Spastic Bowel Syndrome

Spastic bowel disease is a common functional disorder of the digestive system. It is another name for irritable bowel syndrome. It is caused by irritations in the walls of the colon, the muscles of the colon walls become extra sensitive and contract irregularly. Symptoms include changes in bowel habits, abdominal pains, discomfort and bloating. Some people can even go back and forth from constipation and diarrhea! Spastic bowel disease does not harm the intestines but can sure cause a lot of discomfort and may disrupt school or work activities. The most damage long term spastic bowel disease can cause are hemorrhoids and depression. Imagine feeling the need to be near the toilet at all times to be able to relieve yourself if the need arises. Who wouldn't be depressed over that?

It is estimated that about 15 % of Americans have had spastic bowel at least once in their lives. More women than men are afflicted with the condition.

Doctors have yet to find an organic cause for spastic bowel disease and the condition is thought to be neurological. When a person is stressed, communication between the brain and the intestines is disrupted and either too little or too many signals are sent from the brain to the intestine. Food either move too fast or too slow and the associated symptoms follow. Triggers include stress, medications, caffeine, hormonal changes (in women), large meals and the intake of certain foods.

At present, there are no treatments available for spastic bowel disease. Most would get over-the-counter medications for constipation or diarrhea, which provide relief but doesn't solve the problem at all. In cases where cures are not available, prevention should be the treatment regimen of choice.

How can this be prevented?

The best way to treat spastic bowel disease is through stress management, avoiding foods that trigger the disease and a healthy diet. As mentioned earlier, there is truth to "eating too much of the wrong thing". People who are intolerant of certain food items are advised to take note of what items increase the risk of spastic bowel disease and avoid eating the potential triggers. Fatty foods, caffeine, alcohol and chocolates are among these. Gas inducing foods like beans and cabbage should also be avoided. Lactose intolerance and spastic bowel disease have common symptoms and it is best to avoid food products laden with lactose.

Those with spastic bowel disease are advised to take a low-fat, high-fiber diet and to drink plenty of water. Smaller, frequent meals instead of three big meals can also help. Do not use laxatives as this may weaken your intestines. The synthetic chemicals used in these may cause harmful side effects when taken for long periods of time. If you want to cleanse your colon, try using natural products to help you eliminate the waste that have accumulated in your colon and encourage your digestive system to function properly. There are many of these products available on the market. It is worth a try.