Are you always tired? Have you seen your family doctor and been diagnosed with anemia but don't know the root cause? Are you taking iron and finding that it is not making you feel any better? Did you know that bacteria in the small intestine are able to consume and deplete Iron and Vitamin B12, both of which are essential for normal red blood cell function?
I Know Sugar is Bad, But I Thought Fibre Was Good For Me!
Many patients who have been given the non-descript diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) routinely notice that eating healthy foods such as many different types of vegetables and fruits, causes an increase in their symptoms - abdominal bloating, abdominal discomfort, burping, flatulence, heartburn, nausea, and poor quality bowel movements. Whole grains, although not considered healthy for many people, also seem to cause an increase in these symptoms.
How Does Stress Relate to SIBO?
Stress is defined as an acute threat to the homeostasis (balance) of an organism. It may be classified as real (physical, such as pain) or perceived (psychological, such as work deadline) and posed by events in the outside world or from within. Our nervous system is unable to differentiate the stress of trying to pay bills following the loss of a job, dealing with a death in the family or trying the balance the many commitments of work and family life. The physiological response for all the scenarios is the same. Stress, evokes adaptive responses that serve to defend the stability of the internal environment and ensure our survival.
SIBO and the IBS Connection
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a relatively new diagnosis. Over the past 15 years, it has gained acceptance in the medical community and there has been a large amount of research done regarding SIBO and its associated conditions. Perhaps the most well researched condition associated with SIBO is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Research from 2003 showed that 84% of IBS patients showed an abnormal result on the lactulose breath test (LBT). That means 84% of patients diagnosed with IBS also tested positive for SIBO.
SIBO & Traveler's Diarrhea
Statistics show that 15 to 20% of North Americans have the label of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Studies have shown that up to 84% of people given the label of IBS will test positive for SIBO. When you treat the SIBO, the prototypical IBS symptoms subside long term. For over a decade now, research and clinical experience has shown SIBO to be, by far, the #1 root cause of IBS symptoms. Therefore, if 1 in 5 people in North America have an "IBS picture" then almost 1 in 5 people have SIBO.