Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Treatment in Houston, TX
While occasional bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation are fairly common among Americans today, if you are experiencing these symptoms frequently, the problem may be more than just mild tummy troubles. You may have a condition known as irritable bowel syndrome, and it may be time to seek professional medical treatment at Modern Functional Medicine Center.
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic intestinal disorder that commonly results in symptoms including gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. A fairly common condition, irritable bowel syndrome is estimated to affect nearly 60 million Americans every year. The condition affects more women than men.
What are the Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Inability to empty bowels (or feels incomplete)
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Passing excessive amounts of gas
- Urgent need to defecate
- Abdominal cramping or discomfort
- Anxiety
- Depression
What Causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Doctors do not know exactly what causes irritable bowel syndrome though they have identified several factors which may play a role in exacerbating symptoms.
Common risk factors for irritable bowel syndrome include:
- Dysbiosis (unbalanced gut bacteria)
- SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)
- Food sensitivities
- EIP (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Syndrome)
What Treatments are Available for Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Since individual symptoms vary widely among individuals who have irritable bowel syndrome, it only makes sense that treatment options would vary just as much. Our team of experts might recommend making certain dietary and lifestyle changes to see if they help.
If you wish to start with dietary and lifestyle changes first, you can begin by exercising, reducing your stress level and eliminating common problem foods from your diet, such as broccoli, raw fruit, gluten, chocolate, fat, beans, milk, alcohol and carbonated beverages. Once your body has had time to detox, you can slowly add these foods back in to your diet one by one to see if the symptoms reappear.