An Ounce of Prevention: "Irritable or Inflammatory?"

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March 6, 2007	A Publication of QVHD

Irritable or Inflammatory?

By: V. Deborah Culligan, RN, MPH,
Deputy Director QVHD

Many people suffer from occasional abdominal distress, which can range from mild bloating and gasiness to bloody diarrhea and pain. Causes can include viruses, food borne illnesses, or even a food that didn't agree with you. But when abdominal distress becomes chronic, a different cause may underlie the condition. Two common abdominal problems are Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). They are not the same.

IBS is a very common digestive problem. It is sometimes referred to as a spastic colon. Causes can be varied and include smoking, stress, certain foods and anxiety. IBS is really a problem of motility (movement) of the food. If motility is too fast or too slow, it can cause the symptoms, which include abdominal distress for more than three months, changes in stool frequency and/or consistency, bloating and gas.

IBD is less common than IBS. There are several forms, including Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis. Symptoms include fever, weight loss, blood in stool, diarrhea at night, and a tender abdominal mass. IBD may be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, or may be genetically linked.

There are also bowel problems called Diverticular disease, which has been steadily increasing in the adult American. One of the main suspected causes of this disease is a decrease of fiber in diet associated with processed food. With diverticulosis, waste material becomes very solid and the rings of the intestinal muscle have to work harder to push through the waste. This causes pressure on the wall of the intestine which sometimes results in the little bulging pockets. Most often, symptoms do not accompany this condition. But sometimes one of these pockets ruptures and become infected. This is called diverticulitis and can be accompanied by acute abdominal pain, fever, and nasusea.

If you suffer from chronic abdominal distress, mild or severe, or have the symptoms noted in this article, you should see a doctor in order to have your condition evaluated and a proper course of treatment prescribed. In most cases, these diseases can be managed through medications, lifestyle changes, and/or surgery. Treating yourself, without medical evaluation, may cause you to continue experiencing discomfort and pain, and may actually make your condition worse.

For written information, District residents (Hamden, North Haven and Woodbridge) can call QVHD, 203.248.4528. Or you can request information online or through email, dculligan@qvhd.org

An Ounce of Prevention is a publication of the Quinnipiack Valley Health District, located at 1151 Hartford Turnpike, North Haven, CT 06473. Telephone: 248-4528. An Ounce of Prevention is written by V. Deborah Culligan. The articles are published in the following local newspapers, The Advisor & Beth-Wood News.
The content is provided as health education and information to help you make health decisions. It is not intended to be legal or medical advice, or substitute for recommendations made by your health care provider. Address all comments to the district office.


Quinnipiack Valley Health District 1151 Hartford Turnpike North Haven, CT 06473	Phone. (203)248-4528 Fax. (203)248-6671 E-Mail. info@qvhd.org

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