Irritable bowel syndrome is a terrible affliction that many people in the world suffer from. It seems to be marginally more common in women than in men, but not so much that it could be classed as a mainly female condition. Whether male or female, those who suffer from it are always on the lookout for IBS treatment.
There is no specific IBS Treatment available, mainly because it is a syndrome and not an illness. Generally, lifestyle changes are sufficient to reduce the symptoms of IBS to a manageable level, or even make them go completely. This is why most of those who present with IBS symptoms will be asked to keep a diary that measures the following things over a set period of time (generally a few weeks):
Everything they eat, including the amount and what it was
Everything they drink, including the amount and what the drink was
Urination patterns
Bowel movement patterns, including frequency and consistency
Stress levels during the day
It is though that IBS is brought on mainly by stress and poor diet hence IBS treatment generally targets these. Usually, increasing the amount of fibre in a person’s diet will relieve a large part of the symptoms of IBS and decreasing stress levels will also make IBS a whole lot better. Hence, many people turn to hypnotherapy to help with the occurrence of IBS, as this teaches them to relax their minds and bodies.
Other IBS treatment includes more immediate medication particularly if there is severe constipation (when laxatives are used) or severe diarrhoea (where it is important to ensure the patient remains hydrated). These treatments, however, are only put in place to relieve the immediate symptoms and not to provide a permanent solution. This is also due to the fact that taking laxatives for constipation can bring on a bout of diarrhoea, and vice versa, thereby actually making the symptoms of IBS worse and not better.