The brain and the gut are talking, but it's almost as if the brain is misinterpreting the signal. Every cramp or stomach sensation can register as a threat. But if there's nothing structural to be treated, which can be the case with IBS, the heightened stress response is a problem, and can keep us stuck in the nervous system's fight-or-flight mode. In a crisis – if your arm is broken – this amped up pain response is useful. A new treatment approach helps patients learn how stress may make symptoms worse.
IBS symptoms include stomach pain, bloating and gas and sometimes urgent bowel movements or constipation. Information flows along the vagus nerve, which connects brain to gut, so what's happening in the mind affects the gastrointestinal system. "There's a continuous feedback loop between the brain and the gut," explains Suzanne Smith, a nurse practitioner at UCLA's Integrative Digestive Health and Wellness program. Scientists now know that disturbances in the way the nervous system, brain and gut interact can cause changes that trigger or worsen IBS symptoms, including stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. Let's start with the basic re-set in thinking about IBS. Here's what to know about the science behind the integrative approach and how the new apps work. Some apps are FDA authorized and require a doctor's prescription others can be downloaded on your own.
To fill in the gaps, doctors have started to recommend virtual support – apps – that let people access stress management and dietary strategies, on their own at home.
#Signs of ibs professional#
"The doctor has become an educator, somebody to help the patient to understand how he or she can help themselves."īut most gastroenterology practices don't have a registered dietician, psychologist or stress-management professional on staff, so finding this integrative treatment isn't easy. "There has been a real sea change in terms of managing patients," says William Chey, a gastroenterologist at the University of Michigan who has documented the benefits of integrative care.
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