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IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME CAUSES |
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Researchers remain unsure about the
cause or causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It is called a functional disorder because
it is thought to result from changes in the activity of the major
part of the large intestine (the colon). After food is digested by
the stomach and small intestine, the undigested material passes in
liquid form into the colon, which absorbs water and salts. This
process may take several days. In a healthy person the colon is
quiet during most of that period except after meals, when its
muscles contract in a series of wavelike movements called
peristalsis. Peristalsis helps absorption by bringing the undigested
material into contact with the colon wall. It also pushes undigested
material that has been converted into solid or semisolid feces
toward the rectum, where it remains until defecation. In Irritable Bowel Syndrome,
however, the normal rhythm and intensity of peristalsis is disrupted.
Sometimes there is too little peristalsis, which can slow the
passage of undigested material through the colon and cause
constipation. Sometimes there is too much, which has the opposite
effect and causes diarrhea. A Johns Hopkins University study found
that healthy volunteers experienced 6–8 contractions of the colon
each day, compared with up to 25 contractions a day for volunteers
suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome with diarrhea, and an almost complete absence of
contractions among constipated Irritable Bowel Syndrome volunteers. In addition to
differences in the number of contractions, many of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome
volunteers experienced powerful spasmodic contractions affecting a
larger-than-normal area of the colon--"like having a Charlie horse
in the gut," according to one of the investigators. Diet Some kinds of food and drink appear to play a key role in triggering Irritable Bowel Syndrome attacks. Food and drink that healthy people can ingest without any trouble may disrupt peristalsis in Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients, which probably explains why Irritable Bowel Syndrome attacks often occur shortly after meals. Chocolate, milk products, caffeine (in coffee, tea, colas, and other drinks), and large quantities of alcohol are some of the chief culprits. Other kinds of food have also been identified as problems, however, and the pattern of what can and cannot be tolerated is different for each person. Characteristically, Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms rarely occur at night and disrupt the patient's sleep. Stress Stress is an important factor in Irritable Bowel Syndrome because of the close nervous system connections between the brain and the intestines. Although researchers do not yet understand all of the links between changes in the nervous system and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, they point out the similarities between mild digestive upsets and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Just as healthy people can feel nauseated or have an upset stomach when under stress, people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome react the same way, but to a greater degree. Finally, Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms sometimes intensify during menstruation, which suggests that female reproductive hormones are another trigger. |
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| IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME RELATED ITEMS | ||
