Case study

Olivia Cheek

Larry Hiday

December 5, 2023

My three ideas for research were acne, IBS, or Diabetes type 2. I went into this study

thinking to myself that I know that I only want to research acne. However, as I researched it, I

realized that though the amount of acne a person has can be affected by their diet, many other

factors outside of one's control also factor into the cause of acne. This made me not want to

conduct my case study researching acne.

I started going down the road of Diabetes type 2 and as I read, I was not really inspired

by it as much as I was inspired by IBS.

I chose to research IBS (also known as colitis, or spastic colon) because knowing the

causes and symptoms of IBS may help me in figuring out my own gut problems. My stomach

always hurts after I eat anything high in carbs as well as dairy products. I am trying to figure out

if I just have gluten and lactose intolerances, or if I may have IBS.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder that affects the stomach and intestines.

Symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or

both. Chapter 18 in our textbook says that IBS is characterized by alternating bouts of diarrhea

and constipation. IBS is a chronic condition that demands long term management. Only a small
number of people with IBS have severe symptoms. Some people can control their symptoms by

managing diet, lifestyle and stress. More severe symptoms can be treated with medication and

counseling. IBS doesn't cause changes in bowel tissue or increase your risk of colorectal cancer.

Irritable bowel syndrome affects 10% - 20% of adults in the U.S (Greger). It is most prevalent in

south America compared to the rest of the world, effecting 21% percent of the south American

population. IBS is more commonly seen in women and young people. The exact cause of IBS is

still unknown and is still being researched. However, there are several factors that appear to

play a role.

Strong muscle that walls the intestine that contracts stronger and longer than normal

can cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea. On the other hand, weak contractions can slow how fast

the food passes and cause hard, dry stools.

Poorly coordinated signals that go between the brain and the intestines can cause the

body to overreact to the changes that happen during the digestion process. This can cause pain,

diarrhea, or constipation.

Severe infection can also induce symptoms of IBS. IBS can be associated with a surplus

of bacteria, or bacterial overgrowth in the intestines. IBS can also develop after a severe bout of

diarrhea usually caused by some bacterial or viral infection.

Another factor that can contribute to the existence of IBS is early life stress. Stressful or

difficult early life events such as physical or sexual abuse are linked with IBS. Also linked with

IBS are certain mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, or somatic symptom disorder.
There are many symptoms of IBS. From a general practitioner's point of view, the symptoms

listed would be abdominal pain (related to bowel movements), bloating, gas, cramping,

diarrhea and/or constipation, feeling as if you haven’t completed your bowel movement, as

well as whiteish mucus in stool. Women with IBS often have more symptoms during their

period. On a smaller scale, from a pathologist’s point of view, the diagnosis of IBS is based on

symptom assessment and the Rome III criteria. A combination of the Rome III criteria, a physical

examination, blood tests, gastroscopy and colonoscopy with biopsies is believed to be

necessary for diagnosis. The amount of mast cells and T lymphocytes in the mucosa in the

intestine is also increased for certain IBS patients, and the mediators (an endogenous chemical

agent which takes an active part in the development of the inflammatory response) released by

these cells could compromise the epithelial barrier function and alter nerve signaling within the

enteric nervous system (nervous system in the intestines).

Symtoms of IBS can be triggered and/or worsened by food as well as stress. The link

between IBS and food allergies are not completely clear or understood. Food allergies don’t

cause IBS, but many people have worse IBS symptoms when they eat or drink certain things.

Stress also does not cause IBS but can worsen symptoms. A person living with IBS may feel

hopeless because it is a chronic, life-long disease that does not have a cure, however there are

some things that are out there to help ease the pain.

There are many many many lifestyle changes a person can choose to make if they want to

lessen the severity of their symptoms such as increasing physical activity, getting enough sleep,

reducing stressful situations in life, practicing yoga, relaxation training (which can help you relax

your muscles or reduce stress), and even going to psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral
therapy. The connection between the nervous system and colonic function is strong. Cognitive

behavioral therapy focuses on helping you change thought and behavior patterns to improve

IBS symptoms. Gut-directed hypnotherapy consists of a therapist using hypnosis, aiming to

improve IBS symptoms. There are also many dietary changes one can make such as eating more

fiber, eating kiwi (Greger), avoiding gluten, avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol, avoid

caffeine, drinking enough fluids, and peppermint oil (Greger). Interestingly, a study mentioned

in one of Dr. Greger’s articles was about IBS. Apparently, some doctors would prescribe placebo

pills to patients complaining about symptoms of IBS. Surprisingly 25% of patients who took

these sugar pills said that the severity of their symptoms had dropped significantly. Showing the

power of the Placebo Effect.

IBS lasts a lifetime, while severity of symptoms may fluctuate naturally, or by changes in

lifestyle or medical treatment, there is no known cure or surgery one can get to cure IBS.

Through my research I have learned a lot about the digestive system along with the causes and

effects of IBS. I already have on my grocery list that I want to buy more kiwis, because Dr. Greger says

that eating one kiwi 3 times a day can improve consistency and frequency of bowel movements. I don’t

believe that I have IBS, though I occasionally show signs and symptoms, those of which I now know how

to lessen the severity of.

 Works Cited

IBS

https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/irritable-bowel-syndrome-what-you-need-to-know

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-

20360016

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/irritable-bowel-

syndrome/symptoms-causes

https://nutritionfacts.org/blog/a-dietary-treatment-for-irritable-bowel-syndrome/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3404166/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4051916/

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjYqfO3mIuDAxW

BweYEHULwBSwQFnoECA0QAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hopkinsmedicine.org%2Fhealth%2Ftreatm

ent-tests-and-therapies%2Firritable-bowel-syndrome-treatment&usg=AOvVaw3idfSsyYrb4Te-

wyP4vQCA&opi=89978449

ACNE

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2585707/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/acne-what-you-need-to-know-2019010315717

Diabetes #2

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20351193