discussion title:
Stress, do you agree or disagree...
The role of stress in specific digestive disorders is uncertain, but many in the scientific community agree that stress is a key factor in functional disorders such as IBS and dyspepsia. While both of these disorders can cause cramping, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea, IBS is felt most strongly in the bowel, and dyspepsia seems to originate from the upper abdomen.
Because these disorders are functional, there is no defined physical explanation. Still, patients complain of pain, loose stools or diarrhea, bloating, and various other symptoms. Researchers don't doubt the complaints of patients — the pain and discomfort are real. For many patients and scientists, the missing physical factor in the equation makes room for stress to be considered a serious contributor to, or even a cause of, symptom flare-ups.
Despite the thousands of people suffering from functional disorders who attribute their symptoms to coinciding stress, no evidence points to stress as the actual cause. Rather, stress is regarded as a contributing component. According to experts, the prevailing theory is that stress only exacerbates a pre-existing condition, altering the presentation of the symptoms. Patients don't want to hear that the source of their pain is a medical mystery, yet that is the crux of the matter when it comes to functional disorders. Your doctors, however, are far from clueless. Researchers have conducted many studies on the subject, and treatment is available.
I know that when I get stressed or seriously upset about something I can feel it in my stomach. Do any of you experience this?? I feel stress plays an important part, and yes it does exacerbates a pre-exisiting condition. What do you think and feel??
