For many years, people with IBS told dismissively their problem was all in their head. The underlying problem might be in your brain that does not means; it is in your imagination.
What are the risk factors of IBS?
Many develop IBS after an intestinal infection such as stomach flu, food poisoning, or traveler’s diarrhea. This might be due to germs themselves or antibiotics used to treat infection.
Bowel Infection: Only one IBS cause is currently accept by researchers that is IBS caused after a bowel infection. However, not all people with IBS have had bowel infection before IBS. Inflammation accompanies a bowel infection alter the way the gut works. Consuming probiotic (beneficial bacteria) either in the form of yogurt or capsule supplement during and immediately after infection is worth to prevent future development of IBS.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: Researchers have found an abnormal overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine feed on the partially undigested food and releases bacterial waste that results in excessive gas, bloating, abdominal distension & pain, and altered gut motility. Later these wastes are absorbed into the bloodstream trigger immune response with flu like symptoms. You can starve these bacteria by chew the food well to stop undigested food reaching it. A 2003 study found 84% of patients with IBS had abnormal results in breath test suggesting small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
Analgesic use: In survey studies, researchers have found acetaminophen; a common pain relieving medicine Tylenol is associated with diarrhea-predominant IBS. This drug known to cause elevated levels of serotonin. People with IBS diarrhea have elevated plasma serotonin level after eating.
Neurochemical imbalance: The neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine can influence bowel motility. An imbalance or misunderstanding between them may leads to IBS. Increased level of norepinephrine cause drop in serotonin level and inhibition of acetylcholine leads to constipation. Conversely, increased level of serotonin inhibits norepinephrine level and increase acetylcholine that leads to diarrhea. People with IBS have an imbalance or misunderstanding between neurotransmitters that leads to diarrhea-predominant IBS, constipation-predominant IBS, or alternating bowel movement of constipation and diarrhea.
Researchers believe neurotransmitter serotonin and its receptors control sensations of pain, muscle contractions, and fluid build-up in the intestines. When there is any problem with this then the result will be severe diarrhea or constipation. Although researchers admit the exact cause of IBS is unknown, they know that stress, food, medications, and hormonal changes can trigger an excessive release of serotonin. IBS patients experience an exaggerated response to serotonin, resulting in pain and diarrhea.
Mood-gut link: We all know our gut is the second brain. The first (actual brain) and the second (gut) brain are closely interlink; one influence the other. That is if you are in stress, this affects proper digestion by the gut. If you are digestion is not functioning properly, this affects your mind and make you depressed. Anxiety, sadness, depression, anger, and stress are associated with IBS. Psychological stressors such as loved once death, marital problems, financial difficulties, and physical, mental, or sexual abuse have all reported frequently in people with IBS. In one study by administrating stress hormone CRF (corticotrophin-releasing factor), this increases the descending colon motility and induce abdominal pain. The researchers found IBS patients had increased colonic motility and abdominal pain after receiving CRF.
Antibiotics abuse: Antibiotics destroys both good and bad bacteria, leaving way for fungus or yeast overgrowth. An overgrowth of yeast irritate intestinal lining causing micro-punctures in small intestine leads to leaky-gut. Additionally, absorption of yeast toxins into the bloodstream causes gas, bloating, abdominal distension & pain, and altered gut motility. Antibiotics abuse at an early age irritate bowels and set ways for abnormal bacterial and yeast overgrowth. A high sugar diet, stress, and cortisone hormone can all lead to an overgrowth of yeast in your gut.
Toxic effect of mercury: Mercury in contaminated fish, elemental mercury in dental fillings, and ethyl mercury in vaccines get into our body stays forever. Mercury is a powerful antimicrobial agent that destroys friendly bacteria in the intestine and encourage yeast overgrowth. Ethyl mercury is a neurotoxin cause brain damage and contributes to symptoms of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s. Some expert implicate mercury as the trigger for autism in children.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) & other food additives: MSG is an excitotoxin influence the brain to make you think something tastes better. MSG induces Chinese restaurant syndrome causing migraines, headaches, tingly & flushing of the face, stomach upset, nausea & vomiting, diarrhea, asthma, panic attack, heart palpitations, chest pain, confusion, allergic reactions, skin rash, and runny nose. Another food additive aspartame, an artificial sweetener produce IBS like side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, itching, and hives.
Vaccination: Many children with autism suffer from IBS. Several prominent researchers though these children have intestinal inflammation caused by the live measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR). There is a possibility of certain vaccines may trigger bowel inflammation and is being research heavily. Autism children almost all suffer from IBS symptoms and also have allergic to wheat, dairy, or other foods. Dr. Andrew Wakefield in the United Kingdom examine the intestine of these children using endoscope and found live measles virus in the lymphatic tissue of almost every child. Therefore, the measles virus from the vaccine can stay in the gut causing mild inflammation leads to food digestion and absorption problems.
Unable expelling intestinal gas: The Italian research group’s exciting finding shows the people with IBS are not able to expel intestinal gas. Gas with no way out develop bloat and bowel stretch, which leads to abdominal pain. This bowel stretch and pain may activate brain to react by causing diarrhea or constipation and feel more IBS symptoms. Thus, do not stop natural urges to pass gas.
Other causes of IBS
Ayurveda point out following reasons for the manifestation of Grahani (IBS):
- Fasting most often
- Eating when previously eaten food stays in stomach. Have food during indigestion.
- Excessive food intake
- Improper food; unwholesome, heavy, cold, polluted, dry and junk foods.
- Suppressing urges
- Stay awake at night and sleeping during day
- Grief, anger, and fear
- Suffering from chronic illness, leads to low digestion strength
- Migration, travel, and change in the season