Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia It affects approximately a quarter of the populationThis poses a heavy burden on patients and the health system as a whole.
What is irritable bowel syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and changes in bowel movement, such as diarrhea, constipation, or both.
Studies indicate that the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reached 24% of the population, and confirm that it is a common condition that affects women more than men, and the probability of infection increases with age.
The diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome depends on the presence of specific symptoms according to diagnostic criteria studied by the doctor, in addition to asking about the patient’s medical and family history.
There are no laboratory or imaging tests to diagnose IBS, but a comprehensive physical examination and detailed patient history can help distinguish IBS from other digestive diseases.
Read also : What are the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in women?
Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome vary from one person to another. They include the following:
- Abdominal pain or discomfort, often worse after eating.
- Changes in bowel movement, such as diarrhea, constipation, or alternating between the two.
- The appearance of mucus in the stool, which is not usually associated with other causes of constipation.
- Feeling an urgent need to have a bowel movement, and a feeling of inability to completely empty the bowel.
- Abdominal bloating, gas, and feeling of fullness.
- Contractions of varying intensity.
- Changes in the shape of the stool, i.e. sometimes frequent and loose watery stools (diarrhea) and sometimes hard and infrequent stools (constipation).
- Fatigue and sleep disturbances.
These symptoms can vary in severity and may be caused by factors, such as diet, stress, and hormonal changes.
How do I differentiate between types of irritable bowel syndrome?
Types of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are classified based on the basic symptoms that a person suffers from, and they are divided into:
- Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C): It is characterized by chronic constipation, and its main symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain and discomfort.
- Lack of bowel movement.
- Hard, dry stool and difficulty defecating.
- الانتفاخ.
- Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D): Characterized by chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain and discomfort, symptoms include:
- Frequent loose or watery stools.
- Abdominal pain and cramps.
- الانتفاخ.
- A sudden, urgent need to defecate.
- Mixed or alternating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-M): It is characterized by alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea.
- Irritable bowel syndrome unclassified (IBS-U): Diagnosed when symptoms do not meet criteria for other types of IBS.
- Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS): It occurs after a gastrointestinal infection, and is often accompanied by chronic inflammation, changes in gut bacteria, and changes in intestinal permeability. The main symptoms include unexplained diarrhea and vomiting.
- Irritable bowel syndrome after diverticulitis (Post-Diverticulitis IBS): Although the exact mechanism is not fully understood, some research has suggested that people with diverticulitis - inflammation of small pouches in the digestive tract - may be more susceptible to irritable bowel syndrome and other bowel disorders.
It is important to identify these different types of IBS because they require tailored treatment approaches to effectively control symptoms.
You can read an article: Symptoms of irritable and digestive colon
Causes of irritable bowel syndrome
While the exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown, symptoms can result from various factors, including:
- Poor diet.
- Stress and psychological factors.
- التغيرات الهرمونية.
- Hypersensitivity of nerves in the intestinal wall.
- Frequent bowel movement disorders.
- Changes in the gut microbiome.
- Infection and inflammation.
- Nervous system dysfunction.
Studies also indicate that irritable bowel syndrome has an underlying genetic cause, as it tends to run in families, and environmental and lifestyle factors such as changes in routine and eating methods increase the severity of symptoms.
Book your consultation now at مركز أمراض الجهاز الهضمي At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.
Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome
Treating irritable bowel syndrome is a personal journey that requires an integrated approach that brings together the various factors affecting this complex condition.
Diet is one of the most important tools for controlling irritable bowel syndrome.
- Follow the FODMAP diet: This diet depends on reducing the consumption of a group of short-chain carbohydrates that are difficult for the small intestine to digest, which may cause symptoms, such as bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
- Increase your intake of soluble fiber: It helps promote regular bowel movement and relieve constipation.
- Avoid trigger foods: It is important to monitor the effect of foods on symptoms and avoid those that aggravate digestive disorders, such as chocolate, fried foods and legumes, alcohol, caffeine, soft drinks, and some artificial sweeteners.
Irritable bowel syndrome medications
Medications are used to treat irritable bowel syndrome;
- Antispasmodics: It helps relax muscle spasms and relieve abdominal pain, such as: Hyoscyamine.
- Antidiarrheal medications: Slows down bowel movements and improves stool consistency, such as Loperamide.
- Constipation medications, such as Lubiprostone and Linaclotide.
- المضادات الحيوية: In some cases, they are used to change intestinal bacteria and reduce symptoms if all other treatments have failed, such as Rifaximin.
- مضادات الاكتئاب ثلاثية الحلقات: Like amitriptyline, they help relieve pain and diarrhea by acting on the enteric nervous system, but their use is not officially approved to treat irritable bowel syndrome.
- Probiotics: It helps improve the rate of beneficial intestinal bacteria and relieve symptoms, especially bloating and fullness, but more research is needed to confirm its positive effect and determine the necessary doses.
The doctor helps diagnose the type of irritable bowel syndrome and determine the basic symptoms through a comprehensive evaluation of the patient's medical history, diet, lifestyle, and psychological factors, to determine the best course of treatment.
Periodic follow-up with the doctor helps evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and make the necessary adjustments to the treatment plan as needed.
Can irritable bowel syndrome be cured?
Unfortunately, irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic disease that cannot be completely cured, but there are periods when irritable bowel syndrome is inactive and the patient does not suffer from any symptoms.
Also, committing to following a healthy diet, reducing stress, and taking medications to relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome is the only treatment plan for an irritable bowel syndrome patient so that he can live with the disease and reduce the severity of the symptoms.
How is irritable bowel syndrome diagnosed?
The diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome depends mainly on the symptoms and clinical examination. Irritable bowel syndrome is diagnosed at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital by:
- Medical history and symptoms, where the doctor asks about symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel movement, knows the duration and frequency of symptoms, and asks about the patient’s medical history.
- Physical examination of the abdomen to check for any abnormal signs.
- Do blood tests to confirm the presence of infections.
- Stool analysis to check for blood in the stool or any infection.
- Colonoscopy, to examine the colon from the inside and rule out other diseases such as ulcerative colitis.
You can also find out: Early symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
Complications of irritable bowel syndrome
The main complication of irritable bowel syndrome is its impact on the patient's quality of life, and other possible complications include the following:
- Hemorrhoids due to chronic constipation.
- Fecal incontinence is the result of frequent diarrhea that leads to difficulty controlling the bowels.
- Malnutrition, due to fear of eating certain foods.
- Insomnia and fatigue as a result of feeling pain and inability to rest and sleep.
- Chronic pelvic pain.
- Psychological complications resulting from anxiety and depression due to chronic disturbing symptoms.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a challenge that many people face, but it is not inevitable.
Groups most vulnerable to irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a health problem that does not have a main and specific cause of infection, but it results from a group of different factors, and there are specific categories of people who are most susceptible to infection, and these categories are:
- Women are more susceptible to infection than men, due to hormonal changes.
- Those with a family history. If a family member has irritable bowel syndrome, it is natural for you to be among the groups most at risk.
- People with psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, or even post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Those who suffer from food allergies.
- Under 50 years of age.
The first step towards treatment is Consult a specialist doctor؛ لتشخيص الحالة بشكل دقيق وتحديد مسار العلاج المناسب.
Frequently asked questions
Is irritable bowel syndrome serious?
In general, irritable bowel syndrome is not a fatal disease and does not lead to permanent intestinal damage, but its danger lies in its impact on the patient’s quality of life and causing him constant discomfort and pain.
What are the prohibited foods for irritable bowel syndrome patients?
Although the foods that cause irritable bowel syndrome vary from one patient to another, there are some common foods that an irritable bowel syndrome patient should avoid, and they are as follows:
- Grains and legumes that cause gas, such as beans, beans and lentils.
- Soft drinks and caffeine.
- Some vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, and garlic.
- Gluten sources such as wheat and barley.
- Fatty and fried foods.
- Artificial sweeteners.
- Dairy products containing lactose.
- Spicy food.
Where is irritable bowel syndrome located?
The location of irritable bowel syndrome varies from one person to another. It may extend throughout the abdomen, or be concentrated in the lower abdomen in the form of spasms or cramps, or on one side.
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