Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

The exact cause of IBS is not known yet but the possible causes of IBS can include either an overly sensitive colon or an impaired immune system. The post infectious IBS is also known to be caused due to any kind of previously occurred bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract. Due to the varied possible reasons of IBS it may take difficulty in getting the right treatment or preventing it in the first place itself.

Overgrowth of bacteria: In certain cases, there can be possibility that due to another medical condition such as bacterial overgrowth or gastroenteritis can also trigger the occurrence of IBS. Bacteria are said to be present in the normal gut or the intestines mostly in the lower portion of the intestine. Any kind of disturbance in the bacteria is said to populate the intestines thereby playing a role in few of the individuals suffering from IBS. This can mostly happen due to use of antibiotics or any other medications, which can tend to disturb the flora of the gut.

Sensitive towards pain: Those individuals who are very much sensitive towards pain such as the gut pain are very much likely to also develop IBS.

The signal issues between brain and the gut: The signal abnormalities between brain and gut can cause an interference with the normal routine functioning of the gut which in turn can lead to arising of symptoms of IBS.

Infections: The presence of bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract can also lead to certain individuals developing IBS. A human gut is known to be naturally resistant to any kind of infection by the bacteria and this is due to the acid produced in the stomach which is designed in such a way so as to kill any of the potential foreign invaders. But due to the various modern diet lifestyle for example, chronic stress condition, unhealthy eating habits and use of drugs which suppress this acid has led to compromise on our gut defense mechanism. Hence there has been rise in the occurrence of gut infections which are also linked with occurrence of IBS.

Neurotransmitters: When there is any alteration in the level of certain chemicals of the body then it can also lead to disruption in the transmission of the GI hormones as well as the nerve signals thereby leading to occurrence of IBS.

Digestive issues in the individual: Infrequent movement of the food or the bile acid malabsorption along the digestive system are known to cause IBS in certain individual.

Increase in the gut sensitivity: Being oversensitive to the digestive nerve signals are also known to trigger the occurrence of IBS.

Genes of the individual: There have been research which has found out that IBS is known to be a common occurrence in those individuals who already have a family history of gastrointestinal issues.

Being sensitive towards certain food items: There are certain food items which can trigger the symptoms of IBS and they include carbohydrates, fats, coffee, and various spices. Managing the diet in case of IBS and to take out a little bit of extra time if worth the effort in healing of those symptoms. Certain foods may turn out to be a common trigger for some people and some foods can have a greater impact on you than in others hence it is helpful to maintain a food diary for understanding which are the potential food triggers.

Trouble with mental health: Certain kind of psychological conditions which can include anxiety attacks, depression, panic attacks and any kind of post-traumatic disorder are also know to increase the risk of developing IBS in such individuals. Feeling anxious, or stressed are seen as a common triggering for IBS. In one of the report it has been stated that there are more than fifty percent of the IBS patients who mentioned that stress has caused the flare up of IBS. It is not always possible to avoid or get rid of stress but it is important to deal or control the level of stress in our lives. Since it has been seen that being stressed out or getting too anxious may have a direct impact on the bowels as well as the wellbeing of the individual hence try to manage stress to keep the symptoms at bay.