Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Symptoms Causes and Treatments

Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic functional disorder of the intestines which causes abdominal pain, often accompanied by cramping, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. It is also referred to as spastic colon or mucous colitis. Irritable bowel syndrome is more commonly known by its abbreviated term - IBS.

There are three forms of IBS depending on the symptoms -- diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D), constipation-predominant (IBS-C) and IBS with alternating stool pattern (IBS-A). Clinical investigations are going on a new IBS subtype, post-infectious IBS (IBS-PI).

Symptoms of IBS

IBS symptoms include:

? Abdominal pain

? Discomfort associated with changes in bowel habits

? Fewer than three bowel movements a week

? More than three bowel movements a day

? Hard or lumpy stools

? Loose or watery stools

? Straining during a bowel movement

? Urgency (having to rush to have a bowel movement)

? Feeling of incomplete bowel movement

? Passing mucus (white material) during a bowel movement

? Abdominal fullness, bloating, or swelling

? Chronic pelvic pain

? Mental stress

? Fibromyalgia and various mental disorders

? Researchers believe that there are neurological and psychological disorders associated with IBS.

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The exact causes of irritable bowel syndrome are unknown, but there are factors that may aggravate the trouble. Dietary factors and stress don?t exactly cause IBS, but they can aggravate it. Various studies and researches have noted an IBS connection to diet. Physicians feel that the correct diet can provide IBS relief.

Common IBS diet advice includes:

? Eat soluble fiber foods and supplements.

? Substitute dairy products for soy or rice products.

? Be careful with fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in insoluble fiber.

? Eat small amounts in regular intervals to lessen the symptoms of IBS.

? Avoid eating red meat, oily or fatty (and fried) products.

? Avoid taking dairy products (especially when lactose intolerance is suspected).

? Avoid solid chocolate, coffee (regular and decaffeinated), alcohol, carbonated beverages and artificial sweeteners.

IBS Treatment

IBS treatment includes dietary advice and medication. Developing good dietary habits may be the best treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.

Medications can provide instant IBS relief. These may include stool softeners and laxatives in constipation-predominant, and antidiarrheal (loperamide) in diarrhea-predominant IBS. The low dosage of tricyclic and SSRI antidepressants has shown to be the most widely prescribed medications for helping to relieve symptoms of visceral sensitivity (pain) and diarrhea or constipation respectively. Other medications include:

? Alosetron: Alosetron is a selective 5-HT3 antagonist for IBS-D. It is only available for women in the United States under a restricted access program, due to severe risks of side effects if taken mistakenly by IBS-A or IBS-C sufferers.

? Cilansetron: Cilansetron is also a selective 5-HT3 antagonist that is undergoing further clinical studies in Europe for IBS-D sufferers.

? Tegaserod: Tegaserod is a selective 5-HT4 antagonist for IBS-C. It has shown to have an excellent safety profile for relieving IBS constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation.

Paul MacIver writes about health conditions including IBS and Crohn's Disease. To read how hypnotherapy can be used to beat IBS visit Online IBS Help You may freely reprint this article as long as nothing is changed, bio is included, and all links are made active.

More articles at www.articles-host.com

Treating Adult Acne With Antiaging Moisturizers

Softening the skin and relieving wrinkles with anti-aging moisturizers is becoming a welcome and effective method of treating acne. To date there is a large and growing number of people, especially adult women, who have benefited from new techniques that not only reduce acne but also improve aging skin.

There is connection between anti-aging and acne. In the 1970?s two Dermatologists, Dr. Eugene Van Scott, and Dr. Albert Klingman begin investigating vitamin A as an alternative to benzoyl peroxide for the treatment of acne. Benzoyl peroxide is the active ingredient in most over-the-counter acne remedies. such as Proactiv, Clearasil and others. Dr Klingman eventually developed Retin A, a derivative of vitamin A, and Dr. Van Scott began working with the structurally similar Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs). Neither of these researchers attracted much attention until it was noted that women using these substances for acne were experiencing a reduction in skin wrinkling. Retin A and AHAs quickly became most widely used anti-aging skin care ingredients worldwide.

Acne and Wrinkling share the same problematic skin condition: excessive undetached dead skin tissue building up on the skin?s surface. This stiffens the skin. Wrinkles result because a less flexible outer layer of skin creases the underlying growing tissue. The skin thus increasingly grows into deeper and more pronounced lines. Acne results when this dead skin tissue clogs pores and inhibits the normal passage of oils and moisture, causing whiteheads or blackheads and eventually pimples. Both AHAs and Benzoyl peroxide, however, can relieve this condition by exfoliating this dry outermost layer of the skin.

The problem is that benzoyl peroxide, while it is effective in removing oil, dries out the skin thus increasing the amount of dead skin tissue on the surface of the skin. This in turn clogs pores. For most women however, using moisturizers to relieve this dryness is not an option. The oils and waxes used in moisturizers aggravate acne because they compound pore blockage.

Several companies have worked to solve this problem and have developed moisturizers for acne prone skin. Murad and Olay have developed a number of products. At Niora, we have worked to solve this problem by creating moisturizers formulated with specially emulsified jojoba oil. Jojoba oil, while intensely moisturizing, is a fine oil with a far smaller molecular weight than sebum, or skin oil. Jojoba penetrates these heavier skin oils, unclogging pores and dissolving nascent blackheads and whiteheads. Because of Niora?s emulsification process, dissolved sebum and excess oils rinse free leaving the skin soft and clean.

These lighter moisturizers can be blended with alpha hydroxy acids, which in turn exfoliate the skin and work to prevent excessive tissues from building, back up in the pores. Typically these types of exfoliating cleansers must be used daily to be effective, but they replace normal moisturizers and cleansers and fit easily into most skin care regimes.

These new skin care products thus offer the best of both worlds: an effective acne treatment that moisturizes the skin and reduces wrinkling. To date thousands of women have successfully used these new products demonstrating that the best acne treatment might well be anti-aging skin care.

For additional information about acne and contact Niora at pr@niora.com
www.niora.com

Niora is the manufacturer of the sensitive skin friendly anti-aging acne treatment, Alpha Clear. Niora has created fine anti-aging skin care since 1989.

CONTACT:
Paul Resnick
Niora
pr@niora.com
http://www.niora.com

More articles at www.articles-host.com

Lose Weight and Burn Fat with One Simple Eating Principle

Fifteen years ago the doctor?s suggested that we eat pasta as a good healthy food. They also thought we would possibly lose some weight by doing so. Now we are eighteen percent fatter. Why?

While pasta is not a bad food, we have altered our eating habits slightly. If you completed a food log for a week, you would see that your plate would consist of at least half being in one food group. Most of our diets are lopsided. This eventually slows down the digestive process. When people like me ask you to eat a balanced diet what does it mean? It could mean different things. I call balancing your foods, synergizing your food groups. Synergize means; the action of two or more forces.

When is a car easier to turn the wheel? When you are sitting still or when you are going down the road? Yes, moving down the road. When you eat different types of food they feed off the others. This means the digestive system works more efficiently, thus steering the car much easier.

Here are some eating suggestions to allow your body to synergize your food into fuel instead of fat:

1.Try not to eat breads with pastas.

2.Put carbohydrates, good fats, veggies, and proteins on your plate each time.

3.Wine and pastas are killers.

4.Never eat more than half your plate in complex carbohydrates or sugars.

5.Fish and veggies are good combinations.

6.One glass of wine at a time

The general rule is to mix it up on your plate. If the plate is lopsided the tires on your fat burning machine will go flat. Foods work well together, not by themselves.

START LOSING WEIGHT THE RIGHT WAY FOR GOOD TODAY! FREE MINI COURSE click here http://www.resolutions.bz. Discover the common sense way to lose weight with out dieting that the doctor?s DON?T want you to know. Greg Ryan is a best selling author, former employee of Kathy Smith, and high profile fitness expert.

More articles at www.articles-host.com

Knowing Your Skin Type

People can spend years searching for their perfect skin care solution. Finding the right products can be a constant struggle. Many offer quick fixes or cures for skin conditions. Most experts agree that a skin care solution regimen includes several basic steps. Cleaning your skin is an important first step to healthy skin. Finding a cleanser that fits your skin type is best. Toners are a more aggressive product while astringents are the strongest of all these types of products.

Moisturizing your skin is the third step in a skin care solution. Chilling your moisturizer in warm weather and warming the moisturizer in cool weather helps your skin to absorb the moisture more readily.

Another important part of a skin care solution is protecting your skin in extremely hot or cold climates. Extended sun exposure can lead to serious skin problems. A skin care solution can help ease the symptoms of various skin conditions. Dry skin, a common skin condition, can be caused by many factors. Dry skin can affect the entire body. Dry skin can be mild, moderate, or severe.

Finding the Right Products Will Help You Develop a Skin Care Solution Lotions, balms, sun protect ants, cleansers, moisturizers, and many other products exist to relieve and cure skin conditions. Readily available products can often relieve most mild cases of skin conditions. Living with dry skin or other skin conditions can be annoying and frustrating. Finding the right skin care solution may take some time and effort; however, the benefits of working on your skin's health far outweigh the difficulties in finding appropriate skin care products.

Dermaglow offers ranges of organic and natural skin care and beauty products. http://www.dermaglow.co.uk

David Stanton 2005

More articles at www.articles-host.com

eDrugs Just a Click Away

You must have shopped through internet. Isn?t it convenient to use this medium to order goods of your choice and get them delivered at your doorstep. What's more, you can order items from around the world using websites that specifically serve this purpose.

Ordering medicines through an online pharmacy is the latest in this trend. These online or e-pharmacies are drugstores that fulfill your medication order and deliver them to your home. You don?t have to spend time in visiting the doctor and then going to a drugstore to buy the prescribed medicines. It makes even more sense if you are on long term medication.

These pharmacies have a panel of registered medical practitioners who can provide online consultation and give you a prescription for medicines which can be promptly ordered at the same instant.

The medicines that you buy through the online pharmacies are cheaper than what you pay at the local drugstore. In some cases the difference is as much as 80% on the lower side. This is mainly due to the fact that these pharmacies source their goods directly from the manufacturer or wholesaler. They get cheaper prices and this is passed on to you for your benefit. Not only bulk orders but even unit prices of medicines are cheaper at the online pharmacies. If you are a regular user of this mode of purchase, you could end up saving thousands of dollars over the year.

Another valuable aspect of these e-pharmacies is their confidential nature. You can avoid embarrassment of going to a doctor?s clinic and waiting to discuss your personal health problems like those related to obesity or sexual health. Online consultation is provided within the confines and security of your home. Even the medication is discreetly delivered at your doorstep.

If you have been using the internet for making purchases then you must be familiar with modes of e-payment, i.e. payment for goods made through the internet using a variety of options including credit cards, debit cards, etc. The online pharmacies offer these secure modes of payment in partnership with the leading banks and well known world wide payment facilitators. The use of latest encryption methods makes your payment secure and prevents malicious use of your personal data.

When shopping at the online pharmacies you have the option of buying branded or generic products. Discounts are available on both types for bulk orders including refills.

Like with any internet shopping, you must first ensure that the online pharmacy is genuinely registered with the local health authority and is selling FDA approved drugs. This task is not difficult and will go a long way in building your trust for online shopping for medication.

In short these online pharmacies offer a unique experience in buying medication saving you time and money while you stay within the comforts of your home.

Daniels Charles, an associated editor to epharma.md, is a contributing author to the http://www.epharma.md/ for distinct article sites/journals. Please feel free to visit http://www.epharma.md/ for more information on General Health related issues like weight loss,online pharmacy,men?s health etc.Or write to him at epharm@gmail.com. Any comments and /or suggestions will be highly appreciated. Please note that this article is not a substitute for medical advice.

More articles at www.articles-host.com

I Lost Close to 60 Pounds in a Year!

How would you feel about yourself if you could lose 30 pounds by this time next year? Little-kid delighted, don?t you think?

Better yet?how would you FEEL if you could lose those pounds without measuring, counting, starving, sacrificing, sneaking, and guilting?

How would you feel if you could feel full and satisfied while the pounds just slipped away? And what if you could feel better too with fewer aches and pains and more energy?

My guess? Better than delighted?maybe close to ecstatic? Well, that?s how Linda Ramsey felt when she lost almost 60 pounds in a year.

Linda had been overweight since the birth of her daughter?thirty something years ago. She was tired of being tired, and she just wanted to feel better. She knew she was getting older, and she wanted a better life for herself.

After Linda and I put our heads together (mostly hers and a little bit mine), she lost close to 60 pounds in a year and the best part?she has kept it off now for over 21/2 years. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to gain weight back after you?ve worked so long and so hard to lose it?

To Linda?s thrill and relief, her husband also lost weight?close to 40 pounds?and kept it off and completely got off his high blood pressure medication.

Linda tells me that she has lots more energy, feels better, and the best part?she feels better about herself. Recently, she had a rather serious health problem, and she knows it would have been catastrophic if she had been carrying around 60 extra pounds.

Does Linda get bored eating this way? ?Not at all,? she says. ?There?s less fuss, less mess, and I?m full and satisfied; not deprived in the least.?

How could she feel deprived when she is slimmer and fitter than she has been in years, and so is her husband. Linda has made her dream come true?to create a better life for herself and her husband.

What?s your dream for your body and your weight? What dream-come-true will make you feel good about yourself?

Now, right now, is the time to discover your own personal dream for yourself and make your dream come true for your body, one simple, common sense bite at a time.

Dr. Leslie Van Romer is a motivational health speaker, writer and lifestyle coach. Visit Dr. Leslie at www.DrLeslieVanRomer.com for practical direction, hope and inspiration.

More articles at www.articles-host.com

Bodybuilding Protein

What helps make comedy also builds muscle?

This is key to getting the most out of your bodybuilding protein intake. There?s not much point in stuffing down that half chicken and protein shake?only to roll over and have a nap.

No, we need discipline here?and that means properly timed meals to give a little helping hand to the natural processes that are stimulated by intense exercise.

After a weight training session, your muscles will have been traumatised and at a microscopic level there will be tears and damage to the tiny fibres that make up each muscle. All this means that the real muscle building happens outside the gym!

The recovery stage begins immediately after exercise and is in full effect for around 24-48 hours afterward.

By timing your intake of nutrients to key ?windows? it is possible to radically increase the effectiveness of each exercise session on muscle growth.

Taking a combined bodybuilding protein and carbohydrate drink or meal straight after training has been shown to kick start several well known processes that result in anabolism (or muscle growth).

The ?window? of opportunity is open up to half an hour after exercise ?yes, its not a hard and fast rule?but the sooner the post work out meal is taken, the quicker the ?recovery? processes are assisted.

A typical post-workout meal would include 0.5 gram protein per kilo of bodyweight, taken together with perhaps a high carbohydrate drink with 1.5 gram carbohydrate per kilo bodyweight - containing maybe dextrose, maltodextrin or another high glycemic rated carbohydrate.

This might sound complicated, but its easily done?the protein is equivalent to that found in a small tin of tuna?for someone weighing 150Ib.

An easy way to meet these requirements is perhaps to use a meal replacement supplement as this will have both the bodybuilding protein and carbohydrates in the right proportions ? and can be taken easily with you to where you train.

Have you heard the saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day?...not for people who weight train?the results of a properly planned post workout meal are impressive?

You might already know that Growth Hormone release will be stimulated by this combination of nutrients taken after exercise?also, the higher insulin levels brought on by the carbs will stimulate the movement of glucose and amino acids into the cells to trigger the recovery process.

That's all for now.

Find out the truth behind the hype with http://www.top-bodybuilding-supplements.com With top articles on bodybuilding weightloss, bodybuilding protein, safe creatine use, unbiased bodybuilding supplement reviews and training tips.

This new resource, http://www.top-bodybuilding-supplements.com is also home to the top-bodybuilding-forums-blog. A unique way to keep up to date with developments in the world of bodybuilding and sports nutrition. Come and check it out today!

More articles at www.articles-host.com