Frequent Abdominal Pain, Beware of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Many people have abdominal pain after eating or drinking, and they need to find the bathroom to solve the problem immediately. Squatting for a while, it feels like nothing is going on. However, after a period of time, such abdominal pain or diarrhea will appear again. This kind of abdominal pain related to bowel movements or changes in bowel habits may be irritable bowel syndrome. Recently, 'Nature Reviews' with 'Nature' published a report reviewing a research on the cause of irritable bowel. Let's interpret the main points now.


Irritable bowel syndrome, referred to as IBS. In the past 30 years, experts from the Rome Foundation, an authority on digestive system diseases, have finally formulated and improved the diagnostic criteria for IBS after repeated consultations, and defined IBS as a disease of intestinal-brain interaction disorder, which is related to defecation or intestinal tract. Abdominal pain related to habit change.

There are 2 specific diagnosis points for irritable bowel syndrome :


The first is that the course of disease is more than 6 months, and the abdominal pain has been repeated in the past 3 months, and abdominal pain occurs at least 1 day a week, accompanied by 2 or more abnormalities, including abdominal pain and bowel movements, or changes in the frequency of bowel movements, or changes in stool characteristics.


The second is that the symptoms appear for at least 6 months, and the symptoms in the past 3 months meet the diagnostic criteria. The results of a 2012 study involving 81 countries showed that the prevalence of IBS on the globe was about 11%, that is to say, 1 in 10 people is troubled by IBS, but this prevalence exists in regions difference. Our relevant research here also pointed out that the incidence of IBS between different cities is between 1% and 11%.


From a global perspective, incidence of IBS is slightly higher in women than in men; the prevalence decreases slightly with age, and the incidence is relatively low among people over 50. The pathophysiology of IBS is quite complex and involves multiple factors. The current mainstream view is that IBS is a genetically susceptible individual, which develops under the induction of trigger factors. That is to say, IBS is caused by genetic factors and life factors. Among them, the gut-brain axis, which is the two-way system between the central nerve and the enteric nerve, is the key to understanding IBS. Diet or intestinal diseases bring intestinal changes and feedback to the brain, while the central nervous system changes visceral sensitivity or motility, causing gastrointestinal symptoms. Intestinal flora imbalance plays a mediating role in this process.

Summarizing the relevant conclusions of the IBS research, it is currently believed that there are five types of factors that are risk factors for the occurrence of IBS.


The first is the Gene. A number of studies have found the phenomenon of family aggregation of IBS, suggesting the existence of potential genetic characteristics. However, there are also different opinions that the phenomenon of family gathering is caused by similar life exposures of family members. For example, the whole family eats the same food, or family members face similar stress effects, especially for minors, these factors will affect the structure of the intestinal flora.


The second type of risk factor for irritable bowel is Diet. A large-scale study has concluded that a Western-style diet with high sugar content and rich in fat is associated with the onset of IBS.


Reducing fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, polyols, etc., can relieve IBS symptoms. Gluten intolerance has a certain role in the pathogenesis of IBS. In addition, glutamine deficiency and lactose malabsorption are also considered to be dietary factors in the pathogenesis of IBS.


The third type of factor is Gut Microbes, especially methane-producing microbes and clostridia, which are positively correlated with the severity of IBS symptoms. Decline in gut microbial diversity is also correlated with the onset of IBS.


The fourth category factor is Infection.


The fifth category factor is Mental Illness, Stress, Anxiety, Depression, etc. are all related to the onset and worsening of IBS.


Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disease and is related to many factors. Therefore, there is no universal ideal treatment plan. In order to reduce the onset of IBS, you can try to relieve mental stress.


In terms of diet, if you have diarrhea-type irritable bowel, you need to avoid the stimulation of sensitive foods, such as cold foods or spicy foods, and reduce the intake of gas-producing foods. For example, dairy products, soybeans, lentils, etc.


If it is constipated irritable bowel, you can eat more fiber-rich foods to stimulate colon movement. For IBS-related symptoms, you can try to use drugs to deal with it, but you need to be reminded that antibiotics cannot be used casually.