IBS or Iritable Bowel Syndrome:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS, as it is commonly known as, are a combination of symptoms the patient suffers from. Mainly there is change in the patient’s bowel movements. It may be diarrhoea or constipation, or some patients may suffer from both symptoms. These may be associated with repeated pain. IBS does not necessarily show any damage to the digestive system.

Diagnosis:

The gastroenterologist may has to review the patient’s symptoms to diagnose IBS. Apart from doing physical examination, the doctor may probe into the family history of the patient. The doctor may recommend certain pathological tests to confirm the diagnosis of IBS.

Treatment:

The treating gastroenterologist may recommend the patient to change certain things in his lifestyle. This includes especially what the patient eats. The doctor may also recommend certain medicines such as probiotics. He may recommend certain mental health therapies also. Doctor can try different treatments to see which one suits the patient best. The right treatment plan can cure this problem of the patient faster.

Diet, eating habits and nutrition:

These are very important factors in treating IBS. The gastroenterologist may recommend the patient a diet plan that will suit the patient best. It is the biggest help in treating IBS. The doctor may recommend more fibre in the patient’s diet. He may also remove certain ingredients from the food such as Gluten or Lactose. A specialised individual food map is designed by the doctor foe every patient of IBS may help the patient to recover fast. Food maps has to be different for different patient depending on their suitability of acceptance of food by their digestive system.

 Intestinal Gas:

The gastrointestinal tract is like a long tubular structure having two openings. It has a number of valves in different places to prevent backward movement of contents inside the tract.  But this tube is either filled with food, or air. It may also be filled with gases. Since the gastrointestinal tract is divided into different segments, the inner contents may differ from segment to segment.

The main ingredient that fills up the empty space in the G I Tract is gas. It may fill up all the segments of the GI tract and may pass out from either of the openings of the tract in the form of belching or breaking wind. But there are certain areas where the gas becomes stationary, and it becomes painful and a reason of acute discomfort.  The gas trapped inside the intestine is intestinal gas which causes maximum discomfort to the patient. The gas inside the intestine may come from swallowed air or gas produced by the bacteria inside the G I Tract by fermentation. The intestinal gas may be a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, methane, and carbon di oxide. These gases except methane may be coming from the air swallowed, where as methane is produced by fermentation of food inside the GI tract. This fermentation is generally by the probiotics found inside the colon. Maximum volume of intestinal gas is exogenous whereas a small percentage of intestinal gas is endogenous.

The bacteria inside the intestine produce several sulphur containing compounds that produces the odour in the intestinal gas. Generally the odour detected in the intestinal gas when passed out is Hydrogen Sulphide, which may be bit offensive social behaviour.

Passage of Gas in the Intestine:

The gas trapped in the intestine mostly comes out through mouth, which is known as belching. The gas coming out through anus is flatus. The swallowed air stays in the stomach for some time and is emitted out through either of the openings of GI tract at may be in regular intervals. The movement of the gas is fastest through the small intestine because of the rapid peristaltic movement in this part of GI tract. The movement of gas is slowed down once it enters the colon. Then this gas is emitted out through anus in small amounts at regular time gaps.

The amount of gas trapped in the intestine is minimum in the early morning hours. This volume grows as the patient swallows air during the day. The process of digestion, quality of ingested food, medicines, or may be certain psychological factors such as stress and anxiety can add to the amount of Intestinal gas.

This entrapped intestinal gas if not being emitted out as normal process may cause cramping and that may be painful in nature. This situation is clinically called as distention and is treated by gastroenterologists. The doctor trains the patient to minimise intake of exogenous gas by reducing swallowing or giving up certain addictions such as smoking or drinking aerated drinks. The quantum of endogenous gas can be controlled by controlling the Probacteria present inside the colon. The doctor may identify the food elements that does not agree with the patient such as gluten or lactose related food items. He may instruct the patient not to take these foods anymore to be free from intestinal gas.

The patient can get rid of intestinal gas by eating slowly, by taking care of nasal blockade, by becoming physically active, avoid disturbing food materials, by increasing fibre in the food, not to talk while eating, avoid drinking aerated beverages, avoid drinking hot beverages, etc.

Bloating:

This unexpelled gas trapped inside the GI tract cause the GI tract to inflate and cause intense discomfort including painful cramps. This condition is known as bloating. This has to be relieved by passing out the entrapped intestinal gas. The treating gastroenterologist may treat cases of bloating with medicines or by making food maps for the patients, by suggesting physical exercises, by avoiding consuming certain harmful food or drinks, by increasing fibre intakes in their daily food and by suggesting eating easily digestible healthy food. However, a gastroenterologist can manage the situation easily and help the patient to be relieved of his discomfort quiet easily.

The patient may consult Dr, Amit Bundiwal, the leading super specialist gastroenterologist practising in his ultra equipped clinic at Indore, M.P., who will be of immense help to these suffering patients.