FitSugar

Peppermint Soothes Gastric Pain and IBS, Study Says

Heather Dale — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:29:41 PDT

In case you had any doubt about peppermint's ability to ease pain related to gastro issues, researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia recently found that peppermint activates an "anti-pain" channel in the colon. This is great news for IBS sufferers who experience pain caused by inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, because peppermint may help lessen their symptoms.

Because of the menthol within peppermint, peppermint not only eases IBS pain, but many believe it can also help with nausea and vomiting and stress, and early studies indicate it may help control mild asthma because of its expectorant and decongestant abilities. It's important to note that out of all the claims surrounding peppermint, its effect on IBS is the only one that has a substantial amount of evidence backing it up. While peppermint may aid in nausea or headaches, research is still in its preliminary stages.

Medicinally, peppermint is available in many forms: tea, tinctures, capsules, creams, ointments, and essential oil. It is generally considered safe when used properly, but it's always a good idea to consult your doctor before beginning treatment.

Hypnotherapy For Tummy Troubles

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:00:24 PDT

Hypnotherapy has been used to help folks quit smoking and lose weight, and now the alternative therapy is gaining ground as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which causes abdominal pain, bloating, and sometimes diarrhea or constipation.

A prominent British gastroenterologist has found hynotherapy improved symptoms in nine out of 10 patients. After auditing the first 100 of his IBS patients that used hypnotherapy, the doctor found that in four in 10 cases, the symptoms disappeared entirely. This alternative treatment worked most successfully on young women with typical symptoms who had only been dealing with IBS for a short time. It is believed that hypnotherapy eases symptoms by relaxing the patients, which makes sense since stress is a contributing factor.

DrSugar on Irritable Bowel Syndrome

DrSugar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:00:57 PST

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's teaching us about digestive issues.

In last week’s column, I answered a great question from a reader who was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by her physician. I addressed her question regarding Candida infection of the gastrointestinal system but felt that a separate column on IBS was warranted, given its common prevalence and media attention. As many as one in five adult Americans have symptoms of IBS, making it one of the most common disorders diagnosed by doctors. It occurs more often in women than men; the onset of the symptoms occurs before the age of 35 in over half of people with IBS.

To learn more continue reading.

DrSugar Answers: Antidepressant, IBS, and Weight Gain?

DrSugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 03:30:00 PDT

 DrSugar is in the house and he's answering your health questions.

Dear DrSugar, 
I've recently been diagnosed with probable irritable bowel syndrome that is exacerbated by anxiety and depression. My doctor prescribed the antidepressant Citalopram to decrease my abdominal pain and stabilize my mood. I've read multiple reports about the correlation between antidepressant medication and weight gain. I was an overweight teenager with poor eating habits and have finally managed to lose a great deal of weight in the past year. I'd rather not pile it back on as a result of a pill. Is it true that Citalopram is likely to make me put on weight? Are there any other remedies that might help abdominal pain from IBS? Thank you.
- Concerned about Citalopram

This is a complicated issue and worthy of investigation, so to see what the doctor has to say on this matter, just

read more. Controlling the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be very difficult, and getting a handle on anxiety and depression is a great place to start. Unfortunately, many antidepressants are associated with weight gain. The antidepressant Citalopram is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). While this class of medication is less likely to cause weight gain than older antidepressants, SSRIs still have about a 25 percent incidence of weight gain. Weight gain when starting an SSRI is not inevitable, but it is still a possibility. Alternative antidepressants not associated with weight gain, like buproprion and venlafaxine, have not been as thoroughly researched for effectiveness in treating IBS as the drug you were prescribed. There are some simple IBS therapies, including dietary modifications and medication for constipation or diarrhea, that may help with your abdominal pain as well. Regular exercise can also help to relieve symptoms of constipation and uncomfortable bloating. If anxiety and depression are the main issues exacerbating your IBS, an antidepressant, like an SSRI, is probably your best option. Remember that if you begin to rapidly gain weight once you begin taking an SSRI, you can consult your doctor for other options. Good luck! Have a question for DrSugar? Send it by private messaging me here, and I will forward it to the good doctor. DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Another Reason to Exercise: Relieve IBS Symptoms

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:30:00 PDT

It seems like almost anyone who's ever had stomach issues for more than a week has been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. If you've got IBS then you know it's no fun, but it's also not an excuse to skip your exercise routine. In fact, Reuters recently reported on a new study that found that regular exercise can relieve constipation and feelings of bloating in folks with IBS. So, if you're stopped up, don't stop moving - it could help more than you think.

Source

DrSugar Answers: IBS Treatment With No Health Insurance?

DrSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:30:00 PDT

DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.

Dear DrSugar,
I'm pretty positive I have Irritable Bowl Syndrome. Are there any things you can do to treat it without going to see a doctor? I don't have insurance and would like to avoid a costly office visit. Any advice you could give would be helpful.
Thanks,
– IBS Betty

To see what DrSugar has to say,

read more. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by uncomfortable abdominal symptoms such as chronic pain, constipation, and diarrhea. The pain is often crampy in nature and is classically relieved by a bowel movement. Either diarrhea or constipation can predominate or the symptoms can alternate between the two. It is a chronic condition that usually waxes and wanes in severity and is often worsened by emotional stress or stressful life events. Mild cases are often self-diagnosed and treated, but moderate to severe cases always require physician evaluation because other diseases can present with similar symptoms. Diseases with similar symptoms to IBS include celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and endometriosis. Although there are some prescription medications for IBS, the most important initial treatment options are simple and do not require special medications. The most important initial consideration in treating IBS involves evaluating potential dietary causes of the IBS symptoms. A good place to start is eliminating dairy products because lactose intolerance is very common and often under recognized. Other foods to avoid include coffee, alcohol, highly fatty foods, and gas producing foods such as beans and broccoli. Increasing dietary fiber and water consumption can help with symptoms of constipation. Simple over the counter medications are also commonly used to treat IBS. Imodium is frequently used if chronic diarrhea is the main symptom. Colace and sennakot are common medications used to treat chronic constipation. It is also important to seek help in the treatment of depression or anxiety, which are commonly associated with IBS. Treating underlying depression with antidepressant medications often greatly improve IBS symptoms. It is very important to consult a doctor if any concerning symptoms are present. Concerning symptoms include: weight loss, rectal bleeding, bloody stools, fevers, moderate to severe abdominal pain, profuse watery diarrhea, and chronic constipation. If you are reluctant to see a doctor due to lack of insurance, then you have a number of options. These options include applying for Medicaid, locating a local free clinic, buying health insurance out of pocket if you find the problem might require many visits to a physician. If you have a question for DrSugar, send me a private message here and I will forward it to the good doctor. DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

What's the Deal with: Irritable Bowel Syndrome

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 02:30:00 PDT

The Mayo Clinic reports that Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects one in ten Americans. That's a lot of people! It predominantly affects women who experience their first signs of the syndrome in their early 20s. But what is IBS exactly?

IBS, also know as spastic colon, is considered a functional disorder meaning the normal function is disrupted and in this case it is (you guessed it) the bowels, even though the intestines appear fine. The intestines normally contract and relax in a coordinated rhythm, but with IBS, the contractions may be longer and stronger than normal, and thereby cause pain. This inability of the intestines to contract rhythmically interferes with digestion causing nausea, diarrhea and constipation not to mention abdominal pain.

It is not clear what causes IBS, but it doesn't trigger inflammation or other changes in the bowel, and doesn't increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Some studies do suggest that intolerance to certain foods may increase symptoms. The major culprits seem to be wheat, dairy, coffee, potatoes, corn and onions.

Lifestyle changes seem the best approach to managing the symptoms: eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and reducing stress. Increasing fiber intake and even taking fiber supplements can help.

To read more about IBS, check out the Mayo Clinic's article on the syndrome.

The Biggest Diet Trends of 2011

Leta Shy — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:35:06 PST

Like years before, 2011 was chock-full of trendy diets that got everyone talking, as well as trying. So what were the top diets of 2011? Read on to find out!

HCG Diet
The HCG diet isn't new (it's been around for more than 50 years), but it's once again a phenomenon. This was the year that people flocked to doctor's offices to get a pricey hormone injection all in the name of weight loss. The diet's deal: eat a restricted calorie diet, usually 500 calories a day, and inject the HCG hormone (or use drops or lozenges) every day. The claim is that the HCG hormone, which occurs in pregnant women naturally and helps them burn fat to use to feed their babies, helps convert body fat to energy so you get all the adequate calories you need every day without feeling hungry, but experts warn that there aren't any studies that prove the safety and effectiveness of the diet.

Paleo Diet
Eat like your ancestors did - as in, the ones from a very long time ago. The Paleo diet is a meal plan based on the hunting and gathering instincts of cavemen. That means lots of free-range, grass-fed meat, fresh seafood, and vegetables, but no grains, dairy, legumes, refined sugars, and processed foods. The Paleo Diet's main focus is to improve your overall health, and many people who have been on it say it's cured their digestive conditions, such as IBS. Experts are split on whether or not it's an effective diet - especially since some very common foods, like dairy and grain, are forbidden.

Read on for more top diet trends of 2011.

Hypnosis Proving to Offer Health Benefits, Studies Say

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:48:50 PDT

When I hear the word hypnosis, a man swinging a pendulum in front of a person squawking like a chicken is what comes to mind. Stage hypnosis, performed by entertainers, is vastly different than therapeutic hypnosis, which is used to improve a person's well-being. Over the last 10 years hypnosis has gained more recognition because more and more research shows hypnotherapy can effectively treat medical conditions. A number of studies have discovered that this type of treatment can help alleviate chronic pain, reduce stress and anxiety before surgery, and also lower health care costs since patients using hypnosis have shorter hospital stays.

The hypnotic state has been likened to meditation or daydreaming; when hypnotized, one has a heightened sense of inner focus and concentration. When under hypnosis, people tend to feel calm and relaxed and be capable of paying attention to one specific thought, memory, emotion, or sensation while blocking out any other distractions, making them extremely open to the power of suggestion, although they remain completely aware and in control of their actions. This is why hypnosis is used for weight loss, smoking cessation, pain control, childbirth, dental procedures, anxiety, and gastrointestinal problems such as IBS. It should be noted that one session won't instantly "cure" your ails, so don't expect to instantly despise cigarettes after your first appointment.

A Breakdown of Common OTC Pain Meds

Leta Shy — Fri, 06 May 2011 01:21:27 PDT

Do you know what's in your medicine cabinet? A recent report in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that while over-the-counter medicine use is prevalent, many people don't know much about the active ingredients in popular painkillers like Advil and Tylenol.

When asked about the difference between common pain relief brands, most of the study's participants didn't know what was in Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve, or that overdosing on Tylenol, for example, could lead to serious liver damage.

While you may not think twice about popping a few pills the day after a particularly strenuous boot camp session, the fact is that the side effects from overdosing on painkillers can be serious. In fact, acetaminophen overdose continues to be the leading cause of liver failure in the United States.

Confused about whether you should take Tylenol or Advil for a pain, or what the correct dosage is? Read on for a chart of the most common OTC painkillers on the market after the break.