Can IBS flare up due to stress?

Can anxiety cause intestinal problems?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome. There is an entire disorder that is linked specifically to anxiety and stress. Some believe that irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is caused by stress. IBS has all of the problems of other bowel issues, including diarrhea, gas, and severe stomach discomfort.

Dairy can be another problem. The lactose it contains may cause bloating, gas, and diarrhea in some people. Dairy also contains proteins, like casein and whey, that also can cause irritation and inflammation in your gut. Many other food sensitivities exist, including soy, corn and eggs.

It’s said to help treat IBS because it contains healthy bacteria or probiotics. Most yogurt brands do contain probiotic strains of bifidobacteria and lactobacillus, which are said to restore the balance of good bacteria in the gut. That’s good. But most IBS is simply not caused by a lack of good bacteria.

About two in 10 people in the UK have IBS. You can develop IBS at any age, but you usually have your first symptoms when you’re between 20 and 30. Women are twice as likely to get it as men. IBS can often be eased with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medicines from your pharmacy.

Probiotics for IBS. Why probiotics seem to work is still something of a mystery, but some studies suggest that probiotic supplements, especially those with a predominance of Bifidobacterium infantis, alleviate IBS symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, and bowel movement irregularity.

Fruits contain the sugar fructose, which can cause issues for IBS sufferers. Fructose is particularly high in apples and pears, and somewhat high in watermelon, concentrated fruit, dried fruit and fruit juice. Fruits with lower levels of fructose include bananas, citrus, grapes and berries.

Symptoms often worsen after eating. A flare-up may last from 2 to 4 days, and then symptoms may either improve or go away completely. Signs and symptoms vary considerably between individuals. They often resemble those of other diseases and conditions.

Also called IBS, this disorder is characterized by abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, gas, constipation, and diarrhea. People with IBS frequently suffer from anxiety and depression, which can worsen symptoms. That’s because the colon is in part controlled by the nervous system, which responds to stress.

Keep reading to find out which foods could be making your IBS more uncomfortable.

Insoluble fiber. Fiber adds healthy bulk to the diet.

Gluten. Insoluble fiber content in whole grains may cause IBS symptoms.

Dairy.

Fried foods.

Beans and legumes.

Caffeinated drinks.

Processed foods.

Sugar-free sweeteners.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome. There is an entire disorder that is linked specifically to anxiety and stress. Some believe that irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is caused by stress. IBS has all of the problems of other bowel issues, including diarrhea, gas, and severe stomach discomfort.

Try to:

Experiment with fiber. Fiber helps reduce constipation but also can worsen gas and cramping.

Avoid problem foods. Eliminate foods that trigger your symptoms.

Eat at regular times. Don’t skip meals, and try to eat at about the same time each day to help regulate bowel function.

Exercise regularly.

Although psychological problems like anxiety don’t cause the digestive disorder, people with IBS may be more sensitive to emotional troubles. Stress and anxiety may make the mind more aware of spasms in the colon. IBS may be triggered by the immune system, which is affected by stress.

Things that may make the symptoms of IBS worse include:

Alcoholic beverages.

Chocolate.

Dairy products.

Drinks with caffeine such as coffee, teas, or soda.

Sweets.

Fatty foods.

Fructose syrup-containing foods and drinks.

Sorbitol (sweetener usually found in sugar free gum)

There are numerous issues caused by anxiety that could affect the sensations in your stomach. Some examples are: Abdominal Tension Stress tends to cause a great deal of tension in the abdomen. Irritable Bowel Syndrome Anxiety has been linked as one of the most likely causes of irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS.

The gastrointestinal tract is sensitive to emotion. Anger, anxiety, sadness, elation — all of these feelings (and others) can trigger symptoms in the gut. The brain has a direct effect on the stomach. Therefore, a person’s stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress, or depression.

How to Quickly Ease Stomach Pain from IBS

Apply Heat. Tony Anderson/The Image Bank/Getty Images.

Sip a Cup of Tea. Tom Merton/Hoxton/Getty Images.

Eat Carefully. Dorling Kindersley/Getty Images.

Try an Over-the-Counter Supplement.

Calm Your Mind and Body.

Use Your Imagination.

Listen to a Hypnotherapy Recording.

Foods that can make IBS-related diarrhea worse for some people include:

Too much fiber, especially the insoluble kind you get in the skin of fruits and vegetables.

Food and drinks with chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, fructose, or sorbitol.

Carbonated drinks.

Large meals.

Fried and fatty foods.

Digestion Issues Anxiety causes stress on your gastrointestinal system. That stress may cause you to stop processing food efficiently, often processing it too quickly or too slowly. That can cause the bacteria in your body to produce excess gas, which leads to bloating.

Eat more fiber. Fiber is a bit of a mixed bag for IBS sufferers. It helps ease some symptoms, including constipation, but can actually worsen other symptoms like cramping and gas. Still, high-fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables, and beans are recommended as an IBS treatment if taken gradually over several weeks.

The most common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are:

abdominal pain and cramping which is often relieved by emptying your bowel,

a change in your bowel habits, such as diarrhoea, constipation or, sometimes, both,

bloating and swelling of your abdomen,

excessive wind,