If You Have Abdominal Pain At Least Once A Week, Beware!

Although IBS, also known as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is quite common in the society, unfortunately, patients can lose time for treatment because it is not recognized enough. Gastroenterology Specialist said that IBS is a functional disease that seriously affects a person's quality of life, causes loss of work force and can even cause psychological problems if not treated.

Although IBS, which is more common in the society, especially in the young population between the ages of 18-30, is not associated with more serious intestinal problems such as inflammatory bowel disease or bowel cancer, it is an important problem that seriously affects the quality of life of the person due to the stress and psychological problems it creates. Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Gastroenterology Specialist also reminded that if the disease is not treated, it can cause serious workforce losses due to both physiological problems and psychological effects.

Women Get More Affected

Gastroenterology Specialist: “It is known that genetic and environmental factors, stress, infection, microbiota, anxiety, depression play a role in the emergence of IBS. However, it is observed that the disease affects women more. However, it has not been determined exactly what the factor is here," he said.

Symptoms Differ from Person to Person

Reminding that IBS can be confused with diseases manifested by early satiety, pain in the upper middle part of the abdomen, defined as functional bloating or dyspepsia, gave the following information about the distinctive symptoms of the disease: “In IBS, with abdominal pain; Constipation in the predominant form of constipation, diarrhea in the predominant form of diarrhea or mixed type IBS with constipation-diarrhea attacks can be seen.

Stating that the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome may vary from person to person, Gastroenterology Specialist, “It creates a picture of different severity in each patient. The most common symptoms are; Abdominal pain, cramping or bloating, excessive gas, diarrhea or constipation that typically disappears completely or partially after defecation: Some patients have alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation, mucus in the stool. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome occasionally experience attacks in which symptoms and complaints are worse, and periods of rest when they completely disappear.”

Complaints Must Have Existed for the Last 3 Months

"If these complaints occur in the last 6 months and continue for the last 3 months, IBS should be considered," said Gastroenterology Specialist gave the following information about the diagnosis:

“One of the most distinctive features of IBS is that the complaints are not seen at night, but show themselves during the day. Therefore, taking the patient's history is extremely important. The diagnosis is made after it is determined that there are no other diseases (tumor, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.) with the same complaints in the large intestine. Because, patients often apply to the doctor for fear of cancer. First of all, a detailed history should be taken and a physical examination should be done. In order to prevent confusion with cancer or another serious condition, blood tests, occult blood in the stool, flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy may require full visualization of the intestine and imaging methods. Although IBS is known as a large bowel disease, it affects the entire gastrointestinal tract. In order not to be confused with other diseases, the examinations should be done meticulously.”

Patient Compliance is a Must in Treatment!

Gastroenterology Specialist said, “Treatment is organized for the patient's complaints, treated with antispasmodic, laxative and antibiotics. After being treated, the complaints may recur.

Underlining that in the treatment of IBS, the patient should be told exactly what the problem is, Gastroenterology Specialist stated that otherwise the patient could not adapt to the treatment and continued her searches due to persistent complaints. Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Gastroenterology Specialist gave the following information: “First of all, some lifestyle changes are needed, the first of which is exercise. Exercise should become part of the daily routine. We recommend that these patients walk for at least 45 minutes a day. Over time, it will be seen that it makes a difference in eliminating complaints. Of course, it is also important to eat healthy. You should stay away from fast food, eat a healthy, adequate, balanced diet, not eat fast food, avoid eating late at night, and avoid smoking and alcohol.

Ibs Cases Rise with The Pandemic

Gastroenterology Specialist also stated that Irritable Bowel Syndrome started to be seen more frequently during the pandemic period due to the possible effects of Covid-19 infection on the microbiota in the gut. However, it is thought that all kinds of stress caused by the pandemic disrupt the functions of the intestines.