Risks of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation if left untreated

This is an automatically translated article.

Posted by Master, Doctor Mai Vien Phuong - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital
Anyone with IBS-C or chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) has a lot to do with their life. Accepting a peaceful coexistence with this disease and not seeking treatment can lead to extremely serious complications.

1. What is irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C)?

Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) is a chronic gastrointestinal (GI) disorder that causes bloating, frequent abdominal pain, and difficulty passing stools. While not life-threatening, IBS-C can be extremely uncomfortable and interfere with a person's daily activities.
Until now, medicine has not found a radical cure, because the cure for IBS-C is mainly based on lifestyle and dietary changes, along with the help of supportive drugs. improve disease symptoms.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) itself is a relatively common digestive disorder, affecting 7 to 21% of people in the United States. IBS-C is just one type of IBS. Other types include: IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D), IBS with alternating diarrhea and constipation (IBS-A).
Although all types of IBS can cause changes in bowel movements with the typical symptom of abdominal pain, there are more obvious symptoms if you have IBS-C.

2. Risk of constipation-type irritable bowel syndrome if left untreated

Anyone with IBS-C or chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) has a lot to do with their life. Accepting a peaceful coexistence with this disease and not seeking treatment can lead to extremely serious complications.
If left untreated, IBS-C can cause serious complications, which include:
2.1 Physical health complications For most people, constipation is only a temporary phenomenon. , which can be adjusted by changing daily lifestyle and diet. However, when you have IBS-C or chronic idiopathic constipation, everything can be extremely difficult, from daily activities to finding treatments.
Untreated IBS-C can cause a number of gastrointestinal health effects such as:
Anal fistula : Straining to have a bowel movement can cause small fissures or tears in the anus. These spots will be difficult to heal if the patient is constantly constipated. Symptoms of an anal fistula can be itching, pain, and bleeding. Fecal stones: When stool begins to harden in the rectum, it may not be able to pass. Because contractions affect the stool's ability to move, a person may need medical help to remove them manually. Hemorrhoids: Swollen and inflamed veins can cause rectal bleeding. Hemorrhoids are often the result of straining to have a bowel movement and overstretching. Malnutrition: When suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, the patient will have to avoid certain foods to avoid aggravating the symptoms. The result is a lack of important nutrients in the body. Malnutrition can cause unwanted weight loss and other serious problems. Rectal prolapse: This condition occurs when a person's rectum prolapses outside the anus, most commonly in people with a history of chronic constipation or in postmenopausal women.

According to statistics from the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, direct and indirect medical costs related to IBS add up to more than $20 billion annually. Illness is one of the most common causes of absenteeism from school and work in many countries around the world.
2.2 Mental health complications Irritable bowel syndrome or chronic idiopathic constipation can have a lasting impact on a person's mental health and overall well-being. People with either condition may develop a fear of going to public places, especially unfamiliar places, due to anxiety about not being able to find a restroom or go to the bathroom. so as not to disturb others. This inadvertently makes the patient's life isolated and less interesting.
The anxiety that IBS-C causes can have far-reaching complications. Anxiety is a contributing factor to a number of chronic health conditions, such as heart disease and chronic respiratory disorders. According to a study published in the journal Clinical Therapeutics, people with IBS report a lower quality of life than those without or with other medical conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or asthma. Asthma, migraine.
Patients living with long-term abdominal pain due to IBS-C can lead to long-term depression and despair. If not timely intervention can lead to extremely dangerous consequences.

3. Misconceptions about side effects related to IBS-C

Many misconceptions exist about some of the potential side effects associated with IBS-C, specifically:
IBS-C doesn't cause colitis, so you won't experience some long-term complications like Intestinal bleeding or an inflamed colon that needs to be removed through surgery. IBS-C does not increase the risk of colon cancer. However, this doesn't mean you'll never get colon cancer - just that IBS-C isn't a risk factor. In summary, the symptoms associated with IBS-C and chronic idiopathic constipation can be difficult to share with those around you or even your doctor, however, put your health first, Only finding treatment can help eliminate the disease and improve the quality of life.

Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is a prestigious address trusted by many patients in performing diagnostic techniques for digestive diseases, diseases that cause chronic diarrhea or Crohn's disease...Especially , the screening techniques for gastric cancer and gastric polyps at Vinmec were performed using the Olympus CV 190 endoscope, the NBI function (Narrow Banding Imaging - endoscopy with narrow light frequency band) results in stool images. mucosal pathology is clearer... Thanks to that, the doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and give a timely treatment plan. Not only has a system of modern equipment, Vinmec is also a place to gather a team of experienced doctors and nurses, especially, with a space designed according to hotel standards, Vinmec guarantees to bring to the best of life. Patient comfort, friendliness, peace of mind.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

References
Anxiety and physical illness. (2008, July) health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/anxiety_and_physical_illness Frank, L., Kleinman, L., Rentz, A., Ciesla, G., Kim, J. J., & Zacker, C. (2002, April) . Health-related quality of life associated with irritable bowel syndrome: Comparison with other chronic diseases. Clinical Therapeutics, 24 (4), 675-689 sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149291802851438 IBS and IBD: Two very different disorders. (n.d.) crohnscolitisfoundation.org/resources/ibs-and-ibd-two-very.html Inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome: Similarities and differences. (2014, July) crohnscolitisfoundation.org/assets/pdfs/ibd-and-irritable-bowel.pdf Irritable bowel syndrome. (n.d.) healthywomen.org/condition/irritable-bowel-syndrome Lacy, B. E., Weiser, K., & De Lee, R. (2009, July). The treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology, 2 (4), 221-228 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3002524/ Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014, July 31). Irritable bowel syndrome: Complications mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/basics/complications/con-20024578