The Effects of Lifestyle Modification on Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Background/AimsAlthough notably common, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has no specific cure. Lifestyle modification may be as important as medication; however, few studies support the effectiveness of such modifications. We performed this observational study of IBS patients to explore further the role of lifestyle changes in treatment.MethodsThis study included 831 men who enlisted in 2010 as armed surgeon cadets and 85 women who concurrently entered the Armed Forces Nursing Academy. Of these 916 participants, 89 were diagnosed with IBS using the Rome III criteria. Subjective changes in bowel habits, quality of life, pain, stress, stool frequency and stool consistency were surveyed before and after 9 weeks of army training. We evaluated the lifestyle risk factors that impacted improvement in IBS symptoms by comparing those who responded to lifestyle modification (the responding group) to those who did not respond (the nonresponding group).ResultsMore than half of the participants (63%) reported that their symptoms improved after training. The quality of life and levels of pain and stress significantly improved after military training. Initial stress levels before military training and smoking history affected IBS symptom improvement.ConclusionsLifestyle modification may be effective in managing IBS patients.

Diarrhoea is not the only symptom that needs to be treated in patients with microscopic colitis

“…When performing subgroup analyses, gastrointestinal symptoms were improved by moderate physical activity in the MC1 group, in accordance with previous studies describing improvement of IBS symptoms after training [13]. However, these results may be interpreted 16 with caution, as they may reflect that women with more severe disease are not able to exercise, but have to stay at home, close to the toilet.…”

“…Life style factors such us smoking, drinking and physical activity may be of importance, since these factors affect the gastrointestinal tract, psychological well-being, and HRQOL [12,13,14]. Smoking is a known risk factor for developing MC [15], but its effect on symptoms when the disease is present has never been examined.…”

“…It is known that women are more vulnerable to alcohol than men [17]. The effect of physical activity on symptoms in MC has never been studied, although physical activity has a positive effect on IBS symptoms [13]. The patients are elder, thus often retired and living alone, which could further impair psychological well-being.…”

New and emerging therapies for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: an update for gastroenterologists

“…In a study of patients with IBS undergoing military training, 62.9% of patients had improvement from baseline in bowel habits after 9 weeks of lifestyle modification imposed by the training (i.e. no smoking or alcohol consumption, regular meals, physical activity) [Kang et al 2011]. After 9 weeks of training, mean stool frequency decreased from baseline, and the percentage of patients with normal stools (defined as Bristol stool scale score of 3, 4, or 5) increased from baseline (p = 0.05).…”

Comparison of Hypnotherapy and Standard Medical Treatment Alone on Quality of Life in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Few studies have already reported long term effects of hypnotherapy [9]. Quality of life and symptoms decreased significantly in 63% of the participants after military training [16]. Pain was relieved in patients after 7-12 sessions of hypnotherapy [17].…”