Patient was educated on causes and risk factors for irritable bowel syndrome as follows:
- Abdominal stretching occurs from gas and stool formation during the process of digestion.
- Nervous response to the abdominal stretching should be intact, to bring on orderly contraction and relaxation of the smooth muscle of the intestines, to help move the gas and stool in the intestines and eliminate them.
- Irritable bowel syndrome is usually considered to be secondary to an abnormal nervous response to abdominal stretching, resulting in either constipation or diarrhea.
- Caffeinated drinks, chocolate, highly fatty foods, and spicy foods can bring on episodes of irritable bowel.
- Acute episodes of gastroenteritis and stressful states, such as, prolonged period of general illness, surgery, and menstruation in females can precipitate episodes of irritable bowel syndrome.
