Dr. Yishai Ron explains how to identify sensitive bowel syndrome - and how to live with it (Walla system)
Do you often suffer from gas, bloating, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea?
Probably you too, like up to 20 percent of the population, suffer from irritable bowel syndrome.
This syndrome affects the quality of life, but usually the accepted treatment for it is aimed at suppressing the symptoms, instead of finding the causes that cause it.
So here are 5 possible causes of irritable bowel syndrome, which you may not have investigated.
Irritable bowel syndrome does not have to be a lifelong illness, and understanding the cause can shorten the path to healing.
1. Imbalance of the gut microbiome (dysbiosis)
In most of the sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome, an imbalance of the intestinal bacteria is found in the stool tests.
In addition, they find a decrease in the amount of good bacteria such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, and an increase in unwanted bacteria such as E. coli and Clostridia.
It was also found that the use of prebiotics (food for intestinal bacteria) and probiotics led to an improvement in the condition of those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, which reinforces the fact that intestinal bacteria play a role in irritable bowel syndrome.
Probiotics can help.
A woman suffering from stomach pains (Photo: ShutterStock)
Another way to correct the imbalance of bacteria in the gut is the low-FODMAP diet, where you avoid foods that contain certain carbohydrates that are food for the gut bacteria.
This method can bring about a balance between the beneficial and harmful bacteria, and alleviate the symptoms.
2. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
is a condition in which there is an increased amount of bacteria in the small intestine.
Compared to the large intestine, the small intestine has a much lower amount of bacteria.
An increased amount of bacteria in the small intestine can interfere with digestion and the absorption of nutrients.
SIBO may be present in up to 80 percent of those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, but the percentages vary between the various studies, and the explanation for the lack of uniformity in the findings is the uneven diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, as well as the lack of uniformity in the diagnosis of SIBO.
Antibiotics used to treat SIBO, such as rifaximin (Loramix), can relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, which supports that SIBO may be the cause of some cases of irritable bowel syndrome.
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3. Hyperpermeability of the intestine (leaky gut)
The intestine is lined with a single layer of cells designed to prevent bacteria and unwanted things from entering the bloodstream.
If the barrier between the cells becomes permeable, undigested proteins and toxic substances can penetrate through the intestinal barrier, trigger an immune system response, and lead to an inflammatory process.
Leaky gut that accompanies the activation of the immune system is found in 15-20 percent of those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.
There are a number of herbal preparations that can help restore the intestinal barrier (such as marshmallow, chamomile, quercetin) but it is recommended to consult the attending physician before taking them.
The addition of probiotics can also help restore the intestinal barrier.
Can help, but you must consult a doctor.
Quercetin (Photo: ShutterStock)
4. Intestinal infections
Intestinal infections are a lesser known cause of irritable bowel syndrome.
Many studies have found a connection between a single episode of bacterial infection of the digestive system and the subsequent development of irritable bowel syndrome.
A link was also found between intestinal parasites and irritable bowel syndrome, but it has not been proven that they are the cause of irritable bowel syndrome.
Modern life, which includes a combination of the western diet and high levels of stress contribute to a decrease in the intestine's ability to deal with infections.
In addition, the use of antacids (such as omeprazole) causes an increase in stomach acidity and so that harmful bacteria are not destroyed in the stomach and can reach the intestine.
5. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity and other food sensitivities
In the past, the concept of non-celiac gluten sensitivity was scoffed at, but today it is recognized that it does exist.
Many of the symptoms of non-celiac gluten sensitivity such as gas, bloating, abdominal pain, and stool changes are the same symptoms as irritable bowel syndrome.
Other symptoms that are typical of non-celiac gluten sensitivity are brain fog and fatigue that appear after eating gluten.
In irritable bowel syndrome sufferers also see intolerance to other foods such as: dairy products, eggs, peanuts, seafood, yeast, and soy.
The cheapest way to decide if there is a food sensitivity is the elimination diet - you avoid the suspect food for a predetermined period and then return the suspect food and check if it causes the symptoms to recur.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a common problem that greatly affects the quality of life of those who suffer from it.
Most of the conventional drugs used for treatment suppress symptoms, do not solve the root of the problem, and involve unpleasant side effects.
Finding the cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not always easy, but when you go deep, investigate the root of the problem, and treat it, you can achieve long-term results and a significant improvement in the quality of life.
Dr. Dalit Dariman Medina is an expert in family medicine and integrative and functional medicine
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Irritable bowel syndrome
Abdominal pain
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