Allergy-IBS link
I have suffered with allergies and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for years. There may be a link between these two conditons, according to researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
IBS, a digestive disorder, occurs in about 15 percent of the U.S. population. Adults with allergy symptoms report a higher incidence of IBS, suggesting a link between seasonal allergies and IBS, according to a study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
In this study, researchers looked at 125 adults and found the likelihood of IBS was much higher in patients with allergic eczema (3.85 times higher) and seasonal allergic rhinitis (2.67 times). They also found that IBS was 2.56 times more likely in people with depression.
IBS, affecting 15 percent of the general population, is a cluster of symptoms including abdominal pain for 12 weeks within the past year, change in stool consistency or frequency, and relief of abdominal pain with defecation. Various findings suggest indirectly that allergen exposure may lead to IBS symptoms in some patients, but the frequency has not been studied.
Researchers also found a correlation between asthma and IBS. People with asthma showed they had IBS twice as often as non-asthmatics.
How can people with allergies and asthma benefit from this study?
I have allergies, asthma and IBS. Here are some things I would have done differently had I known about this link years ago.
•Prevent respiratory infections because any infection can lead to complications that require additional medications.
•Avoid taking antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. Antibiotics destroy both beneficial and bad bacteria. Antibiotic treatment often precedes the onset of IBS because these drugs create an imbalance of intestinal bacteria. These bacteria which are normally harmless begin to produce toxins and other harmful substances that disrupt digestion and even damage the intestines.
•Limit reliance on allergy and asthma medications. Or at least, opt to take medications with fewer side effects. Some medications may disrupt absorption of vital nutrients needed for day-to-day maintenance of the body’s functions.
•Instead of drugs, try neti pots or electronic nasal irrigation.
•Eat a well-balanced diet, and avoid over-consumption of soda and other sugary and processed foods.
IBS, a digestive disorder, occurs in about 15 percent of the U.S. population. Adults with allergy symptoms report a higher incidence of IBS, suggesting a link between seasonal allergies and IBS, according to a study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
In this study, researchers looked at 125 adults and found the likelihood of IBS was much higher in patients with allergic eczema (3.85 times higher) and seasonal allergic rhinitis (2.67 times). They also found that IBS was 2.56 times more likely in people with depression.
IBS, affecting 15 percent of the general population, is a cluster of symptoms including abdominal pain for 12 weeks within the past year, change in stool consistency or frequency, and relief of abdominal pain with defecation. Various findings suggest indirectly that allergen exposure may lead to IBS symptoms in some patients, but the frequency has not been studied.
Researchers also found a correlation between asthma and IBS. People with asthma showed they had IBS twice as often as non-asthmatics.
How can people with allergies and asthma benefit from this study?
I have allergies, asthma and IBS. Here are some things I would have done differently had I known about this link years ago.
•Prevent respiratory infections because any infection can lead to complications that require additional medications.
•Avoid taking antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. Antibiotics destroy both beneficial and bad bacteria. Antibiotic treatment often precedes the onset of IBS because these drugs create an imbalance of intestinal bacteria. These bacteria which are normally harmless begin to produce toxins and other harmful substances that disrupt digestion and even damage the intestines.
•Limit reliance on allergy and asthma medications. Or at least, opt to take medications with fewer side effects. Some medications may disrupt absorption of vital nutrients needed for day-to-day maintenance of the body’s functions.
•Instead of drugs, try neti pots or electronic nasal irrigation.
•Eat a well-balanced diet, and avoid over-consumption of soda and other sugary and processed foods.
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