IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)
IBS is an umbrella term given to many symptoms like bloating, constipation, diarrhoea etc.
IBS is extremely common and more so in women.
Here are some of the most common causes of IBS?
SIBO
Small intestine bacterial overgrowth can hinder your intestines’ ability to do their job properly. It is estimated that 84% of IBS cases are down to SIBO.
Food sensitivities
Food sensitivities are known triggers of IBS. If your immune system reacts to a certain food, it can impair your digestion causing IBS.
Gut Dysbiosis
Gut dysbiosis or Imbalance in the gut microflora (bacteria) can lead to IBS symptoms.
Chronic stress
Stress can be both a cause and symptom of IBS, as your gut and your brain are talking to each other constantly via the gut-brain axis.
Leaky gut
Intestinal hyperpermeability or leaky gut can trigger an immune reaction. The resulting inflammation can lead to digestive disturbance and IBS.
Childhood trauma
Family conflict, severe illness or the death of a loved one in childhood can increase the risk of developing IBS later in life.
An over-sensitive nervous system
IBS sufferers tend to have overactive nervous systems, which affects the digestive process and creates the symptoms of IBS.
CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME (CFS)
CFS sufferers describe their symptoms as extreme fatigue without an underlying medical condition. The fatigue does not improve with rest and can get worse with physical or mental activity. Other common symptoms are sleep problems, headaches, joint and muscle pain, sore throat, and brain fog.
Some causes of CFS:
Bacterial imbalance
Imbalanced gut bacteria, known as dysbiosis, has been linked to CFS.
Food sensitivities
Foods that we are sensitive to can activate the immune system, causing inflammation and pain common symptoms in CFS.
Adrenal function
Altered adrenal function is caused by repeated physical and emotional stress. This has been linked to poor energy and fatigue.
Thyroid dysfunction
Suboptimal levels of thyroid hormones are often observed in cases of CFS.
Infections and toxins
Viruses, heavy metals and even mould can damage the mitochondria, the energy-producing factors of the cell. This can lead to CFS symptoms.
A poor diet
Although this doesn’t cause CFS, excess sugar, processed foods and trans fats can increase the inflammatory processes in the body.
FIBROMYALGIA
Fibromyalgia is when a sufferer feels pain in certain areas of the body. The pain has been there for more than three months and is not connected to another illness. It is more common in middle-aged women.
Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue are often linked but there are some differences between the two conditions. Other common symptoms in Fibromyalgia are stiffness, headaches, sleep problems, depression, anxiety, brain fog and irritable bowel syndrome.
These are some of the things that can contribute to Fibromyalgia:
SIBO
A study of people with fibromyalgia found that 100% of them also had small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
Thyroid dysfunction
Suboptimal levels of thyroid hormones are often seen in cases of fibromyalgia.
Food sensitivities
Eating foods to which we are sensitive can activate the immune system, contributing to inflammation and fibromyalgia.
Infections and toxins
Viruses, heavy metals and even mould can damage the mitochondria, the energy-producing factors of the cell. This can lead to fatigue often seen in fibromyalgia.
Early-life trauma
A feeling of lack of safety, particularly in early life, can lead to a state of hypervigilance, which makes pain worse. This results in the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
A poor diet
This does not cause fibromyalgia, but excess sugar, processed foods and trans fats can increase the inflammatory processes in the body.
LEAKY GUT
In a healthy small intestine, the gaps in the cell wall open up to let nutrients through but otherwise they stay closed. When a person has a leaky gut aka intestinal permeability these gaps can stay open and allow undigested food proteins, pathogens and bacteria into the bloodstream that can then cause an immune reaction in our body causing pain and inflammation.
There are many causes of leaky gut, here are some of them:
SIBO
Small intestine bacterial overgrowth, which is an overgrowth of bacteria in the wrong place, can damage the gut lining, and lead to leaky gut or increased permeability.
Food sensitivities
The inflammatory reaction caused by food sensitivities can make the gaps between cells stay open longer than they should.
Poor diet
High-fat, low-fibre diets have been associated with increased intestinal permeability.
High alcohol intake
Alcohol is a known irritant to the gut lining and can damage the cells causing a leaky gut.
Bacterial imbalance
Overgrowth or imbalance of certain bacteria can lead to inflammation, contributing to a leaky gut.
Chronic stress
Studies show that stress encourages the overgrowth of bacteria and damages the intestinal lining.
Anxiety
This is really a type of chronic stress and can be both a cause and a result of a leaky gut.
Parasitic infections
Parasites damage your gut by causing an immune reaction. They also eat the nutrients you need for gut repair. If they are not controlled they cause a leaky gut.
Excessive use of painkillers
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, more commonly known as painkillers, have been found to damage the gut lining.