Handling IBS

IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is without a doubt one of the more annoying issues anyone will ever have to deal with. With pain from cramps and diarrhea, you may find that you simply can’t go out at times. You’ll end up cancelling plans or having embarrassing accidents, at least until you get your IBS under control. And it can be controlled, but it takes some lifestyle and dietary changes plus, for some people, medication. If you’ve been diagnosed with IBS, start working with your doctor and nutritionist right away. The longer you put it off, the worse your IBS will get.

IBS Symptoms

If you have IBS, you may notice one or more of the following:

• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Excessive gas
• Feeling bloated
• Pain in your abdomen or lower belly
• Mucus in your stool

You may also have symptoms that are unconnected to your bowels, such as the following:
• Anxiety
• Headache
• Backache
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Palpitations

Alone and for a short time, these symptoms could all be caused by other things. However, if you experience any of them for long periods of time (between 3 and 6 months), you may be suffering from IBS. Speak to a doctor as soon as possible to begin testing.

Diagnosis

IBS is generally diagnosed by first ruling out other conditions. If there is no other cause for your symptoms, IBS is normally the issue. Your doctor may do a blood test to check for other issues, analyze your stool, and do a physical examination. For younger people, fewer tests are usually done because younger patients are not as likely to be at risk for things like colon cancer.

In some cases, a colonoscopy and other such tests are needed to make certain you aren’t dealing with something more serious.

Treatment

There is no known cause for IBS, which means it really can’t be cured, only treated. The first step to dealing with IBS is to record everything you eat, what you do each day, and your symptoms. This can help you and your doctor determine what may cause your IBS to flare up so that you can avoid it.

Here are a few different ways you can control your IBS:

• Cut back on drinking alcohol
• Don’t drink that much caffeine
• Watch how many fatty foods you eat
• If you have a lot of diarrhea, try to cut back on fruit, dairy, and any foods/drinks with artificial sweeteners.
• Increase the amount of fiber you get
• Don’t eat cabbage, beans or uncooked broccoli and cauliflower

Also stop smoking if you smoke, and increase the amount of exercise you get. In addition to helping your IBS, this will also improve your overall health. If you’re stressed out, do what you can to reduce your stress. For some people, stress is a major IBS trigger.

A Changing Disease

One of the biggest issues people have with IBS is that it’s both a long-term issue and it changes over time. You may develop new symptoms or your current symptoms may get worse. You may also find that some of the medications your doctor gives you later lose their effectiveness, so you may find that you have to change your treatment over the years.

You may also want to start taking an acai berry supplement. Research has shown that a supplement such as the acai berry may be able to provide you with a number of benefits.

You can buy the best organic acai berry products here.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to treat, diagnose, or cure any diseases.