Functional bowel disorders impact digestion, which can lead to quite a bit of pain and discomfort. With these conditions, digestive organs appear normal, but the person continues to experience symptoms.
The specific symptoms vary according to the type of functional disorder a person experiences. If you suffer regularly from digestive issues, it is worth exploring functional bowel disorders with a doctor.
Irritable bowel syndrome is the most common type of functional bowel disorder. This condition is usually linked to symptoms like pain in the stomach, as well as constipation and/or diarrhoea. Some people with irritable bowel syndrome experience rather mild symptoms, while others have more serious effects.
While not quite as common, functional dyspepsia is another form of functional bowel disorder that causes persistent stomach pain and upset without any underlying cause. There is no known cause of functional dyspepsia, but risk factors include having anxiety, depression, smoking, and using over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen and aspirin.
Sometimes, bowel symptoms do not line up with existing disorders. In the event you experience symptoms that are not linked to other types of functional bowel disorders, a doctor may diagnose you with unspecified functional bowel disorder.
With irritable bowel syndrome, treatments typically include dietary changes and medications, such as anticholinergics and pain relievers. Certain medicines, including rifaximin and eluxadoline, can also be prescribed to treat irritable bowel syndrome directly (although there is no cure for the condition).
As for functional dyspepsia, prescription and non-prescription medications can be used to provide relief. In some cases, patients may receive antibiotics if certain bacteria are present in the stomach. With unspecified functional bowel disorders, doctors can recommend medications to ease symptoms and lifestyle changes to prevent symptoms from returning.