Leaky gut syndrome. What it is? Symptoms and treatment.
A look into leaky gut syndrome’s symptoms and treatments
Medical Fact Checked by: Dr. Bryan Havoc
Leaky gut syndrome might sound like a silly name, but it is a real condition that could possibly lead to larger complications if not taken care of. So, what is leaky gut syndrome? Leaky gut syndrome is when toxins get into the bloodstream through a weakened lining in your small intestine.
However, not many doctors take leaky gut syndrome seriously as it could be hidden behind various other medical conditions. Fortunately, there are some medical professionals who would be able to diagnose you with leaky gut syndromes if you talk to them comprehensively about your symptoms. Let’s take a look at some of the symptoms of leaky gut syndrome.
Diarrhea or Bloating
It’s no surprise that an issue affecting your small intestine can cause symptoms in your bowels. The bloating is a buildup of excess gas in your bowels that feel you feel uncomfortable until the episode is over. However, bloating is a symptom of many medical conditions, which might be why a lot of doctors won’t look towards leaky gut syndrome as the cause.
The same can be said for diarrhea. It can be hard to connect diarrhea with leaky gut syndrome because of how many different medical conditions are connected to diarrhea. Also, diarrhea is mostly acute. Anyone suffering diarrhea for more than a couple of days should see their doctor, as it could be symptomatic of a more serious issue.
Fatigue
It’s perfectly normal to feel a little tired from time to time, but if you are feeling almost lethargic and unmotivated then you might be suffering from fatigue. However, don’t confuse being fatigued with being generally sleepy, because they are not the same thing.
However, fatigue itself can cause a range of issues on its own from chest pain to heart palpitations.
The reason why it’s hard to attribute fatigue with leaky gut syndrome is that it is a symptom for almost every medical condition known to man from cancer to anemia. However, if you don’t have any underlying medical conditions and can’t think of any other reason why you’re suffering from fatigue, then you might want to bring up the possibility to your doctor of leaky gut syndrome.
Neurological Disorders
Believe it or not, your gut is linked to neurological disorders as well. Anyone can tell you that any neurological issue is caused by a chemical imbalance. However, recent studies have shown there is a link between our guts and any neurological disorders. The microorganisms in our gut could actually have an effect on our brains. We’ve always known there was a connection between the gut and the brain called the gut-brain axis, but we never knew how much the gut influenced our neurological system.
For example, any issues in the gut could possibly activate your sympathetic nervous system. This is the system responsible for triggering the adrenaline to get your fight-or-flight response going. This can cause an anxiety disorder if you’re not in a situation where the fight-or-flight response is warranted.
With all these symptoms and the relative difficulty, it takes to diagnose, is there a way to treat it yourself?
What Are Treatments For Leaky Gut Syndrome
When you think of what exactly is getting into your bloodstream through your small intestine, then you’d know the perfect treatment for leaky gut syndrome. Remember, leaky gut syndrome means toxins are getting through weak parts of your small intestine into your bloodstream, so the perfect response for these toxins would be to go on a detox regimen.
You’ll want to consume more probiotics to keep your gut healthy. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that you want in your gut as they help promote movement of waste through your gut while keeping it healthy.
Having healthy bacteria in your gut can help treat everything from leaky gut syndrome to irritable bowel syndrome.
Not only do you want to take a probiotic, but you’ll want to consume food that have a healthy amount of prebiotics as well. Prebiotics help provide an inhabitable gut for the healthy bacteria to thrive. In fact, they even help strengthen the bacteria that you actually need in your gut to help push waste through.
Getting a healthy amount of probiotics and prebiotics on top of avoiding sugar, getting plenty of exercise and sleep, and reducing stress are not only great tips for a great detox routine, but help treat leaky gut syndrome as well.
*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.