Irritable
Bowel Syndrome
Unlike other bowel disorders, Irritable
Bowel Syndrome (IBS) cannot be diagnosed by checking for physical abnormalities
in the abdomen. It is therefore often diagnosed by the symptoms it produces,
such as:
-
Abdominal cramping
-
Diarrhea and/or constipation
-
Frequent urges to go to the bathroom
-
Feeling of incomplete evacuation after
a bowel movement
Symptoms range from very mild to very
severe and a person with IBS can have one, some or all of these symptoms.
Many people living with IBS symptoms do not
seek help. Fortunately, IBS does not involve any permanent damage and the
problem lies mainly with the discomfort and inconvenience of the symptoms. IBS
can persist for years with symptoms that tend to appear in early adulthood, but
it can occur at any age. Patients can experience symptom-free periods or have
continuous symptoms.
It is unclear how many people are affected
with IBS. The incidence has been
estimated anywhere between 5% and 65% of the general population. Women experience
IBS far more than men.
Causes of IBS
IBS is poorly understood and its causes are
still unknown. There are however, different theories to explain why people
develop IBS:
-
Diet - IBS may be the result of an
inadequate intake of fiber. As well, foods such as chocolate, dairy products,
caffeine and alcohol may each trigger the symptoms of IBS, although there is no
one food that triggers IBS in all patients.
-
Psychology and Stress - Many believe
there is a strong psychological link in the presentation of IBS. Stress,
anxiety and conflict are known to aggravate the syndrome and some studies have
found that IBS patients are generally more sensitive to pain in the abdomen
than people without IBS.
-
Bacteria - A type of bacteria normally
found in the colon, but seen in the small intestine of IBS patients, may help
to explain the cause of IBS. However, much more research is needed to determine
if this is a true cause.
-
Hormones - Some women with IBS may
experience more symptoms during their periods. It is therefore possible that
reproductive hormones play a role in IBS.
What is the treatment
approach at your clinic?
In my
experience, most IBS sufferers are under a tremendous amount of emotional
stress (or are very sensitive to any stressful event) and display the signs of
autonomic dysrhythmia (imbalance of the autonomic nervous system).
Superficial acupuncture needling
synchronized with certain breathing phases and posture during treatment is
helpful in balancing autonomic nervous system function. Read more...
Further Information about Acupuncture and IBS
New Patient Information
If you would like to receive an acupuncture treatment at The Pacific Wellness Institute, please follow the steps below.
Please call us at 416-929-6958 for any questions.
|
General Questionnaire