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Headaches, Confusion, Weakness, Tired, IBS

IBS is now the most common digestive disorder seen by gastroenterologists today. For some people with irritable bowel syndrome the symptoms are nothing more than a mild inconvenience and yet for others, IBS can be a seriously disabling condition where in addition to the usual symptoms of abnormal bowel movements and pain, the sufferer can also experience headaches, confusion, weakness, fatigue and even depression. However, these symptoms can also be associated with other conditions too so it’s important to see your doctor to be sure of an accurate diagnosis.

No one knows what causes IBS although what is known is that there are certain triggers. For example:

A malfunction in the interaction between the brain and the gut
An imbalance of bacteria in the gut
Food intolerances and allergies
Leaky gut syndrome
Stress

IBS is often described as a functional disorder of the digestive tract as a result of a malfunction in the interaction between the brain and the messages it sends to the gut. Most researchers suspect that IBS is caused by a combination of factors and there can be a certain degree of overlap between conditions.

Certainly, studies have linked IBS with leaky gut syndrome, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome and the following symptoms can be associated with all of these:

Abdominal discomfort and pain
Bloating
Food intolerance
Headaches
Fatigue
Weakness
Confusion and mental fog
Depression
Changes in bowel function

Some people develop IBS after a gastric infection and people with IBS often have low levels of friendly bacteria in their gut. Indeed, a study published in the American medical association journal in 2004 stated that 84% of people with IBS had abnormal Lactulose breath tests which indicate that bacterial imbalance is a significant factor. In addition to this, researchers at Cedars-Sinai medical centre in Los Angeles found that 78% of the IBS patients they tested had bacterial overgrowth in the gut.

Any condition affecting the gut and the digestive system can result in headaches, fatigue, weakness and confusion and as such, if you experience these symptoms it is important to see your doctor who can assess your health in general and rule out any other potentially more serious causes.

Around 20% of the population are believed to suffer from irritable bowel syndrome although the figures could be much higher due to the fact that many people with milder symptoms may never seek help for their troubles. For those that do, treatment depends very much on dealing with the most dominant or distressing symptoms. Certainly, reducing or eliminating stress would be advisable as people who live relatively stress free lives are much less prone to IBS.