Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Can Chiropractic Help?

We understand irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can mess with your daily life, making simple things like eating with friends or going out challenging. But don’t worry, we have got your back. In this blog, we are going to cover what is irritable bowel syndrome, its symptoms, its causes, and most importantly, how to find relief. So let’s embark on a journey towards better digestive health! A Singapore Chiropractor explains!

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable bowel syndrome is a gastrointestinal condition that affects the colon and small intestine. It is characterized by a group of symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating and gas. It also affects bowel habits and causes diarrhea and constipation.

The severity and intensity of symptoms vary from person to person. It is a gastrointestinal functional disorder that doesn’t cause damage to your GI tissue. According to a study, it doesn’t increase the risk of more serious conditions like colorectal cancer. However, it can still affect your daily life.

As per a survey, IBS affects almost 7 to 16% of people in the United States. Women and young people are more likely to develop this syndrome as compared to men. Usually, people with IBS develop their first symptom before the age of 40.

IBS is different from the similarly named condition called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD causes chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, which might lead to sores and narrowing of the intestine. On the other hand, irritable bowel syndrome is related to problems with bowel function and doesn’t cause visible changes or damage to the gastrointestinal structure.

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome isn’t known yet. However, it is believed to be caused by environmental, psychosocial and physical factors. Here are the possible reasons that might cause the development of irritable bowel syndrome:

1. Gut-Brain Signals Problem

Studies show that the gut-brain axis plays a critical role in the development of irritable bowel syndrome. The gut-brain axis involves the two-way communication between the enteric nervous system (the intrinsic nervous system of the gut) and the brain. The Vagus nerve connects the two systems and is responsible for the flow of communication between them.

IBS might arise from miscommunication between the brain and the gut. People with IBS often have a reduced vagus nerve function. It results in either food moving too quickly or too slowly through the GI tract, causing changes in bowel movement.

2. Changes In The Gut Microbiota

Gut microbes are the millions of microorganisms that live in your gastrointestinal tract. The alteration in these microbes due to changes in their number or type can disturb the gut-brain axis as these are responsible for producing several neurotransmitters. This results in improper communication between the brain and the gut. Several studies show that people with IBS have different composition and function of gut microbes than those without it.

3. Early Life Stress

Multiple clinical and preclinical studies indicate that stress during childhood due to emotional and sexual abuse is likely to cause IBS later in life.

4. Abnormal Muscle Contractions In The Intestine

Our intestines are made up of muscles that contract when food passes through our digestive tract. Abnormal contraction in these muscles can lead to the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. For example, stronger contractions can lead to gas, bloating and diarrhea, while weaker contractions cause hard and dry stool.

5. Infection

Irritable bowel syndrome can often develop after a serious infection caused by a bacteria or virus. It can cause the immune system to react in a way that affects the gut, leading to IBS. It is known as post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Risk factors

Below are some of the factors that put you at high risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome:

Age

People under 50 are more likely to get IBS.

Emotional Disturbance:

Studies suggest that emotional disturbances, such as anxiety and depression, are likely to trigger or worsen IBS symptoms.

Gender

Females are more likely to suffer from IBS than men due to hormonal differences. Women who are on estrogen therapy are at high risk.

Family History

People with a family history of IBS are twice likely to suffer from the condition.

Lifestyle Factors

Research suggests that current smoking and alcohol consumption are strongly associated with IBS.

Being Assigned Female at Birth

People assigned female at birth are twice as likely to develop irritable bowel syndrome than those assigned male at birth. The reason is not clear but the researchers believe that it might be related to the changing hormones.

Certain Food Intolerances

Certain food sensitivities might trigger your IBS symptoms. These may include wheat, gluten, carbonated drinks, milk, citrus fruit, beans, cabbage and dairy products.

Chronic Pain Condition

Some conditions that may cause chronic pain are associated with IBS. These include fibromyalgia, migraine, temporomandibular syndrome and chronic pelvic pain.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms

Symptoms of IBS vary from person to person. They may appear frequently or occur during flare-ups and come and go. Some people experience mild symptoms while others have severe symptoms that affect their quality of life.

The core symptoms of IBS include:

Abdominal pain and cramps
Change in bowel habits (diarrhea and constipation)
Bloating and Gas
Mucus in stool

Other symptoms include:

A sudden urge to use the bathroom
A feeling of incomplete evacuation that your bowels are not emptied after pooping
Fatigue
Sleep Disturbance
Anxiety
Depression
Headache
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Pelvic Pain (worse in women with IBS)
Harder or looser stools than normal
Heartburn
Indigestion
Diarrhea alternating with constipation

Types of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is classified into four types based on the symptoms you experience during flare-ups. These include:

● IBS with Constipation (IBS-C):

It is characterized by hard or lumpy stool, abnormally delayed or infrequent bowel movements and stomach pain.

● IBS with Diarrhea (IBS-D)

In this case, most of your stool is loose and watery and is accompanied by stomach pain, frequent bowel movement and an urgent need to move your bowels.

● IBS with Mixed Bowel Habits (IBS-M)

In this type, you have both hard and lumpy stool and watery or loose stool.

● Unsubtyped IBS (IBS-U)

You have this type if you don’t fit into the above categories due to variable symptoms.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diagnosis

Since there’s no definitive test for IBS, your doctor will diagnose the condition based on your medical history, physical examination and specific diagnostic criteria. Your healthcare provider will begin with your medical history by inquiring about your symptoms such as when they occur, what triggers them and how often you experience them.

He will also take your medicine history and palpate your abdomen to check for tenderness and swallowing. He might order the following test:

Stool Test to look for infection, blood or any sign of malabsorption in inflammatory bowel disease
Blood Test to assess thyroid function and check if you have anemia and other conditions like celiac disease
Hydrogen Breath Test to check for the overgrowth of bacteria in your intestine or food intolerance
CT scan to rule out other possible causes of symptoms
Colonoscopy to produce the image of the entire colon to rule out conditions like colorectal cancer, IBD or colon infections

Your healthcare provider might use the Rome diagnostic criteria to confirm irritable bowel syndrome. According to the criteria,

You must have abdominal pain or discomfort at least once a day per week for three months.
Additionally, you should have two or more of these symptoms, including a change in stool consistency, pain related to defecation and a change in frequency of defecation.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment

The treatment of IBS is aimed at managing the symptoms. It requires a combination of dietary changes, physical activity, medications and behavioral therapy. Your treatment will depend on the severity and type of your symptoms.

Dietary Changes

● Increase Fiber Intake

Your doctor is likely to recommend you increase fiber intake in your diet, especially if you have IBS-C. But you should introduce them gradually into your diet to prevent gas and bloating. You can either take fiber supplements or eat fiber-rich foods, including vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts and prunes.

● Follow a Low FODMAP Diet

Low FODMAP stands for Low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols. It is a temporary dieting plan that is designed to help people with IBS. It restricts types of carbohydrates which are difficult to digest and allows those which provide nutrients that are easy on your GI tract.

● Have Regular Meals

Try to have regular meals as it can help regulate your bowel function.

● Avoid Trigger Foods

Avoid foods that might trigger your symptoms. For that, keep a diary and note down the foods that might flare up your symptoms and show them to your nutritionist.

● Hydrate Yourself

You should drink at least 8 ounces of water every day. Hydration is important to keep your GI tract lubricated, and it is especially helpful for people with IBS-C.

● Avoid Gluten

For some people, eliminating gluten from their diet might help ease their symptoms.

● Limit High-Fat Food

Low-fat food might help your symptoms of IBS. Instead of fried food, opt for lean meats, vegetables and grains.

Physical Activity

Exercise is important for everyone, but it is essentially beneficial for the management of irritable bowel syndrome. Engaging in low to moderate-intensity exercise can help alleviate symptoms of IBS and improve bowel function.

By promoting regular bowel movements, it can help improve the body’s ability to get rid of gas, bloating and discomfort. Further, exercise can decrease stress which can improve brain-gut axis connection and promote your overall well-being.

Medications

The choice of medication will depend on the type of IBS you have and the severity of the symptoms. Here are some of the medications that your doctor is likely to prescribe:

Antispasmodics, such as dicyclomine and hyoscyamine, can help with intestinal muscle spasms and abdominal cramps.
Antidiarrheals, such as loperamide, can help with loose and watery stools.
Antibiotics, like rifaximin, are sometimes prescribed to alter the gut flora.
Laxatives, such as polyethylene glycol and lactulose. can help with constipation, especially if you have IBS-C.
Antidepressants in low doses can help manage pain and bowel movements.
Bile acid binders like cholestyramine can help people with IBS-D, especially if their symptoms are similar to bile acid malabsorption.
Peppermint oil capsules might help you with abdominal pain.
Probiotics are good bacteria that may help the immune system get rid of the bad bacteria and help the body digest the food.

Behavioral Therapy

You may seek relief from IBS symptoms by seeing a therapist. Psychological therapies can help you manage stress and ease anxiety, which can help improve the symptoms. Here are some of the options that might help you deal with irritable bowel syndrome:

Cognitive behavioral therapy may help you identify and change negative thought patterns that may contribute to the symptoms of IBS.
Hypnotherapy can reduce your sensitivity to abdominal pain and improve the function of the digestive system.

How Singapore Chiropractic Care Can Help People With IBS?

Singapore Chiropractic care can help with IBS through various mechanisms that target the nervous system and spine alignment. As we already know, our gut is heavily influenced by the nervous system which includes the brain and spinal cord.

Since the nervous system is responsible for sending messages throughout the body, the misalignment in the spine can cause problems in various areas including the digestive system. Often people with IBS have some sort of misalignment in their spine.

Singapore Chiropractors correct these misalignments, which promotes proper communication between the brain and spinal cord and helps relieve IBS symptoms. Furthermore, Chiropractic in Singapore can help increase circulation, reduce inflammation and restore the correct peristalsis of the intestine, leading to less bloating pain and cramps and improved bowel function.

Our experts at Vitality Chiropractic in Singapore specialize in upper cervical Chiropractic care. Our team provides personalized care tailored to your individual needs. We perform accurate Chiropractic adjustments to improve your nerve health and overall function. If you are seeking relief from IBS symptoms, contact us right now to restore your gut health.

REFERENCES

Balmuș, I., Ciobîcă, A., Cojocariu, R., Luca, A., & Gorgan, L. (2020). Irritable bowel syndrome and neurological deficiencies: Is there a relationship? The possible relevance of the oxidative stress status. Medicina-lithuania, 56(4), 175. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina56040175
Camilleri, M. (2021). Diagnosis and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. JAMA, 325(9), 865. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.22532
Nam, S. Y., Kim, J. H., Ryu, K. H., & Park, B. (2010). Prevalence and risk factors of irritable bowel syndrome in healthy screenee undergoing colonoscopy and laboratory tests. Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, 16(1), 47–51. https://doi.org/10.5056/jnm.2010.16.1.47
Raskov, H., Burcharth, J., Pommergaard, H., & Rosenberg, J. (2016). Irritable bowel syndrome, the microbiota and the gut-brain axis. Gut Microbes, 7(5), 365–383. https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2016.1218585
Tao, E., Wu, Y., Hu, C., Zhu, Z., Ye, D., Gao, L., Chen, B., Guo, R., Shu, X., Zheng, W., Zhang, T., Jia, X., Du, X., Fang, M., & Jiang, M. (2023). Early life stress induces irritable bowel syndrome from childhood to adulthood in mice. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1255525
Wu, S., Yuan, C., Liu, S., Zhang, Q., Yang, Z., Sun, F., Zhan, S., Zhu, S., & Zhang, S. (2022). Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Long-Term Risk of Cancer: A Prospective cohort study among 0.5 million adults in UK Biobank. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 117(5), 785–793. https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000001674

Written by

Shaan Rai (Chiropractic, Singapore)

Shaan (UK) is based in Singapore. He is a GCC registered Singapore Chiropractor, completing a 5 year course at AECC, attaining his Masters in Chiropractic. His career has been specialised in neurological cases, such as migraines and vertigo. He is the Vuce President and Chairman for Outreach & Charity for Alliance of Chiropractic (AoC) and is a founder of Vitality Chiropractic Singapore. He developed the NeuroPro method, combining Upper Cervical techniques with Functional Neurology Rehab.