What happens if IBS goes untreated? Does IBS get worse if left untreated? Below I explore some of the different types of IBS and how the symptoms associated with these could progress over time if they aren't properly managed: 1. If left untreated, symptoms associated with IBS-C could become more chronic or translate into other issues, some of which are as follows: Pain and discomfort.
A bunged-up bowel could give rise to pain or discomfort the longer it goes on. Your bowel should be opening at least once daily, on average, or else you could be considered constipated and experience some other unwanted symptoms as a result of this. Bloating is a common symptom associated with IBS-C as the bowel becomes blocked up and the bacteria within the gut continue to ferment.
Haemorrhoids or piles are commonly associated with symptoms of constipation. These can be uncomfortable and could risk getting worse as time goes on if the underlying constipation isn't properly managed. Occasionally constipation can contribute to other issues such as diverticulitis as it can encourages the bowel to bulge or create unhelpful pockets as a result of the backlog of waste.
What can be done to help? When it comes to IBS-C and managing the symptoms in the long-term, my advice is as follows: Drink plenty of water. At least 1. Aim to drink plain, still water as other drinks don't count towards your total intake — they should be extras only! Up your fibre. Whilst FODMAPs could prove tricky for some, upping your fibre intake and eating fresh foods is often an important step in helping to keep your bowel moving. Consuming enough water alongside the fibre will help to maximise the benefits.
Try a natural remedy. Silicol Gel is licensed for the relief of the symptoms of IBS and could help to calm the gut during a flare up. Want a better night's sleep? Get your FREE 6-day personalised sleep programme now Simply answer 2 quick questions to receive personalised sleep tips straight to your email inbox. Search for your nearest store in the UK by inserting your post code below Search. Can IBS be made worse by allergies? Why does my period make IBS worse? Can you suddenly get IBS?
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Share on Pinterest. Physical health complications. Mental health complications. Misconceptions about IBS-related side effects. It also can coexist with another disorder. These are symptoms and signs of an underlying disease that physically damages the gut. Sometimes the most alarming of such symptoms, namely bleeding, turns out to be un-alarming after all, but you should always let your healthcare provider know. Small amounts of bright red blood usually turn out to be from a hemorrhoid or small tear fissure in the anal passage.
Rarely, it could be due to another condition that requires treatment. On the other hand, large amounts of red blood or black, tarry-colored stool calls for urgent medical attention. Learn more about alarm symptoms. Increased Personal Risk — Sometimes there is a factor in your life that may put you at greater than average risk of acquiring a serious intestinal disease.
For example, if a parent or sibling has had colon cancer or even a precancerous colonic polyp, then your risk of polyps is greater than normal. Celiac disease, where essential nutrients fail to be absorbed, has its greatest prevalence among the descendants of people born in Northern Europe. IBS patients are as likely as anyone to suffer an intestinal infection, which may add to and confuse the symptoms. You should be suspicious of an infection if:. IBS follows an unpredictable course.
There may be periods of relative calm, mixed back and forth with periods of pain or discomfort, and chaotic bowel habits that interfere with your life. However, if the basic pattern of your bowel symptoms changes or one of the situations described above occurs, a visit to your healthcare provider is in order. Sometimes a drug you are taking for another purpose or something new in your diet may be responsible for the change, and your healthcare provider can help you determine that.
A visit also provides your healthcare provider with the opportunity to review your diet, exercise habits, and drug regimen, and perhaps recommend changes. Learn more about working with your healthcare provider. IBS is long-term chronic and tends to repeatedly come and go over time. It does not predispose you to other GI diseases. However, IBS does not protect you from other digestive conditions, and overlap is possible.
New and different symptoms may make you suspicious that something new is happening. You should visit your healthcare provider if you become aware of alarm symptoms or of a factor that might put you more than normally at risk of another disease. Your healthcare provider may review your symptoms and determine if further testing or treatment is necessary. Usually, if the original diagnosis was sound, recurrent, but similar symptoms do not signify a new disease.
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