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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
 Irritable bowel syndrome, also commonly referred to as simply (IBS) or spastic colon, is a functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits which are not associated with any abnormalities seen on routine clinical testing. It is fairly common and makes up 20–50% of visits to gastroenterologists. Lower abdominal pain, and bloating associated with alteration of bowel habits and abdominal discomfort relieved with defecation are the most frequent symptoms. The abdominal pain type is usually described in a patient as either diarrhea or constipation. In some individuals, IBS may have an acute onset and develop after an infectious illness characterised by two or more of the following: fever, vomiting, acute diarrhea.
Symptoms
The range of symptoms relating to IBS is relatively broad, but the main symptom is usually abdominal pain or discomfort associated with changes in bowel habits in the absence of any apparent structural abnormality. The pain is commonly relieved by defecating or modulated by other triggers of gut motility. There is generally no pain when patients are asleep. Symptoms usually start in young adulthood.
Diagnosis
Physicians rely on a variety of procedures and laboratory tests to confirm a diagnosis. The cardinal requirement for the diagnosis of IBS is abdominal pain. Other criterias are used to diagnose IBS after a careful examination of the patient's medical history and physical abdominal examination which looks for any red flag symptoms. More recently, the Rome III criteria, incorporating some changes over the previous set of criteria, have been issued. The Rome II and III efforts have integrated pediatric contents to their set of criteria.
Symptoms of IBS:
A) Fewer than three bowel movements a week
B) More than three bowel movements a day
C) Hard or lumpy stools
D) Loose (mushy) or watery stools
E) Straining during a bowel movement
F) Urgency (having to rush to have a bowel movement)
G) Feeling of incomplete bowel movement
H) Passing mucus (white material) during a bowel movement
I) Abdominal fullness, bloating, or swelling
Diagnostic Tests
Researchers have demonstrated abnormal sensitivity in IBS patients to intestinal and esophageal distention with balloons. However, this approach has not yet become available as a diagnostic test since the diagnostic accuracy is low and clinical utility is not yet high enough. The diagnosis of IBS is made by exclusion as there are no serological (blood) markers. A history of major life stress, anxiety, depression, abuse, or preceding infection may be suggestive, yet not diagnostic. Organs outside the gastrointestinal system may be sources of referred symptoms, and abnormalities should be ruled out. Red flags arguing against an IBS diagnosis include bleeding, weight loss, difficulty swallowing, nocturnal symptoms, incontinence, or onset of symptoms over the age of 50. Screening for ruling out colorectal cancer is still applicable.
Bacterial Overgrowth
The intestine is colonised with bacteria (also termed the gut flora). Two studies from the same research group found that 78% to 84% of patients with IBS had bacterial overgrowth. In patients with evidence of bacterial overgrowth, those treated with neomycin had a = 35% reduction in clinical response (ie, improvement) compared with an 11% reduction in patients on placebo. Subsequent studies have also identified significant bacterial overgrowth and demonstrated substantial reduction in symptoms following treatments, especially with antibiotics specific to the strains that are in excess. See section below on treatment with rifaximin.
Stress
Stress—feeling mentally or emotionally tense, troubled, angry, or overwhelmed—may trigger symptoms in people with IBS. One study found that women with IBS are more likely to report prior physical or sexual abuse; almost half of the patients reported prior abuse.
There are various ways that stress may interact with IBS. First, the colon has a vast supply of nerves, called the enteric nervous system, that connect it to the brain. These nerves control the normal rhythmic contractions of the colon and cause abdominal discomfort at stressful times. People often experience cramps or butterflies when they are nervous or upset. But with IBS, the colon can be overly responsive to even slight conflict or stress. Second, some evidence suggests that IBS is affected by the immune system, which fights infection in the body. The immune system is also affected by stress. Third, the link between stress and IBS may be due to socially stressful situations making the mind more tuned to the sensations that arise in the colon and makes the stressed person perceive these sensations as unpleasant.
There appears to be an overlap of IBS with stress, chronic pelvic pain, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, the American folk medicine use of term hypoglycaemia, and various mental disorders (in a small minority). While no single explanation for this phenomenon exists, it does strengthen the view that there is a neurological and psychological component to IBS. Recent studies indicate that presynaptic neural effects secondary to the release of histamine (part of immune response) is likely related to these problems.
It should be noted that the gut has its own nervous system - the enteric nervous system which has reciprocal connections to the main brain. The discovery of this system has led to the development of the field of neurogastroenterology.
For all these reasons, stress management is an important part of treatment for IBS.
Hormones
The role of hormones in IBS is not yet fully understood. Menstruation frequently triggers or exacerbates IBS symptoms, while pregnancy and menopause can either worsen or improve symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy is associated with an increased risk of developing IBS.
As with many other medical conditions, there is a lot of speculation about causes, including in the field of alternative medicine. Increasing prevalence in developing countries suggests some possible links to diet and cultural factors.
Treatment
 Bowtrol for IBS is the leading system for supporting regular bowel functions
Bowtrol for IBS was developed to successfully target all symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Bowtrol contains only 100% natural ingredients and as such does not cause any side effects. It is by far the most powerful product on the market to effectively manage all IBS symptoms.
Bowtrol treats symptoms associated with IBS by calming and relaxing the digestive tract. The ingredients in Bowtrol have been carefully balanced to control all IBS symptoms.
Bowtrol for IBS is an all natural remedy that is clinically proven effective for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. If you are suffering from constipation, diarrhea, or both, abdominal pain, bloating, and heartburn more than once a month, you are not alone. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (also called IBS) affects about 25 to 50 million people in the US alone.
For an effective natural and herbal remedy to treat Irritable bowel syndrome in even its severe form visit the Bowtrol product web site: www.bowtrol.com
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