Symptoms of Spastic Colon

The human anatomy runs on seven major inter-related human body systems: the respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system, circulatory system, immune system, glandular system and the overall structural system. The colon is part of the digestive system. It is the last part in the system and plays a vital role in the excretion of solid waste. The colon comprises four sections: ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid. When this part of the digestive system gets infected, the damage to the cells manifests in the presence of a lot of discomfort and a change in otherwise regular bowel movements.

Symptoms of Spastic Colon:

Infection within the colon causes erratic bowel movements. The main signs and symptoms of spastic colon include:

• Diarrhea or constipation
• Abdominal pain and discomfort
• Urgency of bowel movement
• Abdominal distention
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Headache
• Lower back pain

The above mentioned signs and symptoms are physical manifestations. In the case of spastic colon, a lot of physiological symptoms like post-infectious stress also manifest. There are also a number of related infections that set in such as coeliac disease, giardiasis and various inflammatory bowel diseases. Patients have also recorded gut flora abnormalities and those within the immune system. The subsequent developments lead to acute pain and fatigue.

Alternating stool patterns, fever and vomiting add to the discomfort and stress. Spastic colon or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is diagnosed only on the use of a dedicated diagnostic algorithm like Manning Criteria and Kruis Criteria. There is a 'red flag' list of symptoms developed for quicker diagnosis of the condition. Physicians chart the chosen algorithm to focus on weight loss, anemia and related nocturnal symptoms. Research reveals that there are certain comorbidities that commonly manifest to highlight spastic colon. These include headache, depression, fibromyalgia, related low-grade inflammation of the surrounding region and/or interstitial cystitis.

The main trigger factor for the condition is believed to be untreated or neglected gastrointestinal infection. Dysfunctional brain-gut axis is another cause for the onslaught of this painful condition. Biochemical changes such as high serotonin in-vitro, increased cellular involvement in cytokine Interleukin 1 Beta production, elevated cytokines Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and Interleukin 1 and 6, increased protease and protozoan Blastocystis antibodies also trigger the condition.

Spastic colon gives rise to a number of co-related immune responses. Some of them include:

Coeliac disease: This disease is an allergic, immune response to Gliadin protein. The condition is a symptom and trigger of spastic colon and manifests in the form of diarrhea and celiac sprue.

Blastocystis: This is a term used to refer to a single-cell microorganism, the presence of which causes abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation.

Dientamoeba fragilis: This is also a single-cell microorganism that displays its presence with diarrhea and severe pain in the abdomen.

If neglected, spastic colon could take the ugly form of colitis and even colon cancer. Dietary modifications to include soluble fiber helps a lot to ease the painful symptoms. Laxatives, antidiarrheals and colon cleanse products are also prescribed for the treatment of spastic colon. Antispasmodic drugs, saerotonin and serotonin antagonists and opioids are also commonly recommended. Alternative remedies such as relaxation therapy, use of probiotics, iberogast, peppermint oil, homemade colon cleanse and even acupuncture help in reducing the discomfort associated with the condition.

The symptoms of spastic colon are common to a number of infections within the excretory system that is a vital component of the digestive tract. This makes it very difficult for accurate diagnosis in the very first attempt. Nevertheless, it is very important to pursue ongoing diagnosis and prescribed remedies to treat the physical manifestation of this condition.