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Frequently rather mental fears, grief and stress trigger irritable bowel syndrome
Around twelve million Germans suffer from the so-called irritable bowel. Since foods are often the trigger, an individual diet can help. However, stress and anxiety disorders also favor the development of irritable bowel syndrome. Therefore, psychosomatic counseling should also be considered.
Millions of Germans suffer from irritable bowel syndrome
According to estimates by the German Society for Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS), around twelve million Germans suffer from so-called irritable bowel syndrome.
In people with discomfort, symptoms include flatulence, diarrhea - sometimes constipation - and spasmodic pain in the intestinal area. However, it can also cause symptoms such as stomach pain, heartburn, as well as nausea and vomiting.
In many cases, food is the trigger for the complaints. A change in diet often brings relief quickly. However, other causes come into consideration.
Not only certain dietary constituents, but also stress and anxiety disorders can lead to irritable bowel syndrome. Experts therefore advise affected persons to consider psychosomatic counseling as well. (Image: absolutimages / fotolia.com) Stress and anxiety disorders favor the onset of the disease
As a study by a German-American research group shows, stress and anxiety disorders also favor the development of irritable bowel syndrome. The German Society for Psychosomatic Medicine and Medical Psychotherapy (DGPM), which is involved in the study, therefore recommends that whenever irritable bowel syndrome is considered, psychosomatic counseling should always be considered. As part of the study, nearly 2,000 long-distance travelers were surveyed.
"The aim of the study was to investigate the individual effects of psychological and demographic factors such as age and gender, physical symptoms, and gastrointestinal infections on the development of irritable bowel syndrome," explained study leader Professor Bernd Löwe, chief physician of the Department of Psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and at the Schön Klinik Hamburg Eilbek.
Women are affected much more often
Both gender and susceptibility to diarrhea, but also stress and emotional distress such as excessive anxiety, have been shown to play a role in the development of irritable bowel syndrome.
Often an acute infection of the gastrointestinal tract triggers the onset of irritable bowel syndrome. The risk of disease is also increased by the interaction of these factors. Women were affected much more often than men. Even in people who were prone to diarrhea under stress and suffered from anxiety disorders, the irritable bowel syndrome appeared rather.
Consider mental causes
"The study shows once again that mental health and physical ailments are closely related," said Professor Harald Gündel, Medical Director of the Department of Psychosomatics of the University Hospital Ulm and spokesman for the DGPM. "Irritable bowel syndrome is associated with a high level of suffering for those affected.
In order to be able to provide fast, holistic and sustainable help, it is important that those concerned consider physical as well as mental causes and seek psychological counseling at an early stage, "says Gündel.
What helps with irritable bowel syndrome
When it comes to relieving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, it is recommended in most cases to forego certain nutritional components such as fructose in fruits or honey, lactose in dairy products and galactose in beans, lentils and soybeans.
In addition to the dietary change, various remedies from natural medicine against the irritable bowel syndrome offer. For example, a study by researchers at the University Hospital Charité showed that healing earth relieves irritable bowel syndrome.
Studies from the US have also shown that yoga relieves the symptoms. Peppermint oil and psyllium also help with irritable bowel syndrome. The latter was confirmed in scientific studies, according to the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). (Ad)