Are you anxious because your stomach hurts often for no clear reason and feels bubbly? Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be suspected when there are no special abnormalities visible to the eye or on tissue examination even after colonoscopy or stool testing, but chronic diarrhea or constipation repeatedly occurs, and symptoms mainly in the lower abdomen, such as abdominal pain and bloating, continue.
Because symptoms appear frequently, patients are always on edge, and in severe cases they may even be afraid to go out. After eating spicy or irritating foods, or when under stress, they may often experience stabbing abdominal pain and urgent bowel movements that make them need to go to the restroom immediately. At times, gas builds up and stubborn constipation develops, causing discomfort. Or chronic diarrhea may recur, and symptoms such as constant fatigue, headache, anxiety and depression, or insomnia may accompany it.
The hidden Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome The exact cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is still not clearly known.
However, suspected Causes include abnormal colon movement (irregular movement), changes in the intestinal microbiome environment, infection and chronic inflammation, abnormalities of the immune system, brain-gut interaction, and genetic factors. Because symptoms tend to worsen before important events or exams, it is also viewed as related to stress or neurogenic conditions.
In addition, hypersensitivity of the colon, in which stimulation from certain foods triggers irregular movement of the colon, is also discussed as a cause. Although no clear structural cause has yet been identified, in common it can be classified as a type of functional colon disorder caused by repeated abnormal movement of the colon.
Can you break free from the grip of Irritable Bowel Syndrome? In Irritable Bowel Syndrome, symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and urgent bowel movements recur frequently. If it becomes chronic, treatment is difficult and the likelihood of recurrence is very high.
It is a common condition, to the extent that there are reports that about 20-30% of patients who visit a hospital for Digestive System symptoms have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In medication treatment, antispasmodics, constipation medications, and anti-anxiety medications may be prescribed in combination, but because the focus is on symptom relief, they do not serve as a fundamental solution to normalize bowel movement. Also, because this condition is greatly affected by psychological factors, it is important not to become trapped in the anxiety of thinking, “Do I have to live like this forever?”
That kind of stress only worsens symptoms. Although it is one of the conditions that is difficult to cure completely and often recurs, it is important to feel reassured that no organic cause has been found. By supporting a healthier stomach and intestines, lowering sensitivity within the intestinal tract, removing food accumulation (食積), which refers to waste buildup in the gastrointestinal tract, and finally replenishing energy and calming the mind, symptoms may improve enough to support a healthy daily life.