What causes irritable bowel syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome is mostly prevalent in the Western society, but notwithstanding the fact that there are many theories about its occurrence and development clear causes have not yet been established. There is a lot of speculation about them but, generally speaking, it turns out that irritable bowel syndrome is a conglomeration of disorders with similar symptoms but various root causes. Let’s consider these disorders in succession.Food allergies and sensitivities.
According to recent studies, irritable bowel syndrome symptoms are sometimes caused by immune response to foods. Exclusion of those foods to which the immune system is responding results in reduction or elimination of irritable bowel symptoms.
Stress.
It is scientifically proved that stress may definitely trigger symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome. There are different ways that stress may interact with irritable bowel syndrome. The colon has a vast supply of nerves that connect it to the brain which control the normal rhythmic contractions of the colon and cause abdominal discomfort at stressful times. Also, some physician say that irritable bowel syndrome is affected by the immune system which fights infection in the body. Consequently, stress also affects the immune system. Moreover, socially stressful situations may make the mind more tuned to the sensations that arise in the colon and make the stressed person perceive these sensations as unpleasant.
Visceral hyperalgesia.
Increased sensitivity to noxious stimuli in the gut or visceral hyperalgesia makes patients perceive pain from distention of a rectal balloon at smaller volumes than normal people do. Though, somatic sensitivity testing shows that people with irritable bowel syndrome have greater pain tolerance than normal people.
Post-infectious or post-antibiotic disorders.
In course of investigations onset of irritable bowel syndrome after episodes of enteritis or antibiotics have been evidenced. In these cases, a prolonged immune reaction may be the cause.
Irritable bowel syndrome and hormones.
Actually it’s difficult to say that the role of hormones in occurrence and development of irritable bowel syndrome is fully understood. Studies showed that menstruation frequently triggers or exacerbates irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. In fact, pregnancy and menopause can either worsen or improve symptoms. Obviously, hormone replacement therapy is associated with an increased risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome.
Parasites.
The part of the immune system, which parasites stimulate does not strengthen the organism to resist serious infection and contributes to allergic reactions. Thus, parasitic infection increases allergic tendencies. There are two general categories of parasites: 1) protozoa - one-celled organisms like the amoeba; 2) intestinal worms attaching themselves to the lining of the small intestine and causing internal bleeding and loss of nutrients. Such parasited destroy vitamings and produce toxins.
Bacterial overgrowth.
Studies showed that the majority of IBS patients had bacterial overgrowth. As a matter of fact, antibiotic treatments lead to substantial reduction in IBS symptoms.