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Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Symptoms
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common disorders of digestive system producing symptoms such frequent stools, abdominal discomfort. Over 18% of world population, more so with the urban life style, suffers with IBS.
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a motility disorder of the upper and lower GI tract. Symptoms include some combination of constipation, diarrhea, or alternating constipation and diarrhea, flatulence, colic (gas pains) relieved by bowel movement, abdominal distention after eating, or mucous in stools.
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome is diagnosed by its symptoms and by the absence of other diseases. If there is uncertainty about whether you have a more serious problem (e.g. if you have bleeding from the bowel, which does not occur in IBS) your doctor may order other tests such as a stool sample test, a sigmoidoscopy (to look at the lining of the last part of your bowel through a lighted tube), colonoscopy (to look at the lining of your large intestine through a flexible lighted tube) or a barium enema (to view the lining of your bowel on X-ray). If you have IBS, the results of all these tests are likely to be normal.
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Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder. It is not disease but a combination of a number of symptoms like abdominal pain and discomfort, flatulence or bloating and alternating episodes of diarrhea and constipation. The increase in frequency and number of intestinal contractions disturb bowel movement patterns, which is the most likely cause of the alterations in bowel pattern. A variety of interventions are available for irritable bowel treatment, alleviating symptoms and improving overall level of functioning.
The irritable bowel syndrome is extremely common in developed countries. More than half of all patients attending gastroenterology out-patient clinics have IBS. A third of people in Britain have occasional symptoms of IBS, and 1 in 10 have symptoms bad enough to require medical attention. Women tend to seek medical attention for it more often than men, but the prevalence in men and women is similar. IBS commonly starts between 15 and 40 years of age, but may occur at any age.
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Unfortunately, as you know, there are several different symptoms that can be experienced with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Therefore, there are several categories of herb actions that are commonly used. Marshmallow as well as Slippery Elm are considered demulcents. Herbal astringents like Agrimony, Bilberry, Raspberry Leaf and White Oak Bark have historically been used for diarrhea. Depending on the specific condition, immune supporters and antimicrobials like Echinacea and Lapacho can be helpful. Sometimes relaxing intestinal spasms and just relaxing from stress and anxiety is needed and herbs like Chamomile, Valerian, Peppermint and Melissa (Lemon Balm) have been used just for these purposes.
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