May 9, 2011
By Ellin Holohan
HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) — A simple meditation technique can help ease the torment suffered by people with a chronic bowel disease, a new study has found.
The research, done at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, found that women with irritable bowel syndrome who practiced “mindful meditation” had more than a 38 percent reduction in symptoms, far surpassing a nearly 12 percent reduction for women who participated in a traditional support group.
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January 28, 2011
FRIDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) — Increasing one’s physical activity routine can help improve symptoms among irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients, Swedish researchers report.
Vigorous activity can also help keep IBS symptoms from worsening among such patients, the researchers said.
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January 5, 2011
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By Amanda Gardner
WEDNESDAY, January 5 (Health.com) — An antibiotic widely used to treat diarrhea in travelers may also provide some relief to people with the common and difficult-to-treat condition known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to a pair of new studies in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved the antibiotic, rifaximin, for use in IBS, which affects as many as 1 in 5 U.S. adults. The agency is currently reviewing the drug for that purpose and is expected to make a decision in March. Read More
March 29, 2010
FRIDAY, March 26 (HealthDay News) — Shift work increases the risk for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), new research shows.
“We know that people participating in shift work often complain of gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea,” Dr. Sandra Hoogerwerf, an assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, said in a university news release. “These are the same symptoms of IBS.”
In a study involving 399 nurses, she and her colleagues found that those doing shift work — especially rotating shifts — were significantly more likely to develop IBS and abdominal pain than were those who worked a standard daytime schedule. Read More
March 17, 2010
WEDNESDAY, March 17 (HealthDay News) — People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) aren’t at increased risk for polyps, colon cancer or inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and, in most cases, don’t require a colonoscopy, U.S. researchers say.
Symptoms of IBS, which affects 10 percent to 20 percent of Americans, include recurrent abdominal pain or cramping in connection with altered bowel habits. The condition is more common among women than men. Read More
January 7, 2010
THURSDAY, Jan. 7 (HealthDay News) — The popular herbal supplement St. John’s wort does not appear to relieve the pain and discomfort that accompanies irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), new research suggests.
The finding is the first to indicate that an herbal preparation long-touted as an effective alternative treatment for mild and moderate depression does not appear to treat IBS. Read More
December 19, 2008
THURSDAY, Dec. 18 (HealthDay News) — A leading organization of gastroenterologists has released new guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The guidelines, issued by the American College of Gastroenterology and published in the January issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology, essentially replace a 2002 document.
“The world of IBS is changing quickly because of more therapies and an increased awareness. It is considered a ‘real disease,’” said Dr. Lawrence Brandt, chairman of the group’s IBS task force and chief of gastroenterology at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. “A lot of new drugs are being developed, and a lot of work still needs to be done, but there’s enough new information since the last time.” Read More
November 13, 2008
(Fotolia)
By Patrick Sauer
THURSDAY, Nov. 13, 2008 (Health.com) — Peppermint oil, soluble fiber, and antispasmodic drugs can indeed help people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to an analysis of 25 years of research on the condition, which is characterized by bouts of diarrhea and constipation.
About 10% to 15% of people in North America have IBS, and it’s twice as common in women. However, only about one-third of people with the intestinal disorder seek treatment.
The exact cause of IBS remains unknown, and that lack of knowledge has led to the use of a variety of treatments, including fiber supplements, probiotics, antidepressants, behavioral-based therapies, psychotherapy, food modification, acupuncture, and laxatives. However, many treatments are controversial because study results have been mixed. Read More
