-term health problems and diseases.

What is clear from research that if you suffer from IBS, then you should make every effort to minimize the amount of anxiety and stress in your life in order to reduce instances of your IBS symptoms.

simple steps in your daily routine can have a dramatic positive impact. Regular exercise is important, just thirty minutes a day can reduce tension and stress, and good for your heart as well! Make sure you get a good regular sleep pattern with 8 hours per night, your body needs to repair itself both mentally and physically.

relaxation techniques such as meditation and guided visualization, mind and body slow down in order to release stress and tension, and there are many books, lectures and web sites around with information about these techniques.

Sometimes, more drastic personal action is required. If you can identify the cause of stress, maybe a job that is just too demanding or too hectic social life, then it may be that the long-term health and quality of life, you should consider changing to a less demanding role and cropping activities that you identified as the cause of you stress.

There are many IBS support groups on the Internet, and perhaps even in your local area, so check with your local GP and the library. Learn as much as you can about the disorder and talk with other sufferers, for understanding the problems and opportunities to talk about it will help you to relax and understand the symptoms and eventually feel better in yourself.

Finally, it should be clear that, although there is much we do not know about IBS, research is ongoing and all new information is forthcoming, especially on the Internet. Thus, while the exact cause may still be unknown, as noted here, there are definitely areas such as anxiety and stress that can affect in a positive way to reduce the symptoms of IBS with good practice commonsense life.