Colon Spasm

Numerous people suffer from frequent and sometimes painful colon spasms, which cause tiredness and embarrassment. Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most widespread gastrointestinal conditions among people, and unfortunately, it can’t be treated completely, yet it can be managed with several methods.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

It’s characterized by frequent or continuous gastrointestinal symptoms that don’t have a structural or clear explanation.

IBS is one of the most widespread gastrointestinal conditions around the world (11%), and it affects all ages and both genders, but females more than males, and it decreases with age.

Causes and triggers of irritable bowel syndrome

There isn’t an obvious reason for this condition, yet it’s believed that there are several factors that contribute to it, such as:

Gastrointestinal motor abnormalities

Patients could suffer from exaggerated intestinal motor activity as a reaction to specific inducing factors, which could be intrinsic (like food) or environmental (like stress). These factors lead to changes in the motility of the muscles in the colon, which leads to colon spasm.

Visceral hypersensitivity

Some people suffer from hypersensitivity in their intestines more than others, and that, in turn, makes them more susceptible to pain and colon spasm.

Psychological factors and stress

This condition occurs in people who go through stressful events in their lives more than others, especially during their childhood.

Problems in gut bacteria or flora

These bacteria are extremely important and have an essential role in several biological procedures. When there are problems or alterations in these bacteria or their quantity, this might lead to colon spasm.

Some infections

There are some gastrointestinal infections that could lead to IBS.

Food sensitivity

Some people could be sensitive to specific types of food, which could cause colon spasm. Moreover, there are some types of foods that cause colon spasm more than others, such as dairy products, wheat and its products, legumes, cabbage, caffeine beverages, and soft drinks (soda).

Other causes

Family history, mucosal inflammation, problems in serotonin secretion, which is an important neural transmitter that has several critical roles in mood, digestion, and others, and the menstrual period could worsen the colon spasm.

Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome

Symptoms usually start in early adulthood, and they include:

• Abdominal pain and spasms are the most common symptoms. The pain often comes like cramps and in frequent episodes, and it could be mild, moderate, or severe enough that it affects the ability to do regular daily activities. Usually, pain occurs during the wakening hours but could happen at night in severe cases, which causes the patient to wake up several times.
• Altered bowel habits: Constipation is the most common pattern alternating with diarrhea, and usually one of these two symptoms is permanent. The patient also suffers from the need to defecate several times.
• Flatulence and gas: Patients with IBS complain of bloating and flatulence in addition to frequent belching as a result of the increased gas.
• Other gastrointestinal symptoms: About 25-50% of patients suffer from dyspepsia, heartburn, and nausea and vomiting.
• Some IBS patients might feel chest pain that’s similar to cardiovascular pain, fibromyalgia, headaches, genitourinary symptoms, sleep disturbances, and chronic fatigue.

Diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome

There isn’t a specific test for IBS, yet there are some procedures that could be taken to diagnose this condition:

• Physical exam: The specialist takes the medical history of the patient in addition to asking them about their symptoms, such as abdominal pain, gastrointestinal motility, bloating, gas, etc.
• Laboratory tests: Some tests could be performed to exclude other conditions. They contain blood tests, stool test, bacteria tests, and lactose intolerance test (which is the sugar in the milk).
• Imaging tests: Some cases might need some imaging tests like colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, and a CT (computed tomography) scan.

Management of irritable bowel syndrome

There isn’t a specific treatment for all the patients, and it includes:

Dietary alterations

• Increasing the fiber to reduce constipation.
• Reducing foods that irritate the colon, like dairy products, wheat, and legumes.
• Reducing the foods that bother each patient in particular.
• Drinking enough water.

Lifestyle modification

• Exercise regularly.
• Get enough sleep.
• Relax and avoid stress.

Medical treatment

To manage physical and psychological symptoms when needed.

Psychological treatment

It helps reduce the severity of the condition in some cases.