Ever felt exceedingly anxious and then a sudden urge to clear your bowels? Or felt like you were in a stressful situation when your stomach started to pain?
It is well known, but not yet proven, that the improper functioning of the brain affects the gut and the improper functioning of the gut with its microbes, may, in turn, affect the brain.
For long doctors have been puzzling over the role of anxiety in Irritable Bowel Syndrome and vice-versa. While no conclusive proof has been found, it is known that anxiety tends to exacerbate IBS.
In this article, a stomach pain doctor specialist takes a look at what is the gut-brain axis and how anxiety and IBS affect each other.
What is the Gut-Brain Axis?
The GBA or the gut-brain axis is a dual communication channel, upheld majorly by the vagus nerve, that controls the communication between the Central Nervous System and the Enteric Nervous System (nerves surrounding the stomach).
It links the emotional and cognitive parts of the brain with the peripheral intestinal functions.
There are around 500 million neurons in your gut, earning it the moniker “the second brain”.
The vagus nerve is the chief of these, causing a connection between the gut and the brain.
Moreover, the gut and the brain are also linked by neurotransmitters.
For instance, serotonin which is produced in the gut helps to control the emotions and feelings in your brain. Moreover, gut bacteria help to produce a neurotransmitter called GABA which is responsible for controlling feelings of fear and anxiety.
So we see that in this way the gut and the brain are interlinked, causing emotional upheavals to manifest in the stomach and stomach problems to manifest in mental conditions. Consult with a stomach pain doctor specialist to know more.
How Do Anxiety And Irritable Bowel Syndrome Affect Each Other?
As mentioned earlier, there is no conclusive evidence that anxiety causes IBS. However, it can exacerbate the condition. IBS is very common among people suffering from anxiety disorders and depression.
Whenever you feel anxious, your body releases stress-related chemicals in your gut that make it more sensitive and inflamed, leading to stomach pain, change in gut bacteria composition and abdominal pain.
Moreover, a poorly functioning gut can also affect the brain. 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut. Serotonin controls the mood and the anxiety levels. Hence, it can be seen that anxiety and IBS often go hand-in-hand.
Conclusion
In conclusion, reach out to this stomach pain doctor specialist to understand and get your stomach pain treated properly. Moreover, you can also get your IBS treated properly with the right foods, diet and medication. While there is no cure for the disease, you can manage it with the help of a doctor. Moreover, visit a counsellor if you feel you suffer from anxiety.