These factors are known as triggers and include a variety of foods and ingredients. Smoking, hormones, and stress can also act as IBS triggers. Triggers vary from person to person. Many people with IBS manage their condition by cutting certain foods out of their diet, though it may take some trial and error to find out which foods are problems for your system. Staying well-hydrated by drinking three to four pint glasses of water each day can help you avoid symptoms. It’s important to keep track of what you eat to try to figure out how your diet may be affecting your IBS symptoms. You may need to stick to a dietary change for several weeks before you notice a change in your symptoms. Even once you think you have your triggers figured out, it’s possible you’ll need to start tracking your diet again if you experience a change in the frequency or severity of your symptoms. Pregnancy often causes the following changes, which are related to high levels of estrogen and progesterone:
Reduced pain sensitivity, including digestive painWorsening of constipation
Menopause often causes the following changes, which are related to a drop in female sex hormones:
Reduced overall IBS symptomsIncreased incidence of constipation
In women, taking oral contraceptives sometimes reduces IBS symptoms during or around menopause. People with certain mental health issues or who have had traumatic experiences are also more likely to develop IBS, including the following:
AnxietyDepressionHistory of sexual, physical, or emotional-spiritual abuse
Additional reporting by Jordan M. Davidson.
