Its now known that about 30 percent or more of IBSers develop IBS after an enteric infection. (gut infection) this can be from a virus, bacteria, food poisoning ect..
The intial infection clears and goes away, but the colon still doesn't function right.
They have found structural abnormalities in these IBSers in cells lining their digestive system, specifically enterochromaffin cells and mast cells. They have found correlations to "classic IBSers" in regards to these cells. The enterochromaffin cells release serotonin, which the majority is created in the gut. This starts gut contractions. To much and you get d, to little and you get c, then alternators, so in that case its the regulation of the chemicals being released. Mast cells are involved in fighting infections, food allergies and stress, all can degrandualte the cells. They release histimine unto the smooth muscle of the colon and can contribute to pain. You might sometimes hear about MACROSCOPIC inflammation in IBS. They can only see this when they peel back the muscle of the wall and look with an electron microscope. Stress through stress hormones can activate inflammation or reactivate previous inflammation.
Serotonin is important because its the neurotransmitter that signals from the gut to the brain up nerve fibers, pain signals to the brain the digestive system is in distress.
They have also found impairments on how the brain is responding to pain and sending the signals back to the gut.
IBS is a real physical disorder and isn't really something telling us there is something wrong in our lives, but our lives, emotions and feelings as well as foods, the act of eating, the temperture of foods and life stressors both mental and physical, hot and cold, the weather for example effects our IBS.
Sadly,the body can't always heal itself. It can sometimes, but not always.
Because they don't know the exact cause of IBS, although there is excellent research on it and more all the time, it is super complex, so its about managing the symptoms and feeling better, till they find the cause/causes. You can also have domino effects, where one thing is messed up and that cascades to others not functioning right.
But its importnat its not "all in the head' or made up or something in our lives we do or don't do. Many things can trigger it, but there is a difference between triggers and causes.
-------------------- My website on IBS is www.ibshealth.com
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|