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Colon, Irritable

Causes

• Stress and emotional conflict prior to athletic competition, resulting in anxiety or depression.
• Obsessive worry about everyday problems or about self-image.
• Concern about performance.
• Marital tension.
• Fear of loss of a beloved person or object.
• Death of a loved one.
• Improper diet. Symptoms may be triggered by eating, though no specific food has been identified as responsible.
• Smoking.
• Excess alcohol consumption.
• Use of drugs.
• Fatigue or overwork.
• Poor physical fitness.

Signs and symptoms

The following symptoms usually begin in early adult life. Episodes may last for days, weeks or months:

• Cramp like pain in the middle or to one side of the lower abdomen. Pain is usually relieved with a bowel movement.
• Nausea.
• Bloating and gas.
• Occasional appetite loss that may lead to weight loss.
• Diarrhea or constipation, usually alternating.
• Fatigue.
• Depression.
• Anxiety.
• Concentration difficulty.

Diagnosis

• Your own observation of symptoms.
• Medical history and physical exam by a doctor.
• Laboratory studies, including stool studies, to exclude other disorders such as lactose intolerance, ulcers, parasites, enzyme deficiency and ulcerative colitis.
• X-ray of the colon (barium enema).

Treatment

Medical Treatment-

• Medication.
• Counseling with a trained therapist to define, confront and solve conflicts in day-to-day living.
• Anxiety-reducing measures, such as regular exercise
• Low-dose antidepressants
• Anti-diarrheal medications

Home Treatment

• Diet changes.
• Adequate rest.

Medication

• Medication can help symptoms, but it cannot cure this disorder. Your doctor may prescribe:
• Antispasmodics to relieve severe abdominal cramps.
• Tranquilizers to reduce anxiety.

Prevention

Reduce stress or try to modify your response to it. An exercise program without competition may protect against flare-ups because it reduces stress.