There are some people who may get confused on the symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome and hemorrhoids. These two health condition have different causes but they have some similar symptoms. People suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) usually suffer from diarrhea and constipation which are also common to people with hemorrhoids. There are also some treatments which can be recommended to both conditions.

However, a deeper understanding of both conditions will help you choose the most appropriate treatment. Proper diagnosis from your doctor will determine the causes and the right approach in treating these conditions. To give you a clearer picture of these two conditions, irritable bowel syndrome is an abnormality in the intestines while hemorrhoids is in the rectal area. Although, there is little information on the main causes of IBS but experts believe that it may be due to abnormal interaction between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract or abnormalities in the gut flora or the immune system. Sometimes it is also caused by infections.

IBS is also known as functional bowel syndrome, irritable colon, spastic bowel and spastic colon. The intestines of an individual with IBS may squeeze too hard or not hard enough and cause food to move too quickly or too slowly through the intestines. The common symptoms of IBS are bloating and gas, mucus in the stool, constipation and diarrhea which is common after eating or early in the morning. Other symptoms include the strong urge to have a bowel movement or the need to do another bowel movement even if you already had one. IBS is also associated with abdominal pain and cramping. The lifestyle of a person with an IBS could also be affected and they usually suffer from fatigue.

There is no ultimate cure for IBS while people with hemorrhoids do have so many options in treating the condition. However, there are a lot of effective treatments to address the symptoms. It can be a simple change in the eating habits and lifestyle modification. To get relief from constipation, drinking plenty of water will help. Health experts also advice people with IBS to eat 6 small meals a day rather than eating 3 full meals. Eating healthy foods and avoiding fatty foods will help control IBS symptoms.

Stress is a common factor that aggravates IBS. The symptoms will usually go away if you will be able to control stress especially if it is linked to your work. You should learn new and better ways on how to deal with your stress. There are activities that could help reduce the stress like exercises, relaxation training or meditation. A counselor can also help you in controlling stress.

The use of laxatives will help treat diarrhea. However, too much and longer use of this medication may just weaken your intestines and cause dependency on them. Pain and cramping can be treated with antispasmodic medicines. Hot baths and heating pads can also be used as an alternative.

Eating foods high in fiber or taking fiber supplements will also address the problem on diarrhea and constipation. This will improve the function of the intestines. Soluble fibers are abundant in fruits such as apples, beans and citrus. The inclusion fo Psyllium fiber, which is a vegetable fiber, is a good option. There are also available psyllium supplements which you can purchase over-the-counter so this is not a problem for you. Food rich in insoluble fiber should be included in the diet. This type of fiber adds more bulk to the stool which is a very good treatment for constipation. These can be found in whole grain breads, wheat bran and many vegetables. But the amount of fiber intake should be gradual since some people may experience bloating and gas.

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