My stomach is bubbling all the time. I need to reduce irritable bowel syndrome
Jul 25, 2025
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◇Oversensitive bowel syndrome The exact cause has not yet been determined
hypersensitive bowel syndrome is diagnosed when abdominal pain is repeated more than once a week on average for more than 6 months for 3 months, and two or more symptoms of abdominal pain associated with bowel movements, increasing or decreasing the number of bowel movements, and changes in fecal firming (thick or firm). Recent epidemiological investigations have shown that the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome ranges from 10% to 25%, which often causes patients to experience significant discomfort in their daily lives and tasks.
The exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not yet clear.
However, abnormalities in motor function of the small and large intestine are pointed out as the root cause, and psychological factors such as visceral hypersensitivity, stress, and autonomic nervous system abnormalities are considered to work in combination. In particular, visceral hypersensitivity is known to have a great effect on functional gastrointestinal diseases. When irritable bowel syndrome is suspected, colonoscopy should be considered first if there are warning symptoms such as anal bleeding, weight loss of unknown cause, digestive symptoms to wake up, changes in bowel habits after age 50, and a family history of gastrointestinal cancer.
Kang Min-jung, director of the Department of Gastroenterology at Seonam Hospital in Seoul, explained "It is very rare to directly diagnose irritable bowel syndrome with colonoscopy, but when there are warning symptoms, it is essential to distinguish them from other colon diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, colon and rectal cancer, and microscopic colitis."
◇Considering that podmap diet and efforts to reduce stress are important
The treatment of hyperactive bowel syndrome is largely divided into non-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical treatments.
The most important non-pharmaceutical treatment is dietary control. In particular, the low FODMAP diet is drawing attention. FODMAP stands for Fertilizable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols, which are sugars that are not properly absorbed from the small intestine and move to the large intestine, where they are quickly fermented by bacteria to produce gas.
These fodmap components can increase water and gas in the intestine, diluting the stool, and exacerbating symptoms such as abdominal distention and abdominal pain. In general, watermelons, apples, milk, and baked beans contain a lot of fodmap components, so patients with irritable bowel syndrome should be careful when eating large amounts of these foods. In addition, since irritable bowel syndrome has a large mental impact, efforts to reduce stress are very important. It is necessary to identify your major stressors and actively make efforts to reduce them.
◇ Need to improve lifestyle rather than relying on drugs unconditionally
Irritable bowel syndrome is classified into constipation type, diarrhea type, mixed type, and unclassified type according to the bowel pattern and frequency, and appropriate drug treatment can be combined accordingly.
Patients with predominant diarrhea are prescribed antidiarrheals, smooth muscle relaxants, and serotonin type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists, which help relieve diarrhea symptoms by controlling bowel movement time and gut sensation.
For constipation-dominant patients, volume-forming laxatives, osmotic laxatives, and serotonin type 4 (5-HT4) receptor-selective action drugs that promote bowel movement are used to improve slowed bowel function and help smooth bowel activity.
Manager Kang Min-jung said, `Anticholin drugs and antidepressants can be helpful for abdominal pain, and antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs may be considered when psychiatric problems are accompanied. However, rather than relying on drugs unconditionally, it is better to stop taking drugs when symptoms improve and strive for lifestyle improvement, stress relief, and psychological stability."
◇ Diseases requiring constant management and effort…Psychological stability is important
It is important for patients with irritable bowel syndrome to have psychological stability that their disease will not progress to cancer, and it is recommended to minimize stimulating food intake and eat regular and balanced meals. It is also helpful to record the foods you eat and symptoms to identify foods that do not suit you.
It is also recommended to take proper exercise and rest to control stress, and if necessary, it is recommended to visit a gastroenterologist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Manager Kang Min-jung "Oversensitive bowel syndrome is a disease that requires constant management and effort. Proper eating habits, stress management, and professional treatment as needed can effectively control symptoms and improve the quality of life," he said.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
