What are the causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Written by Post on January 3rd, 2010 in Self Improvement.
The cause of IBS is still unknown. Some experts think IBS is a Motility Disorder. A hyperactive or oversensitive gut is another possible cause of IBS. and the gut will react to changes influenced by food, hormones and stress.
With the typical chaotic bowel habit of IBS, it is not surprising that it is thought of as a motility disorder. There is an abnormality in the transit time of ingested food.
In diarrhoea the transit time is faster and in constipation it is slower. IBS is generally divided into two groups, diarrhoea predominant and constipation predominant. In some cases constipation and diarrhoea alternate. In IBS stools can vary from hard pellets to watery and unformed.
Some say there is a link between diet and IBS.
IBS symptoms can be triggered by certain foods. Just eating food stimulates intestinal muscle activity. This is a normal action and the most common is the Gastro colic reflex. This reflex is strongest after breakfast. Gastro-Colic reflex in IBS is strongest after fatty or large meals. This results in abdominal pains and or diarrhoea.
Food is not a cause of IBS but can trigger symptoms.
One suggestion is that the fault that results in IBS resides in the Nervous System. The gut has a complex network of brain cells called the Enteric Nervous System. This “Brain of the Gut” is connected to the Brain. To understand IBS, experts think you need to understand how the Enteric Nervous System works.
The highest level of serotonin, a neuro-chemical is found in the gut. Significant research is currently done on the chemical and its role in IBS.
Serotonin affects the nerves in the intestine and controls contractions of the smooth muscles of the gut. Low levels of serotonin lead to constipation and higher than normal levels cause diarrhoea.
Psychological factors such as anxiety, stress and depression can affect the gut. Trauma suc h as physical, sexual and emotional abuse can affect the gut. In IBS, records show a higher incidence of such trauma. Addressing these issues may produce better long term results.
Gastroenteritis as a cause of IBS: Between 20-30% of patients who develop severe gastroenteritis will go on to develop IBS. The common infective organisms are Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella shigella, and Escherichia coli. Gastroenteritis results in inflammation of the gut lining resulting in an overproduction of serotonin. In the thirty percent that develops IBS, the serotonin imbalance continues.
In women with IBS, the hormones progesterone and estrogen vary during the menstrual cycle and the symptoms may fluctuate. These hormones can affect the colon and the passage of residue along the gut. In some women IBS is worse at certain stage of their cycle.
Yeast according to Prof. Jonathan Bostoff of The Meddlesex Hospital could be a possible cause of IBS. An overgrowth of Candida occurs when there is reduced levels of good bacteria, Lactobacilli and Bifidobactreia.
