Gut Flora Imbalance

It’s actually very easy to label most problems you’re experiencing as signs of a gut flora imbalance. But the most obvious sign that something is wrong comes from your abdomen and digestive system. Regular gas, bloating, cramping, diarrhea, or constipation is often the result of an imbalance in our intestinal bacteria. And these symptoms can get worse as the wrong bacteria is allowed to multiply, causing even bigger problems. If you’re noticing signs of poor gut health, you should take action before chronic conditions take hold. 

Let’s take a closer look at three of the most common conditions associated with poor gut health to see how they are related to the gut’s environment.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS):

Summary: IBS is estimated to affect about 15 percent of Americans and there is strong evidence to support the relationship between the gut microbiome and IBS. Among its many names, IBS also refers to spastic colitis, mucous colitis, irritable colon or spastic colon. In comparison to men, women are more likely to suffer from this condition, and it can range in severity from mild to severe. IBS is often associated with other bowel conditions and is likely to last at least three months in most cases. A severe case of IBS can result in intestinal damage. 

Symptoms: Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome include cramping, bloating, gas, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea. Some people may experience both diarrhea and constipation. In many cases, the gas and bloating go away following a bowel movement.

Treatment: Currently, there is no cure for irritable bowel syndrome. Your only option is to alleviate the symptoms as much as you can. Some people have been able to achieve success simply by exercising more, while others have had success by reducing their intake of caffeinated beverages, which are known for stimulating the intestines. Minimizing stress is also an effective treatment. In order to get the best results, however, you need to change your diet. Consuming smaller meals and avoiding fried and spicy foods are important. Additionally, probiotics may provide relief from signs of poor gut health. Researchers have found that probiotics from the Saccharomyces, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus families have been effective at treating IBS. That being said, probiotics work best when taken in conjunction with other lifestyle changes.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease:

Summary: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves several intestinal disorders that lead to prolonged inflammation in the digestive tract. The two most common are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease is inflammation located anywhere in the digestive tract — most often affecting the end of the small intestine — whereas ulcerative colitis refers strictly to inflammation occurring in the large intestine.

Symptoms: You may experience diarrhea, mainly because the affected bowel has trouble absorbing water. There’s also the chance of bleeding ulcers, which can cause blood in the stool. Additionally, stomach pain, bloating and cramping are common as well. If the symptoms lead to weight loss or anemia, there can be further complications. However, the digestive system isn’t the only place that IBD symptoms appear. Some people suffering from Crohn’s disease also battle mouth canker sores. These fissures can also appear around the anus or genital region. People can also suffer from eye inflammation, arthritis and various skin disorders.

Treatment: There are some available treatments for IBD. Sometimes anti-inflammatory medications are administered. It’s also possible to use immunosuppressants. In extreme cases, surgery is needed. However, many people prefer to take a holistic approach to treat these bacterial imbalance symptoms. Studies show that specific strains of probiotics, combined with lifestyle changes, can dramatically reduce the symptoms of stomach bacterial imbalance.

Clostridioides difficile (C. Diff)

Summary: C. Diff or Clostridium difficile is an infectious bacteria that causes inflammation of the colon wall. The Centers for Disease Control state there are about 500,000 C. diff infections in America every year. Additionally, one in six patients that get this infection gets it again just two to eight weeks later. Approximately 10 percent of all adults and 85 percent of all newborns in the US have the bacteria C. Diff living in the intestines. 

Symptoms: This condition is linked to several signs of an unhealthy gut biome, the most common being diarrhea. However, it also causes cramping, abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, fever and dehydration. If there’s blood in the stool, it’s considered a severe case that requires immediate medical treatment.

Treatment: The only known treatment for C. diff is antibiotics. However, taking antibiotics only further causes trouble with the gut biome as they kill off good bacteria. Therefore, if you are taking antibiotics for a C. diff infection, you may want to talk to your doctor about taking a probiotic to prevent it from recurring.