Question:
Irritable bowel syndrome ______.
a. is thought to be a “functional” GI disorder; its cause is related more to stress rather than to a biological malfunction.
b. symptoms tend to worsen in times of stress.
c. is a condition in which patients typically have enhanced sensitivity to visceral (gut) pain, and decreased sensitivity to cutaneous (skin) pain.
d. All of the above
Answer
d. All of the above
This condition is thought to be a “functional” GI disorder; its cause is related more to stress rather than to a biological malfunction basically because dysregulation of the brain-gut neuroenteric systems
Explanation
First, stress can induce GI dysfunction in healthy individuals, accelerating colonic transit but decreasing gastric emptying and thus very true to say that symptoms tend to worsen in times of stress. Again, on these basis, we can note that this condition is thought to be a “functional” GI disorder; its cause is related more to stress rather than to a biological malfunction basically because dysregulation of the brain-gut neuroenteric systems, rather than the presence of structural disease increases the progression of this condition. Finally, in this condition, there is increased sensitivity is expressed, but it is selective to visceral stimuli which is the reason as to why the condition in which patients typically have enhanced sensitivity to visceral (gut) pain
