Constipation and bloated

If gas you think you have IBS, seeing your doctor is the first step. IBS is generally diagnosed on the basis of a complete medical history that includes a careful description of symptoms and a gas physical examination. In many cases, dietary fiber may lessen IBS symptoms, particularly constipation. However, it may not help pain or diarrhea. Whole grain breads and cereals, fruits, and vegetables are good sources of gas fiber. High-fiber diets keep the colon mildly distended, which may help prevent spasms. Some forms of fiber also keep water in the stool, thereby preventing hard stools that are difficult to pass. Doctors gas usually recommend a diet with enough fiber to produce soft, painless bowel movements. High-fiber diets may cause gas and bloating, but these symptoms often go away within a few weeks as your body gas adjusts. (For information about diets for people with celiac disease, please see the Celiac Disease fact sheet from NIDDK.) In people with IBS, stress and emotions can strongly affect the colon. It has gas many nerves that connect it to the brain. Like the heart and the lungs, the colon is partly controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which has been proven to respond to stress. For gas example, when you are frightened, your heart beats faster, your blood pressure may go up, or you may gasp. The colon responds to stress also. It may contract too much or too little. gas It may absorb too much water or too little. Is IBS linked to other diseases? It is also important to note that medications affect people differently and that no one medication or combination gas of medications will work for everyone with IBS. You need to work with your doctor to find the best combination of medicine, diet, counseling, and support to control your symptoms. It is relieved gas by having a bowel movement. large meals Medications are an important part of relieving symptoms. Your doctor may suggest fiber supplements or occasional laxatives for constipation, as well as medicines to decrease diarrhea, gas tranquilizers to calm you, or drugs that control colon muscle spasms to reduce abdominal pain. Antidepressants may also relieve some symptoms. Medications available to treat IBS specifically are the following: medicines Most people gas can control their symptoms by taking medicines (laxatives, antidiarrhea medicines, tranquilizers, or antidepressants) , reducing stress, and changing their diet. No cure has been found for IBS, but many options are available to gas treat the symptoms. Your doctor will give you the best treatments available for your particular symptoms and encourage you to manage stress and make changes to your diet. No particular test is specific gas for IBS. However, diagnostic tests may be performed to rule out other diseases. These tests may include stool or blood tests, x rays, or endoscopy (viewing the colon through a flexible tube inserted gas through the anus) . If these tests are all negative, the doctor may diagnose IBS based on your symptoms: that is, how often you have had abdominal pain or discomfort during the past gas year, when the pain starts and stops in relation to bowel function, and how your bowel frequency and stool consistency are altered. People with IBS have colons that are more sensitive and react gas to things that might not bother other people, such as stress, large meals, gas, medicines, certain foods, caffeine, or alcohol. Points to Remember regular exercise such as walking or yoga Research has shown gas that very mild or hidden (occult) celiac disease is present in a smaller group of people with symptoms that mimic IBS. People with celiac disease cannot digest gluten, which is present in wheat, gas rye, barley, and possibly oats. Foods containing gluten are toxic to these people, and their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. A blood test can determine whether celiac disease is present. gas (For information about celiac disease, see the Celiac Disease fact sheet from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)