Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Specialist

What is irritable bowel syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), is a chronic health condition that affects your large intestine. It can cause mild to severe gastrointestinal symptoms that feel uncomfortable, but it doesn’t harm your intestines. 

IBS triggers often include eating certain foods, hormone fluctuations, and stress. Treating IBS involves managing your lifestyle, stress, and diet to relieve symptoms.

What are the symptoms of IBS?

The following signs and symptoms can indicate you have IBS:

• Abdominal pain
• Gas
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Cramping

Problems associated with untreated IBS include reduced quality of life, missed workdays, depression, and anxiety. However, irritable bowel syndrome doesn’t appear to increase your risk of colorectal cancer.

What are the risk factors for IBS?

The exact cause of IBS isn’t entirely clear, but many things seem to increase your risk of developing it. Examples include:

• Family history of IBS
• Nervous system abnormalities
• Intestinal inflammation
• Stronger than usual intestinal muscle contractions
• Severe infections
• Intestinal bacterial overgrowth or imbalance
• Anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders
• A history of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse

IBS affects about two times as many women as men and often occurs in people younger than age 45.

How is IBS diagnosed?

There’s no specific test for irritable bowel syndrome, but Dr. Tawil reviews your medical history, completes a physical exam, and asks you about your symptoms. 

He could perform blood, imaging, stool, and other diagnostic tests to rule out medical conditions with similar symptoms like celiac disease.

How is IBS treated?

Your personalized IBS treatment plan involves managing your symptoms. Dr. Tawil could recommend one or more of the following:

Diet changes

Altering your diet and avoiding foods that trigger IBS can relieve symptoms. Drink plenty of water, eat high-fiber foods, and limit or avoid trigger foods like alcohol, carbonated drinks, gluten, caffeine, dairy foods, and certain vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage).

Dietary supplements

Dr. Tawil might encourage you to try dietary supplements like fiber, peppermint, and probiotics supplements to ease IBS symptoms.

Other healthy lifestyle habits

Getting plenty of sleep, exercising regularly, eating at regular meal times, and managing stress can also relieve symptoms of IBS. Acupuncture, mindfulness training, yoga, and meditation can help, too.

Counseling for depression

Depression can worsen IBS symptoms, which is why Dr. Tawil will recommend counseling as part of your personalized IBS treatment plan.

Medications

Taking medications can relieve your discomfort or reduce symptoms of depression associated with IBS.

Don’t let IBS prevent you from enjoying life to its fullest. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Tawil at Brighton Beach Medical Group by phone today.