This article offers some ideas on how to manage IBS symptoms. Along with your healthcare provider's suggestions, these tips may help you to find some relief from the everyday pains of IBS. There are two soothing options here: a heating pad or a hot water bottle.
Each of them offers a different advantage. A heating pad provides heat that is a little stronger than that of a hot water bottle. However, a hot water bottle is safe to use while you sleep. Either option is simple. Just place the pad or bottle on the part of your tummy that feels the worst. In both cases, be sure to protect your skin with a layer or two of clothing to prevent burns. There are psychological benefits to the warmth. Better still, research suggests that external heat can provide pain relief.
Like your warm heating pad, a cup of herbal tea provides some much-needed soothing. However, herbal teas bring something else to the table. Several types of herbal tea have long been used to ease digestive symptoms.
For instance, peppermint tea is a great option for pain because it soothes the digestive tract. In a similar way, anise and fennel teas may help ease constipation.
Some people report that the use of probiotics has helped them with IBS. These "friendly" microorganism strains work to balance the bacteria within the gut. The strain with the most research support to date is Bifidobacterium infantis.
This is primarily due to a lack of high-quality research on the subject. It also reflects the difficulty in determining the specific effects of different probiotic strains. If you think probiotics might be right for you, be sure to discuss the pros and cons with your healthcare provider. Fermented foods are prepared so that they contain various strains of gut-friendly probiotics.
These are not as exotic as they sound, either. Yogurt and sauerkraut fresh, not canned are two popular examples. Sometimes you can eat something and be perfectly fine.
Yet on another day, that same food has you doubled over in pain. It can be a mystery as to why. A food diary is one way to help take some of the uncertainty out of your symptoms. It can track what you're eating, how you're feeling, and any other circumstances that may have influenced your IBS symptoms. This record may help you to identify any patterns you are not aware of. All you have to do is to keep a written account of what foods you are eating along with other factors, such as sleep, stress, or your period.
It doesn't have to be extensive—just quick notes on what may contribute to IBS distress will do. You are not crazy if you think that the foods you eat contribute to the problem. There are two main ways to identify your IBS trigger foods:. There are also certain foods that can lead to, or ease, specific IBS symptoms. It can do wonders for your everyday health and well-being to learn which foods contribute to—or relieve—gas, constipation, and diarrhea.
Many people with IBS are unnecessarily afraid of fiber. They fear that it will make their symptoms worse. Dietary fiber, which can be found in fruits, vegetables, and grains, is actually essential to keep your digestive system working at its best. The ACG recommends increasing your intake of soluble but not insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves easily in water, while insoluble fiber does not.
Common sources of soluble fiber include oats, peas, apples, beans, and citrus fruits. For people with sensitive digestive systems, like those with IBS, it is important to increase fiber intake very slowly so that your colon has time to adjust. When it comes to fiber, there are two more things to keep in mind. IBS will probably recur throughout your life, but it won't get worse.
It doesn't cause cancer or require surgery, and it won't shorten your life. IBS may have caused you to avoid doing certain things, like going out or going to work or school. It may take some time, but you may find new freedom by following a plan that includes a healthy diet, learning new ways to cope with stress, and avoiding foods that make your symptoms worse. Already a member or subscriber? Log in. Interested in AAFP membership?
Learn more. This handout is provided to you by your family doctor and the American Academy of Family Physicians. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference.
This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.
Contact afpserv aafp. Want to use this article elsewhere? Get Permissions. Read the Issue. Sign Up Now. Previous: Constipation. Next: Side Effects of Hormonal Contraceptives. Dec 15, Issue. Am Fam Physician. What is irritable bowel syndrome? What are the symptoms of IBS? Bloating and gas Mucus in the stool Constipation Diarrhea, especially after eating or first thing in the morning Feeling a strong urge to have a bowel movement Feeling like you still need to have a bowel movement after you've already had one Stomach pain and cramping that may go away after having a bowel movement The symptoms may get worse when you're under stress, such as when you travel, attend social events, or change your daily routine.
How is IBS diagnosed? How is IBS treated? Why may fiber be helpful? It can be helpful because it improves how the intestines work. There are two types of fiber: Soluble fiber helps relieve diarrhea and constipation. Do certain foods cause IBS? What about milk and milk products? How can stress affect IBS?
Can my doctor prescribe medicine for IBS? Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter.
Show references Hadjivasilis A, et al. New insights into irritable bowel syndrome: From pathophysiology to treatment. Annals of Gastroenterology. Irritable bowel syndrome. Accessed Aug. Kellerman RD, et al. In: Conn's Current Therapy Elsevier; Feldman M, et al. American College of Gastroenterology. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Canadian Society of Intestinal Research. Brown AY.
Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. June 24, Kashyap PC expert opinion. Related How irritable bowel syndrome affects you Spastic colon: What does it mean? Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
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