Irritable Bowel Syndrome Cause

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits that is not associated with any abnormalities seen on routine clinical testing. As many as 20 percent of the adult population has symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It occurs more often in women than in men.

The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome include abdominal pain, bloating, and discomfort. However, symptoms can vary from person to person. There are also many other symptoms.

Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome:
Researchers have yet to discover any specific cause for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. One theory is that people who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome have a colon (large bowel) that is particularly sensitive and reactive to certain foods and stress. The immune system, which fights infection, may also be involved. Normal motility, or movement, may not be present in a colon of a person who has Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It can be spasmodic or can even stop working temporarily. Spasms are sudden strong muscle contractions that come and go. The lining of the colon called the epithelium, which is affected by the immune and nervous systems, regulates the flow of fluids in and out of the colon. In Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the epithelium appears to work properly. However, when the contents inside the colon move too quickly, the colon looses its ability to absorb fluids. The result is too much fluid in the stool. In other people, the movement inside the colon is too slow, which causes extra fluid to be absorbed. As a result, a person develops constipation. A person’s colon may respond strongly to stimuli such as certain foods or stress that would not bother most people. Recent research has reported that serotonin is linked with normal gastrointestinal (GI) functioning. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, or chemical, that delivers messages from one part of your body to another. Ninety-five percent of the serotonin in your body is located in the GI tract, and the other 5 percent is found in the brain. Cells that line the inside of the bowel work as transporters and carry the serotonin out of the GI tract. People with IBS, however, have diminished receptor activity, causing abnormal levels of serotonin to exist in the GI tract. As a result, people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome experience problems with bowel movement, motility, and sensation having more sensitive pain receptors in their GI tract. In addition, people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome frequently suffer from depression and anxiety, which can worsen symptoms. Similarly, the symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome can cause a person to feel depressed and anxious. Researchers have reported that Irritable Bowel Syndrome may be caused by a bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract. Studies show that people who have had gastroenteritis sometimes develop Irritable Bowel Syndrome, otherwise called post-infectious IBS. Researchers have also found very mild celiac disease in some people with symptoms similar to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. People with celiac disease cannot digest gluten, a substance found in wheat, rye, and barley. People with celiac disease cannot eat these foods without becoming very sick because their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. A blood test can determine whether celiac disease may be present. The following have been associated with a worsening of Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms:
large meals
bloating from gas in the colon
medicines
wheat, rye, barley, chocolate, milk products, or alcohol
drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, or colas
stress, conflict, or emotional upsets
Researchers have found that women with Irritable Bowel Syndrome may have more symptoms during their menstrual periods, suggesting that reproductive hormones can worsen IBS problems.