Goodbye to irritable bowel syndrome! So you relieve the disease

• 2013

1. Give the pain no chance!
2. To the background:
3. Which is good for the abdominal brain
4. Symptom: abdominal cramps
5. Symptom: flatulence
6. Symptom: Unclear pain
7. Symptom: Diarrhea
8. Symptom: constipation
9. "Pain killers do not eliminate the cause"

Give the pain no chance!

Researchers are alarmed: Nearly 15 percent of all Germans suffer from the so-called irritable bowel syndrome (RDS). It is not life threatening. But it can untreated daily life by stinging abdominal pain or cramps, incriminating constipation or diarrhea restrict so much that a normal life is almost impossible.

US studies show that RDS sufferers are about three times as likely to be absent at work as people without complaints. And: RDS is even perceived by most sufferers as worse than migraine or asthma . Consequence: Patients often retreat to isolation. Researchers suggest that our "belly brain" is responsible for the symptoms. It has over 100 million nerve cells, works more complex than the spinal cord and controls the processes in our digestive system.

To the background:

In the abdominal brain (the so-called enteric nervous system), the messenger serotonin plays one of the most important roles: It regulates the entire movements of the intestine and controls digestive processes. If the serotonin metabolism is disturbed, this can lead to an increased pain sensitivity of the intestine and thus to an excessive tension of the gastrointestinal musculature. Consequences: Abdominal pain and strong cramps - the typical symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome .

Which is good for the abdominal brain

To relieve cramp-related abdominal pain, doctors recommend preparations with the active ingredient butyl scopolamine. Studies show that this drug specifically triggers convulsions and relaxes the stomach. But it is also important to take time for meals. Because stress worsens the symptoms. We can deliberately degrade it during a leisurely meal.

Symptom: abdominal cramps

When the bowel movement is disturbed, the belly often cramps. However, it can also be caused by food intolerances, allergies, excitement and deficiency symptoms.

Symptom: flatulence

Normally, the exhaust gases from our digestion enter the bloodstream and are exhaled odorless through the lungs. Irritable bowel syndrome causes a gas excess.

Symptom: Unclear pain

Transient mild to moderate abdominal pain is often an indication of irritable bowel syndrome . However, a doctor should clarify the cause of any pain lasting more than three days.

Symptom: Diarrhea

The irritable bowel syndrome leads to an increase in bowel movements. The digested food thus remains shorter in the intestine and can not release enough liquid.

Symptom: constipation

RDS can also trigger a kind of collapse of the digestive system. Then the bowel movement succumbs, and a sometimes painful constipation, which in some cases lasts several weeks, comes to an end.

"Pain killers do not eliminate the cause"

Many patients take abdominal pain painkillers such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen. Why are these so-called analgesics not suitable for treatment?

Prof. Frieling: When treating with normal painkillers, only the symptoms are combated. Although the analgesics suppress the pain impulse on the way from the gastrointestinal tract to the brain - the cause of pain is ultimately not treated.

Patients who come to the clinic with unclear abdominal discomfort are often given a so-called spasmolytic, a drug with an antispasmodic effect.

"Buscopan" is an established drug. Incidentally, we also give this as an injection for colonoscopy to calm the bowel.

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