The facts about irritable bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (PDS) is very common. About 10 to 15% of Dutch people have irritable bowel syndrome or PDS symptoms. The main symptoms are severe cramps or stitches in the abdomen, bloating, gas and an abnormal stool pattern. Having PDS is very annoying and can greatly affect your daily life.

Information about PDS and treatment is often confusing

Information about irritable bowel syndrome (PDS) can be very confusing. There are many conflicting reports about exactly what PDS is and how it is caused. Often PDS is not recognized. This is partly because symptoms vary from person to person, but symptoms can also vary from day to day. Often PDS patients also suffer from other symptoms not covered by PDS symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue or back pain. Therefore, PDS is still frequently confused with other syndromes and is not officially diagnosed. Patients often struggle with the fact that there is no good explanation and treatment for PDS. From the environment, there is then a lack of understanding, both in private life and in the workplace.

What is irritable bowel syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome (PDS) or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disturbance of the intestines. This bowel disorder is also called spastic bowel.

Causes of PDS:

1. PDS is not a psychological disorder

One of the misconceptions is that irritable bowel is primarily caused by psychological factors. While stress can affect PDS symptoms, it is not the cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It is an imbalance in the gastrointestinal tract that causes the irritation associated with PDS.

A lot of stress can make PDS symptoms significantly worse, though. Gastrointestinal symptoms can then become so intense due to stress that you can’t do anything. This is also why antidepressants are often prescribed in the treatment of PDS. However, merely suppressing symptoms will not resolve irritable bowel. Thereby, there are also side effects of this medication, which usually do not improve the overall health situation.

2. PDS is not caused by genetic factors

In many of the Western disorders, ”bad genes” are blamed. It is a fact that some people are genetically predisposed to certain conditions. But this does not mean that you automatically suffer from something when it is in your “family.”
Playing a bigger role is the gut flora that you pass from mother to child. For example, if a mother’s bacteria were already not good, there was no natural childbirth or a child was not breastfed enough, this can have an effect on the child’s gut flora. For example, a disease like PDS seems to run in the family.

Environmental factors may have the greatest role in the development of (chronic) intestinal problems. In irritable bowel syndrome, these environmental factors are best summarized as your ”lifestyle.” When an ”unhealthy” or for you ”wrong” diet is followed for a long time, an imbalance can occur in digestion. Similarly, food intolerances can lead to irritable bowel syndrome.

In summary, a comparison can be made with high blood pressure, for example. While there may be a genetic predisposition, eating healthy (plenty of fruits and vegetables, enough protein, healthy fats) a healthy weight and enough exercise keeps blood pressure within safe levels. Even if there is a direct predisposition to high blood pressure in your family.

3. Reduced bowel function

A common problem is decreased bowel function in people with PDS. This means that nutrients pass through the digestive system either too slowly or too quickly. When it is too slow, the system is overloaded because flora cannot survive properly and waste products build up. When bowel movements are too fast, not all nutrients are absorbed, resulting in loss of fluid and essential minerals. Again, the healthy bacterial flora cannot hold up well.
Healthy bowel function causes people to visit the toilet 1-2 times a day. This is essential to maintain balance. The healthy gut flora should play the leading role in this.

4. Bacterial overgrowth and parasitic infections.

Poor bacterial overgrowth may be one of the underlying causes of the development of irritable bowel syndrome. An overgrowth is generally caused by “good” bacteria being displaced by pathogenic bacteria. The bad bacteria can move to the small intestine causing symptoms. Fungi or parasitic infections can also be extra stressful to the intestines. In patients with irritable bowel syndrome, their flora is almost always found to be abnormal and has usually also led to chronic (low-grade) inflammation of their intestines. To measure this, sensitive inflammatory markers are taken, which unfortunately are still under-tested in standard bowel studies.

Treatment

The traditional method of treatment, which is still widely used, often leads to few results. The focus is on treating the symptoms, rather than addressing the underlying causes.
Scientific research shows that there is a relationship between lifestyle and PDS. Impaired flora, whether or not caused by an unhealthy or, for an individual, incorrect lifestyle, can result in poor bowel function. Treating poor bacterial overgrowth and food intolerances (e.g., gluten or lactose) is one of the most effective strategies against PDS.

BodySwitch treats many people with PDS. With our approach, we always look for the cause of chronic gut dysfunction. To determine the cause of the disease, we first do a comprehensive intake supplemented by specialized laboratory tests (blood and stool samples). Based on the results of the examination and individual needs, a personalized treatment plan is created. The treatment plan includes a customized nutrition plan and supplement plan. If necessary, in addition to dietary adjustments, the build-up the intestinal flora is restored, inflammation is calmed and nutritional deficiencies are replenished. Treatment is aimed at making you feel better quickly and reducing your symptoms.

Conclusion

Having PDS is very annoying and can greatly affect your daily life. In recent years, great advances have been made in studying the causes of PDS. It is no longer characterized as a psychological condition that is in the person’s ”head” and that one just has to learn to live with it. Treating the gut flora addressing food tolerances (e.g., gluten or lactose) is one of the most effective strategies against PDS.

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