Sudden Attack of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
By Patrice Garby
Have you been the victim of a sudden attack of irritable bowel syndrome? Irritable bowel syndrome can come on suddenly and is thought to be triggered by certain foods and stressful events. The symptoms are mild to severe pain in the abdominal area. Bloating accompanies the pain. There will be bowel symptoms that can range between diarrhea and constipation. The sufferer of IBS can be in extreme pain while feeling nauseous at the same time.
Stress is a known factor in the bringing on a sudden attack of irritable bowel syndrome. A high stress event in your life can bring on sudden severe symptoms of IBS. So will eating heavy meals which include spicy foods or that are high in fat. While stress and spicy food can trigger an IBS episode, it really can not be considered the cause of IBS. There are many theories as to the cause of irritable bowel syndrome.
Medical professionals now know about a dysfunction of the body that some people may have, called the “brain-gut-dysfunction. Doctors believe that people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome handle incoming information from the gut in a different way than people who are healthy. This can cause painful abdominal contractions that can trigger the IBS episode because the gut over reacts and contracts during stress in these people.
However, some medical professionals believe that dietary changes can prevent the overreaction of the gut and thereby prevent bowel dysfunction. Increasing your daily fiber intake is advised and can be accomplished by eating more vegetables and fruit. Avoiding milk is advised also. The standard medical advice also suggests that the patient eat small frequent meals as opposed to only three large meals a day. Red meat and fried foods should also be avoided as well as refined carbohydrates, sodas, artificial sweeteners and food containing sorbitol.
You do not have to remain in pain and misery if you have irritable bowel syndrome. Try eating soluble fiber first before you eat any other foods. Soluble fiber includes such foods as oatmeal, apples, rice and sweet potatoes. Watching what you include in your diet will help tremendously.
Patients are advised to reduce their stress levels by exercising regularly and taking daily vitamin supplements. Fiber supplements can help constipation, while supplementing with magnesium can help with diarrhea. Some foods thought to trigger an episode are milk, cheeses, chocolate, caffeine and alcohol. If you have been the victim of a sudden attack of irritable bowel syndrome and are not sure what to do, contact your physician for medical evaluation of your symptoms.
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