The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome can have a dramatic impact on your quality of life.
In this video, we will be reviewing how we can manage your IBS symptoms.
I'll be covering lifestyle, dietary modification,
plus the medications your doctor can prescribe to improve your IBS symptoms.
Introduction
Welcome to JHP Medical, I'm Dr Hart-Pinto,
and I'll be reviewing the management of your irritable bowel syndrome.
Previously we have discussed the common symptoms of IBS
and how your doctor can diagnose it. If you haven't seen this video already,
it would be a good idea to review this first. You can access this video via the link here.
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So how can your IBS symptoms be managed?
We know that your experience of irritable bowel syndrome is individual
and may vary compared with other people who also suffer from the condition.
Given that several factors, including anxiety and certain diets, may contribute to the
symptoms you experience, a multi-faceted management option is likely to be best.
The management options discussed here are likely to influence everyone's IBS differently.
Therefore, you should work with your doctor to find what works best for you. If you have very
mild symptoms of IBS and it's not causing a detrimental effect on your quality of life,
you may not need any treatment at all.
It's important to remember that there is no cure for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
The management options discussed here are unlikely to completely remove
all your symptoms. However, they can often be combined to improve your quality of life.
So, let's look at all the options:
First, it's important to address lifestyle factors.
Making lifestyle changes isn't always easy. However,
if you are dedicated and commit to a lifestyle plan with your doctor's advice,
you should experience an improvement in your IBS symptoms.
Exercise
One proven factor that can significantly improve your symptoms of IBS is regular exercise.
Exercising regularly has several additional health benefits;
it can be used to effectively control your weight, improve your mental well-being
and reduce your risk of heart attacks, strokes and cancers.
Mental Health
Maintaining your mental health is an important factor which can help with your IBS symptoms.
You may find that during stressful or emotional periods, your IBS symptoms
worsen. Therefore, it's important to avoid precipitating factors where possible.
Research has shown that patients who engage in meditation
improve their mental well-being and can significantly improve symptoms of IBS.
Diet
It is recommended to take regular meals, chew your food well,
and avoid skipping meals can all help with your digestion, nutrition and reduction of symptoms.
You may have noticed that certain foods or drinks may trigger your IBS
flares. It is best to limit your caffeine intake to 3 or less cups of tea or coffee per day
and reduce as much as possible alcoholic and fizzy drinks.
For many patients, spicy and fatty foods can also play a role. Where this is the case,
it's best to avoid these triggers. Avoid food and drinks containing sorbitol, a sweetener,
and limiting your intake of fresh fruit to only 3 daily portions is advisable.
So is, limiting your intake of wholemeal or high-fibre wheat flour and high-fibre bran.
Staying hydrated by consuming plenty of water further helps with the digestive system,
assisting in the breakdown of food and helping your body absorb all the essential nutrients.
Water also helps soften your stool, helping to prevent constipation,
which can be a major symptom for some people with IBS.
Probiotics, containing live bacteria, are beneficial in improving symptoms in
some patients with IBS. If you want to try probiotics for your IBS, it's best
to commit to at least a 4-week trial period, as it can take some time to show results.
Food and symptom diaries can be particularly helpful in identifying dietary causes.
If diet remains a major factor contributing to your IBS symptoms,
despite taking the actions above, you may benefit from the advice of a registered dietician. They
may consider placing you on a special low FODMap [fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides,
monosaccharides, and polyols] diet. Your doctor can organise a referral for this.
Medications
Your doctor may prescribe medications to improve control of your IBS symptoms. Medication isn't
always necessary for everyone, and you may wish to try lifestyle and dietary changes first.
Using medications should be a joint decision between you and your doctor.
Abdominal cramps can be managed with medications that prevent
muscle spasms within the gut. These medications are known as antispasmodics;
some commonly used examples are Hyoscine butyl bromide (Buscopan) and peppermint oils.
Abdominal bloating is caused by gaseous build-up within the gut. Some patients find peppermint oils
useful in relieving the sensation of fullness associated with this gaseous retention.
Episodes of diarrhoea can come at the most inappropriate times, and this, of course,
can be of great embarrassment to the patients.
Medications which can slow down the gut can help reduce these episodes.
One example is loperamide. However, the required dosing for each patient is variable.
Episodes of constipation can leave patients in considerable discomfort. Short courses of
laxatives can be useful if you are suffering from constipation. Patients with difficult-to-manage
constipation in IBS may benefit from the medication linaclotide. This medication works
by increasing the movement of the bowel and also helps in reducing discomfort associated with IBS.
You may also consider soluble fibre supplements or foods high
in soluble fibre (such as oats and linseed) to improve your symptoms of constipation.
We know that anxiety and stress can worsen your symptoms of IBS, and medications can help to
improve your mental health can also improve these symptoms. Commonly used medications
such as SSRIs or tricyclic antidepressants are proven to be effective in the management of IBS.
In many patients, antidepressant medication
can be effective management, even without any mental health concerns.
What's my prognosis, doc?
Around 2 in 3 patients can be effectively managed with the appropriate medical support,
with significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life.
If you are suffering from IBS, it's important to know that most patients can remain
free of severe symptoms. However, mild symptoms may persist for some time.
Conclusion
I hope you have enjoyed this video reviewing the management of IBS;
you can work in collaboration with your doctor to find an option that works well for you.
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Outro
This video does not provide individual medical advice
and is intended for informational purposes only.
Do not consider this a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Please don't ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment
because of something you have heard here.
If you believe you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or ambulance service.