Why Does no Cure Exist for Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Anyone who has suffered from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) recognizes that it is an elusive and almost seemingly ubiquitous disease. After extensive, uncomfortable examinations including upper gastrointestinal series, lower gastrointestinal series, Barium Enemas, colonoscopies, ilioscopies, endocrine tests, allergy tests, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasounds, stool samplings and possibly much more, your doctor may be pleased to announce that you have nothing organically wrong.
Is this good news? Why does your gut hurt? Why can't you eat certain foods? Why can't you eat anything without feeling at "dis-ease". After centuries, the mystery still continues.
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Kevin W. Olden, MD, of the Washington Hospital Center in DC, defines irritable bowel syndrome as a combination of abdominal pain, discomfort and altered bowel habits such as altered stool frequency from diarrhea to constipation, altered stool form from thin and slimy, overly hard and firm to soft and even liquid stools. People suffering from IBS often say they sense abdominal bloating and incomplete evacuation after a bowel movement. Patients have been described as having symptoms which are constipation predominant, diarrhea predominant, or an alternating of the two.
What is Pathophysiology ?
In its simplest terms, pathophysiology is the study of the changes of normal mechanical, physical and biochemical functions which were caused by either disease or by an abnormal syndrome. Pathology involves direct observations. It uses quantifiable measurements.
American Gastroenterology Association
During the 2011 AGA (American Gastroenterological Association) Forum, Emmy award-winning Health and Science Correspondent, Dr. Peter Salgo, met with leading medical researchers, Lawrence Schiller MD and Lin Chang MD, to discuss the pathophysiology, the diagnosis and the management of irritable bowel syndrome.
Lin Chang, MD, Professor of Medicine at UCLA Department of Medicine – Division of Digestive Diseases and Co-Director, UCLA Center for Neurovisceral Sciences and Women's Health, explains several mechanisms that interrelate and play key roles in the pathophysiology of IBS. These include:
- Altered gut motility
- Secretion leading to altered bowel habits
- Enhanced visceral perception
- Increased sensitivity to gas and stool
- Presence of bloating and pain
- Dysregulated brain-gut axis
Dr. Chang explains that the bidirectional brain-gut communication is very important for gut function. This brain-gut communication becomes disrupted in IBS patients as one or more of these factors interrelate and influence each other.
Lawrence Schiller, MD, gastroenterologist at Baylor University Medical Center, has confirmed observations that people with irritable bowel syndrome are more sensitive to distending stimuli in the lower intestine.
Unlocking the Mystery of IBS
In their report, Unlocking the Mystery of IBS , authors Kathy Raymond & Karen Alison, gathered information from numerous studies on this common, yet debilitating syndrome. Medical research continues to find no known cause or cure for IBS. Diagnoses involves ruling out any other disease and when none is found, the diagnosis becomes IBS, a functional anomaly of the bowel. Most researchers come to one conclusion. IBS is a condition involving both the mind and the body. Effective IBS treatment must study both the mind and the body.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Source
Kathy Raymond and Karen Alison, Unlocking The Mystery of IBS, Results in Healing Inc, 2010.
