Written By: Dr Anitha Anchan | Updated : January 13, 2016 3:38 PM IST
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a group of symptoms that arise due to a disorder in your intestines. Typically, coordinated contraction and relaxation of intestinal muscle helps in movement of digested food in the colon. But in people suffering from IBS, there is a lack of coordination, resulting in longer than normal contractions. This lack causes the food to move forcefully through the intestine, leading to symptoms like stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation and bloating and gas. Because these symptoms also tend to overlap with symptoms of other intestinal disorders, it is always better to get a check-up done to find out whether your frequent stomach upsets are IBS. Living with IBS can be tough as the symptoms may worsen over time and lead to other conditions like hemorrhoids. There are many effective tips to manage the condition.
The exact cause of IBS is not understood. But, researchers believe that some physical, as well as mental health problems, can trigger IBS. And some factors may make you more likely to have IBS [1]. Some of the risk factors are:
1. Age
Breathe a sigh of relief if you are above 40 years of age. The younger you are, the greater your chances of developing IBS. Risk of IBS lowers as you grow old, but it can affect people of all ages.
2. Gender
IBS has been increasingly associated with females [2]. Also, women with IBS may experience worsened symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating or diarrhea during their menses [3]. This may be due to increased prostaglandin levels.
3. Genetics
Do your family members have intestinal problems? If yes, then you are at an increased risk of developing IBS. It has been observed that people whose family members suffer from intestinal problems often show the symptoms of IBS. This could be due to genetics or may be related to common environmental factors.
4. Stress and psychiatric disorders
Stress generally refers to a state of mind or mental tension. Our body releases certain hormones to combat stress. But when the levels of these hormones are increased, several organs and systems of the body may get affected. Increased stress level usually affects the immune system, musculoskeletal system, circulatory system and also the digestive system. Studies have now found a link between people with stress and development of IBS [4]. However, the establishment of the connection is yet unclear. Nonetheless, some people with IBS find relief from its symptoms with mental therapies to reduce stress. Studies have also associated IBS with psychiatric disorders including generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia [5].
5. Stomach infection
According to recent studies, IBS could have a connection with changes in the gut microbial population. So, it s possible that a recent a stomach infection that disrupted the balance between healthy and unhealthy microbes in your intestine can increase your risk of developing IBS.
6. Alcohol
Consuming alcohol is considered a possible risk factor for irritable bowel syndrome [6]. Observational studies have found that most patients with IBS were regular alcohol consumers. One of the studies has shown that women who consumed alcohol for one week or more had increased chances of suffering from IBS compared to those who were drinking alcohol in moderate amounts.
7. Fibromyalgia
Chronic pain and extreme fatigue are the two main characteristic features of fibromyalgia. A person with fibromyalgia experiences long-term pain in joints, muscles and tendons, which is usually not associated with any other cause. According to studies you are 1.5 times more likely to get IBS if you suffer from the condition [7].
References:
1. Nam SY, Kim BC, Ryu KH, Park BJ. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Healthy Screenee Undergoing Colonoscopy and Laboratory Tests. Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility. 2010;16(1):47-51. doi:10.5056/jnm.2010.16.1.47.
2. Lovell RM, Ford AC. Effect of gender on prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in the community: systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2012 Jul;107(7):991-1000. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2012.131. Epub 2012 May 22. Review. PubMed PMID: 22613905.
3. Bharadwaj S, Barber MD, Graff LA, Shen B. Symptomatology of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease during the menstrual cycle. Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf). 2015 Aug;3(3):185-93. doi: 10.1093/gastro/gov010. Epub 2015 Mar 18. Review. PubMed PMID: 25788484; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4527267.
4. Fukudo S. Stress and visceral pain: focusing on irritable bowel syndrome. Pain. 2013 Dec;154 Suppl 1:S63-70. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2013.09.008. Epub 2013 Sep 8. Review. PubMed PMID: 24021863.
5. Fadgyas-Stanculete M, Buga AM, Popa-Wagner A, Dumitrascu DL. The relationship between irritable bowel syndrome and psychiatric disorders: from molecular changes to clinical manifestations. J Mol Psychiatry. 2014 Jun 27;2(1):4. doi: 10.1186/2049-9256-2-4. eCollection 2014. Review. PubMed PMID: 25408914; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4223878.
6. Hsu T-Y, He G-Y, Wang Y-C, et al. Alcohol Use Disorder Increases the Risk of Irritable Bowel Disease: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study. Sar. V, ed. Medicine. 2015;94(51):e2334. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000002334.
7. Yang T-Y, Chen C-S, Lin C-L, Lin W-M, Kuo C-N, Kao C-H. Risk for Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Fibromyalgia Patients: A National Database Study. Zapata. E, ed. Medicine. 2015;94(10):e616. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000000616.
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