Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, affects millions of Americans every day. Side effects of IBS are uncomfortable, frustrating, embarrassing and restricting. Surviving IBS can be a difficult task, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. Here are a few helpful tips for coping with IBS.
Identify Trigger Foods
Identifying the foods and drinks that trigger your IBS is a constant struggle since your trigger foods can change over time. By maintaining a food diary and taking note on what you eat and how it makes you feel, you’ll have an easier time identifying the things you should stray from to keep the symptoms of your IBS at bay.
Control Diet
By eating smaller meals and minimizing the amount of unhealthy foods you eat, you can better control your IBS while ensuring your body is receiving the nutrients it needs. Maintaining a healthy weight can help curb the symptoms of IBS.
Understanding Colorectal Symptoms
By identifying your triggers and understanding the side effects of IBS associated with them, you can avoid the looming anxiety of uncertainty or embarrassment about the disease. Stress and anxiety are also known culprits of enhancing the symptoms of IBS, so anything you can do to avoid stress will alleviate your symptoms.
Talk to a Colorectal Specialist
A colorectal specialist can give you additional tips for keeping your personal symptoms under control. People react to IBS differently, so it’s important to speak with a medical professional who can give you research-based advice and IBS treatment based on your individual case.
Find Support for Your Irritable Bowel Syndrome
You can find a multitude of online support groups specifically focused on IBS. These groups are extremely helpful to those suffering from IBS in that they provide the opportunity to speak with others also experiencing the symptoms of IBS, receive advice based on others’ experience with the disease and keep up to date on any new breakthroughs for the disease.
You don’t have to live in fear or shame when it comes to IBS. Arm yourself with the knowledge and support to live a better life. You should be the one to rule your IBS, not the other way around.