Irritable bowel syndrome is rarely a serious disease; however, it can cause uncomfortable symptoms. This includes abdominal pain and cramps along with constipation and diarrhea. While there is currently no known cause of irritable bowel syndrome, there are factors that can exacerbate symptoms. To help control the condition, lifestyle changes might be in order. This involves understanding what triggers irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.
Abnormal Muscular Contractions
If you have irritable bowel syndrome you may be more susceptible to irregular muscular contractions. The muscles that control your bowels may have a tendency to contract or spasm uncontrollably. Why this happens in some and not others is still not well understood, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Your bowel muscles may sometimes become overactive and go through periods of spasms. At other times they many not contract at all. This irregular movement means that food can either pass through too quickly or get stuck. As this happens, you can experience mild to severe symptoms.
Food
You may find that certain foods make your irritable bowel syndrome worse. While your doctor may not know the exact cause of your disease, avoiding triggers can help to keep your symptoms under control. The Mayo Clinic suggests that chocolate, dairy products, alcohol, fruits and vegetables can all contribute to this condition. Irritable bowel syndrome affects each person differently so you will need to experiment to find your specific food triggers. Keeping a food and symptom diary may help.
Stress
According to the American Medical Association, stress does not actually cause irritable bowel syndrome but it can aggravate your symptoms. When your body initiates the fight-or-flight syndrome, it slows your digestive system down to conserve energy to deal with the stressor. If you are under chronic stress and do not take steps to manage it, this means your digestive system is constantly affected. Over time, this can lead to problems with bowel movements.
Infections and Hormones
Your bowels normally contain receptors for a hormone called serotonin. If you have irritable bowel syndrome, you may have lower then normal levels of this substance or the receptors may lose their sensitivity. This means your bowel muscles may not be receiving messages properly. The lack of serotonin may also make the receptors more sensitive to pain. While still just a theory, bacterial infections in the bowels may be another situation that can lead to the development of irritable bowel syndrome.
About this Author
Lori Newell of Living Well Yoga and Fitness holds a master’s degree in health promotion. She is a certified personal trainer and yoga instructor. Newell has taught classes for the general public and those with chronic illness for 25 years. She has four books and writes for many sites and magazines, including the “International Journal of Yoga Therapy.”
