Treatment Options for IBS in the Elderly

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is a serious condition. Those who suffer from this disorder experience severe stomach cramping and irregularities with their bowl movements such as constipation or diarrhea. Other symptoms are increased flatulence with the sensation of being uncomfortably full and having an irregular, mucous discharge. This condition has several names that are synonymous. Mucous colitis, spastic colon, irritable colon, spastic colitis, and nervous stomach are other common names but the condition should not be mistaken for inflammatory bowel disease. While this disorder can cause symptoms that vary from mild to severe, it can be especially debilitating to the elderly.

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is centered in the large intestine where food is being reduced to waste products and moves along through muscular movement. Water is removed and eventually the waste is eliminated from the body. For those who suffer from IBS, it is possible that several factors are contributing to the problem. The difficulty may lie in the nerves, the intestinal wall, the muscles or a combination of all three. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause but food allergies, emotional duress, and choice in diet may all be related. There could also be abnormal levels of bacteria in the large intestine. While this condition can strike anyone, young and old, it is of greater concern with the elderly who cannot withstand health problems as well as a younger person with more stamina and resiliency.

Treatment Options for IBS
IBS is hard to pin down. In addition, the symptoms have to re-occur regularly over the course of several months before they can be diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome. Once that has happened, doctors generally experiment with possible methods to alleviate the condition. One way to address the problem is to keep a log of when the symptoms occur and note what was eaten as well as any events in life that took place and may have aggravated the condition. Introducing more fiber into the diet is one possible solution. For those who experience diarrhea, they’ll want fiber that absorbs water. For those with constipation, they’ll want fiber that does not. Often taking antidiarrheals for IBS can be enough to help certain symptoms subside. Eating yogurt daily, several times a day, may also help to soothe and regulate digestion. Another natural solution is peppermint oil to relax the bowel. Medications can also be prescribed that target cramping, constipation, or diarrhea. The elderly should have medical supervision.