When
nature calls…sometimes we have to run!
It is a horrible feeling to be in the middle of an important family
function or a meeting and sense that you must immediately head for the
bathroom. Missing out on important
events in your life can be such a nuisance and in this case it is included in
what medical professionals refer to as irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS.
IBS is a
disorder of the gastrointestinal system (your stomach and your intestines),
that causes changes in bowel habits.
These changes can include long-term diarrhea, constipation, and/or
abdominal pain. The severity of IBS that
you or your loved one may experience depends upon what is causing it. Generally food intolerances, such as to dairy
products, will make the symptoms of the condition worse. For IBS it is good to work toward prevention
of flare-ups and promotion of your own health and bowel habits. With Total Home Health we offer you some ways
to do just that, and here are a few of them!
o
Avoid
foods that contain dairy, eggs, and wheat.
o
Avoid
alcoholic and caffeinated beverages.
o
Drink
2 to 3 liters of fluid per day.
o
Increase
your daily amount of fiber.
Total
Home Health has a program that will fit all your needs related to your IBS
condition. Our team of professionals are
well-educated on what exactly your condition involves, including how to work
toward its prevention. Your optimal
health is our greatest goal and we will work toward prevention of your IBS in
order for you to fully take part in every minute of what is important to you. Risk factors are also apparent with IBS and
they include:
o
Female
gender
o
Stress
o
Eating
large meals that have a large amount of fat
o
Consuming
caffeine
o
Consumption
of alcohol
Generally
if you or your loved one goes through an episode of IBS there will be
complaints of various signs and symptoms which can include the following:
o
Cramping
pain in the abdomen
o
Abdominal
pain from changes in bowel patterns
o
Nausea
when eating or when having a bowel movement
o
Anorexia
o
Bloating
in the abdomen
o
Belching
o
Diarrhea
o
Constipation
Your
specific IBS condition will be directly related to how your body
functions. IBS does not necessarily mean
you’ll just have diarrhea, your bowels can be irritated just the same with
long-term constipation. Several
different laboratory tests may be performed in diagnosis of IBS, however the condition
is generally difficult to diagnose with laboratory tests alone. Diagnosis is based more on individual
descriptions of any changes to bowel patterns, abdominal discomfort, feelings
of incomplete passage of stool with bowel movement, and/or the presence of
mucus in stool.
Nursing
professionals with Total Home Health will always focus on you and you
only! The professionals assigned to your
treatment plan will talk with you about ways to reduce the stressors in your
life that could play a part in causing your IBS. Also, we will educate you about the
importance of limiting the intake of food or drink that could be irritating to
your stomach and intestines, while working to encourage an increase in your
dietary fiber intake at the same time.
In addition to all this, our professionals will work to help you create
a food log, and also a record of your bowel patterns in order to refine your
diet even more to prevent flare-ups of IBS.
We do
realize that diet and lifestyle changes may be easier said than done, and they
may not take effect as quickly or as ideally as you may wish. If this is the case and your IBS continues to
persist, treatment with medications may be recommended for you. Your provider will determine what treatment
will be best for your IBS. Your provider
will then always work in conjunction with our nursing professionals to provide
continuous and attentive treatment throughout the course of your IBS, to make
any adjustments that are needed as quickly as possible to prevent any worsening. The professionals at Total Home Health are
ready to take the plunge with you, no pun intended, and work to promote your
health while preventing flare-ups of IBS.
Let’s get started today!
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