Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

root cause

The causes for that Irritable bowel syndrome are largely unexplained to this day. There is only so much that can be said that those affected are really sick and that special processes in the digestive system do not work properly, but these cannot be explained by pathological changes in organs.

Conversely, this does not mean that this disease is a mental disorder underlies, with mental and physical stress such as stress or the frequent occurrence of conflict situations that can trigger or worsen the symptoms. ( See also: Abdominal pain from psyche)

Various factors are currently being discussed that could trigger irritable bowel syndrome, but most of them have not yet been proven. Probably the information exchange between the brain and the intestinal nervous system (the so-called "Abdominal brain") an important role. If this is disturbed, even normal digestive processes can be perceived as painful because the pain threshold is lowered (Hyperalgesia). The messenger substance plays a central role here Serotonin which is essential for controlling bowel motility as well as for feeling pain. A large part of the complaints is caused by an increase in motility, i.e. too active intestinal muscles.

Sometimes other diseases precede the development of irritable bowel syndrome. These include intolerance or allergic reactions to certain foods (dairy products, coffee, alcohol, citrus fruits, etc.) or bacterial intestinal infections. A previous gastroenteritis (gastrointestinal flu) can be detected in about a quarter of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

As a further trigger ("Trigger") Are also possible: a hereditary predisposition (irritable bowel syndromes occur more often in families, which, however, in addition to genetic factors can also speak for a role in upbringing or internal family habits), hormonal influences, certain medications, a bad colonization of the natural intestinal flora, with certain bacteria and others are too sparse and, above all, the wrong diet (if it is too high in fat or low in fiber, for example). The risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome increases significantly when several of these factors come together.

In some patients, an increased number of white blood cells (Leukocytes) prove what speaks for the presence of an inflammatory process.

The mechanisms behind the Irritable bowel syndrome are currently being studied and discussed in detail by both conventional medicine and alternative medicine and represent a large and important area of ​​research.