紧张和肠易激 Stress and IBS

How does stress affect IBS?

Stress - feeling mentally or emotionally tense, troubled, angry, or overwhelmed - can stimulate colon spasms in people with IBS. The colon has many nerves that connect it to the brain. Like the heart and the lungs, the colon is partly controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which responds to stress. These nerves control the normal contractions of the colon and cause abdominal discomfort at stressful times. People often experience cramps or “butterflies” when they are nervous or upset. In people with IBS, the colon can be overly responsive to even slight conflict or stress. Stress makes the mind more aware of the sensations that arise in the colon, making the person perceive these sensations as unpleasant.常州市第一人民医院消化内科曹建新

Some evidence suggests that IBS is affected by the immune system, which fights infection in the body. The immune system is affected by stress. For all these reasons, stress management is an important part of treatment for IBS. Stress management options include:

Stress reduction (relaxation) training and relaxation therapies such as meditation

Counseling and support

Regular exercise such as walking ,sports or even yoga for some persons

Changes to the stressful situations in your life

Adequate sleep