Are you stuck in the stress-symptom loop?
April marks the awareness month for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Some of you might already feel a little more aware of IBS than you would like, perhaps you’ve struggled with this for many years.
Or perhaps you have been blessed with a textbook digestive system and never thought about it! In either case, we hope that this will prove valuable to you. Further on, we have important information about dogs, and something for our marathon runners.
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (or IBS) is a diagnosis made when someone experiences symptoms such as cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhoea. Usually this diagnosis is made after ruling out conditions such as coeliac disease, and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s and colitis.
Whilst IBS and IBD can show up as similar gastrointestinal symptoms, there’s a key difference: in IBD there is inflammation and potential damage to the gut lining, whereas in IBS there is no visible structural damage.
It’s thought that IBS is a neuro-gastrointestinal issue caused by a miscommunication between the gut and brain. Whilst this doesn’t mean ‘it’s all in your head,’ it has been shown that anxiety and depression rates are higher amongst the population with IBS – and it’s not entirely clear which is the cause, and which is the effect. Would smoother digestion make someone happier, or would happiness lead to smoother digestion? Anti-depressants are commonly prescribed for IBS, and these can be helpful, but conversely the side effects of these medications can include digestive upset.
Many researchers talk about the stress symptom loop – this is not exclusive to IBS but also chronic pain, headaches, jaw-clenching/grinding and many more of the physical manifestations of emotional stress in our bodies. In the case of IBS, painful and debilitating symptoms that disrupt enjoyable everyday activities can lead to stress; and equally stress can trigger episodes of pain or digestive irregularity.
Break the stress symptom loop
By tackling stress, many IBS sufferers see a reduction in their symptoms. Stress is a complicated issue, but many of our relaxing treatments here at Holistic Health can help to break the stress/symptom loop by activating the autonomic nervous system, allowing for rest and digest functions to take place.
Treatments that we can most recommend for this include Massage, Acupuncture, and Reiki.
Address the underlying causes
Whilst IBS is a common diagnosis within the NHS, there are many further investigations that a curious patient, perhaps with the support of a complementary therapist, can undertake – and these may find the root of the issue. From testing food intolerances, making dietary changes, and addressing gut-bacteria imbalances, there are many things that can help.
With Nutritional Advisors and Colonic Hydrotherapists, the team at our clinic is here for you. We know that these symptoms can be exhausting, and many people think this is just the way life has to be, but it doesn’t. Reach out to us and see how we can help.
We always appreciate hearing about the recoveries, benefits and success stories of our community.
If you would like to share yours, please contact us.
☎️ 020 7275 8434
📧 info@holistichealthhackney.co.uk
Or pop into the clinic on Broadway Market, Hackney.
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