Gastrointestinal disorders are common and occur in all people regardless of age. Most of these digestive disorders aren’t treatable but can be managed with various treatment options.
At My Pure MD, we holistically treat functional disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disorder, acid reflux, and chronic constipation, among others.
These digestive disorders are caused by several factors like eating a low-fiber diet, stress, consuming large dairy foods, resting the urge to have a bowel movement, overusing laxatives, and taking certain medications.
Although conventional medicine has been used before, it is not as effective (some of the medications contribute to the problem) in the long-term. We advocate and believe a holistic approach may be the best way to manage these digestive issues.
When it comes to treatment, one-size doesn’t fit all, so we integrate various treatment options in creating a personalized treatment approach. We may use one or more options from the list below to manage the disorders.
A change in your diet influences not only your digestive health but overall wellness. A healthy diet goes a long way in promoting a strong immune system and preventing other diseases too. Some of the diets to try include:
Low-lactose diets are devoid of dairy and dairy products. Lactose intolerance is a common problem and is thought to affect more than half of the population.
People with this condition don’t make lactase enzyme responsible for digesting lactose, and this causes lactose malabsorption. The condition is harmless, but is uncomfortable and can trigger digestive problems such as bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Since there is no cure for lactose intolerance, avoiding dairy and related products can help reduce the symptoms.
Fiber can positively affect constipation and IBS. The fiber works by softening the stool, making it easy to pass through the rectum, thus reducing constipation. Furthermore, because it is a bulking agent, it causes the stool and bulk and reduces loose stools (diarrhea).
Fructose, especially from high-fructose corn syrup, causes abdominal pain. When fructose is consumed in excess amounts, it can cause malabsorption and diarrhea. Moreover, fructose can cause fermentation, thus triggering gas production and abdominal pain.
Antidepressants can help with functional digestive disorders such as IBS and constipation. How? Well, people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome have hypersensitive intestinal nerves meaning they have a low threshold of pain. Because of that, they have severe abdominal pain. Taking analgesics, a group of antidepressants can help reduce the pain as well as constipation, bloating, and diarrhea.
Furthermore, current research states that antidepressants can stimulate intestinal nerve cell growth and possibly restore the function of the intestines over time.
Antidepressants are, however, ideal for people with moderate to severe IBS.
IBS can be worsened by stress, and every time you are under emotional distress, the symptoms will worsen. If your IBS is stress-related, our holistic doctor in Houston, TX, may recommend relaxation techniques. This doesn’t mean that condition will disappear, but rather the symptoms will reduce, allowing you to resume your daily activities.
The various relaxation techniques can help reduce anxiety, muscle tension, improve energy, and mood.
Protokinetics are drugs that increase gastrointestinal motility. Furthermore, the drugs help to strengthen the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) that is associated with acid reflux.
Probiotics are efficient for IBS. These microorganisms help to improve intestinal health and in turn, reduces gastrointestinal disorders.
Psychological interventions have been reported to help reduce digestive disorders symptoms.
Some of the interventions, such as family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, and biofeedback, are effective in increasing pain tolerance.
These treatment strategies can work great in reducing the symptoms of digestive disorder, so you don’t have to live in pain and discomfort. Visit our clinic, and we will create a personalized and holistic plan for you. We offer digestive disorder services in Houston, TX, to help manage and minimize symptoms.
