irritable bowel

Irritable bowel syndrome RDS, irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases in Western industrialized nations. This is understood as a functional intestinal disorder without organic causes.

contents

• Irritable bowel syndrome RDS, irritable bowel syndrome
• causes
• symptoms
• trigger
• diagnosis
• Therapy for irritable bowel syndrome

causes

The exact causes of irritable bowel syndrome (RDS) are not yet clear. It is known that the processes in the digestive tract are significantly disturbed in the irritable bowel patients, but without physical cause. Those affected suffer from dysfunction between the ENS (enteric nervous system) and the CNS (central nervous system). This means that in patients with RDS the intestine reacts much more to influences such as stress, anxiety or similar, than in healthy people.

Sudden pressure on the abdomen and strong urgency are typical signs of irritable bowel syndrome. (Image: Doris Heinrichs / fotolia.com)

symptoms

It comes to recurring, in the strength changing abdominal pain, which can be both stinging and spasmodic. In addition, sufferers often suffer from flatulence. The stool frequency is different. Alternating constipation (constipation) and diarrhea (diarrhea) can occur. Patients are often plagued by the feeling of incomplete emptying after defecation, with bowel movements usually providing relief first. Often there are mucus deposits. Loud bowel sounds are also part of the RDS symptoms. It should also be noted that the symptoms usually increase over the years.

The digestive symptoms are usually accompanied by non-specific general symptoms, such as
- general fatigue
- exhaustion
- sleep disorders
- a headache
- depressions
- back pain
- menstrual cramps
- body aches
- bladder problems
- fears

Irritable bowel syndrome is not dangerous, but the symptoms in many patients significantly affect their quality of life.

trigger

As possible triggers of the RDS are called:
- genetic disposition
- a weakened immune system
- wrong eating habits
- Dysbacteria (disturbed bacterial flora) in the intestine
- Hormonal influences

diagnosis

The irritable bowel is one of the exclusion diagnoses. That is, RDS can not be diagnosed until other organic diseases have been excluded by appropriate research. To make the diagnosis, a detailed history is important. Physical examination and palpation of the abdomen were followed, if necessary, by a rectal examination. In addition, other examination methods such as ultrasound, gastrointestinal examinations and possibly food intolerance tests are often used to determine the causes of disturbed processes in the digestive tract.

Therapy for irritable bowel syndrome

So far, there is no standard therapy for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Thus, in allopathy (conventional medicine) means are used against colic, constipation or diarrhea. Partial psychotropic drugs are also used for irritable bowel treatment.

The naturopathic treatment can sometimes be tedious, but often promising. Thus, a great attention is paid to the diet. Frequently, patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome respond to certain foods with increased symptoms. Here is a diary to recommend. in which the affected persons enter the food supplied and the resulting complaints in order to avoid these foods in the future.

It is important to take time for meals and chew them thoroughly. The hectic pace of eating relatively often increases the symptoms. Aniseed, fennel, caraway cilantro and peppermint are used to soothe the churning gut. Antroposophic medicine also has some treatment approaches at its disposal, which are extremely helpful, such as: a preparation of different types of willow, which are supposed to balance the digestive organs. Stress and anxiety, which usually belong to the irritable bowel syndrome must be reduced. This is where classic homeopathy, Schüssler salts, relaxation techniques and massages help. (Susanne C. Waschke, alternative practitioner)

Picture 1: Cornelia Menichelli