IBS Treatments You Can Try Today

With symptoms such as diarrhoea, bloating and cramping, IBS can make life uncomfortable. Fortunately, healthcare professionals' understanding of the condition is always improving. Because of this, you can find an IBS treatment that makes your life more manageable. Here are some you can try today. 

Exercise

One key trigger for IBS is stress. When you're going through periods of stress, you may notice that your usual symptoms worsen. One way to overcome this is by trying exercise. Exercise can reduce stress by lowering hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. It also increases the presence of neurotransmitters such as endorphins. To an extent, exercise also improves your gut motility, which can alleviate constipation. If you're new to exercising, try something simple, like taking a 20-minute walk each day. 

Relax More

Exercise isn't the only way to reduce your stress levels. Although all of life's stresses aren't avoidable, you can take moments during the day to induce relaxation. Try accessible techniques such as listening to soothing music or meditating for 10 minutes a day. Once a month, try performing a stress review to see if there are any areas where you can make changes. For example, could you delegate some duties at work? Are there social commitments you no longer enjoy? Eliminating stressors can be an effective IBS treatment.

Diet Changes

A slightly trickier irritable bowel symptom treatment involves using diet changes. Dietary changes are challenging because what works for you may not work for someone else. A good starting point should involve cutting out as many processed foods as possible and making fresh food at home instead. Additionally, you can try keeping a diary of what you eat and any associated symptoms. Review your diary from time to time and look for patterns. If you notice a particular ingredient usually results in certain symptoms, eliminate it and monitor your progress. It'll take a little trial and error, but eventually, you should find a diet that works for you.

Add Probiotics

Your gut features a wealth of bacteria and not all of it is bad. Ideally, you'll have a decent amount of good bacteria to keep your IBS symptoms to a minimum. Try adding probiotics to your diet to give your gut a helping hand. Yoghurts and drinks containing Bifidobacterium infantis or other forms of Bifida bacteria can have a positive effect. Much like when you make dietary changes, keep track of any improvements you notice when you add probiotics to your diet. To achieve consistency, you may want to try something simple such as drinking a probiotic drink every morning with your breakfast.

For more information about IBS treatment, contact a doctor.


Share