By As of now, there are many diseases worldwide, some fatal and some not so fatal. While we see so many diseases and conditions that have gathered us, there seems to be one very prominent one these days that is taking up the place and sadly more people are starting to experience it daily.
As most of you guessed, it is Visceral hypersensitivity. When we normally talk about VH we refer to the feeling of extreme pain or the sudden discomfort in your visceral organs. Now what are visceral organs? Visceral organs refer to the soft internal organs that can be your chest, abdomen, and pelvic cavity as we call them.
This article is a comprehensive and extensive guide to VH. All the underlying aspects including the potential causes, the ongoing treatment, and the prevention methods are discussed in detail.
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What Is Visceral Hypersensitivity?
The word visceral comes from the Latin word “viscera” which means internal organs. VH is also described like that. It refers to the heightened increased sensitivity of the internal organs. Usually, the stimuli that cause VH are not even that painful but still one feels pain and discomfort in their internal organs. With visceral hypersensitivity, the threshold for pain in the internal organs is very low. Furthermore, it is often attributed to functional gastrointestinal disorders.
As of now, there are more than 20% population in the entire world who experience visceral hypersensitivity. Visceral hypersensitivity syndrome has to be the number one cause of pain and discomfort in the internal organs as well as in the entire body. As much as healthcare professionals are trying to understand the causes and symptoms of visceral hypersensitivity, the more they are perplexed regarding it. As of now, visceral hypersensitivity remains poorly misunderstood and unclear.
What Is Visceral Pain?
Visceral pain is a type that usually originates from internal organs. Unlike other kinds of pain that often originate from other muscles and other tissues, visceral pain from other areas they are very hard to pinpoint. This kind of pain is mostly associated with different organs and these usually include organs like the stomach, bladder, kidneys heart, etc.
Understanding Visceral Hypersensitivity
With VH, there must be a thorough exploration of it. To find the cure for visceral hypersensitivity as well as the treatment of visceral hypersensitivity it’s very important that firstly it is understood.
Visceral pain often occurs in regions like the chest, belly or pelvis. Visceral organs also refer to the organs of your digestive system. Anyone with visceral hypersensitivity can feel comfortable and because of this, the normal functioning of life can be very much altered and disrupted. One of the many things that must be kept in mind about visceral hypersensitivity then it is that it is co-related and associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) this can also be understood because people who suffer from visceral hypersensitivity also deal with other functional disorders like gastrointestinal ones.
Whilst most people find internal functional processes normal, people, with VH deal with chronic abdominal pain, discomfort and pain in internal organs in response to normal amounts of internal pressure from gas, fluids, and other solids that are moving through our body. According to mainly healthcare professionals, many gastrointestinal disorders are directly connected to visceral hypersensitivity.
Visceral Hypersensitivity And Connection With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Both of these terms are often confused however, irritable bowel syndrome is very different from it. VH is the number one cause of IBS and as of the latest research, 40% of people who suffer from IBS are the ones who are diagnosed with visceral hypersensitivity as well. While IBS and visceral hypersensitivity are very closely related, it is noteworthy that most of the research on VH is very much related to IBS.
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Visceral Hypersensitivity And Its Symptoms
Visceral hypersensitivity syndrome is growing and as complex as it may seem there are a few things that must be kept in mind while diagnosing it. The many symptoms of visceral pain include chronic abdominal pain, hypersensitivity, chronic discomfort at the chest region as well as extreme pain in the tummy and lower regions. Even normal processes like swallowing food or other bodily functions can trigger hypersensitivity.
Organs that are mostly affected by visceral hypersensitivity are esophagous which also causes esophageal visceral hypersensitivity and other organs affected can be heart, lungs, stomach, bladder and pancreas. In short, if we see, then all internal organs in one way or another are affected by visceral hypersensitivity furthermore all organs that play a major role in digestion are badly affected.
Some other less typical symptoms are also identified to be that of pain response to light touch on your abdomen region, sudden burning sensations in different parts of your body, extreme hypersensitivity to cold and hot temperatures and different kinds of pains that affect both your upper and lower extremities. A lot of healthcare providers have also said that VH is just more than a sensation of discomfort, it involves the entire nervous system. Some other major symptoms can be;
- Bloating
- Heartburn
- Acute chest pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
Pain Variants In Viseceral Hypersensitivity
One of the many symptoms of VH also includes the kind of pain it produces. Oftentimes, visceral pain can be hard to identify or difficult to localise. It can produce various kinds of pain that can be some signs of visceral pain and hypersensitivity. These pains can often produce strong autonomic responses from your body and these can be sweating, pallor, whole-body motor responses, fluctuations in body temperature and pressure and most importantly, changes and fluctuations in the heart rate.
Causes of Visceral Hypersensitivity
As discussed earlier, even though VH seems to be growing day by day, healthcare providers and researchers are still unable to understand the underlying causes and the reasons for it. There don’t seem to be many causes for this condition, despite the fact that it seems to affect a sizable portion of the population. Several factors contribute to the onset of VH. These causes seem to be;
Biological causes
These are deemed to be the number one cause of VH. According to researchers and healthcare providers, some people are born with a genetic disposition and altered gut microbiota that can increase the chances and susceptibility to visceral hypersensitivity.
Psychological Causes
People who have experienced early childhood trauma are also susceptible to VH. Early childhood is a time when the brain is in developmental stages and it regulates stress as well as pain perception. In the case of people who go through childhood trauma then the way circuitry develops changes hugely. Similarly, stress and other mental and emotional stresses can amplify pain perception and VH.
Lifestyle Causes
Another very important cause can be that of unhealthy lifestyle. No movement or exercise followed by bad circadian rhythms and sleeping patterns can also increase the chances of VH.
Treatment For Visceral Hypersensitivity
Many researchers and healthcare professionals are still navigating how the diagnosis and treatment of VH can be done. While research is still underway, and we get to hear new developments regarding it every day, there are a few things treatments that are noteworthy. Treatment can be based on the condition of VH.
This treatment usually involves both drugs and other therapies. This includes;
Drugs And Medications
Now these healthcare professionals do not prescribe heavy dosages because of the side effects as it can make things worse however they do prescribe the same medicines that they prescribe for other psychological disorders like anxiety, depression and other mental disorders.
This is mainly done so that the visceral pain can be numbed.
Mind And Body Therapies
When healthcare professionals see that drugs are ineffective on a patient they go with another procedure which is the mind and body therapies. This kind of therapy can help stop these nerves from entering in the first place. There are various kinds of therapies and these include cognitive behavioural therapy, hypnotherapy and biofeedback.
While these are some common methods to alleviate and reduce visceral pain, other treatments like changing diet plans can also create a huge difference.
Conclusion
Visceral hypersensitivity is a multifaceted and growing condition. While visceral pain affects many people, researchers are still navigating the main causes behind it. While it is important for one to take proper caution about it, it is also very important that more and more people are made aware of it. Additionally, developments in science and technology offer hope for altering and bettering the lives of those who suffer from this condition.
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FAQ’s
What is visceral hypersensitivity?
Visceral hypersensitivity refers to a condition that is characterised by pain and discomfort in the internal organs mostly in the gastrointestinal tract. The everyday discomfort because of it can lead to problems in daily life and impact the daily functioning of an individual.
What causes visceral hypersensitivity?
There are some very prominent causes and factors of VH and although it is not fully understood, these mainly include lifestyle triggers, genetic predisposition, abnormalities in neural pathways and some other psychological factors.
What are the symptoms of visceral hypersensitivity?
Some common symptoms of VH include bloating, heartburn, a bloated stomach, acute chest pain, and other conditions like constipation and diarrhoea. These are some major symptoms that are very easily recognisable.
How is visceral hypersensitivity diagnosed?
Diagnosis can typically be done with some very fundamental history and symptoms evaluation of the patient. Once that is done then it is moved towards the treatment of VH.
Is visceral hypersensitivity a chronic condition?
Visceral hypersensitivity can be a chronic condition for many individuals however, it can be managed if one is following proper guidelines and treatments regarding it.
How does stress affect visceral hypersensitivity?
Stress and other psychological factors can be a major cause of pain perception and therefore it can contribute to visceral hypersensitivity and can further amplify it.
How to reduce visceral hypersensitivity?
Reducing visceral hypersensitivity involves a lot of changes including many lifestyle changes, medical treatments and other treatments. Normally patients are prescribed medicines and then moved on towards the next stage which includes therapy for both mind and body.
Can anxiety cause visceral hypersensitivity?
It can contribute as well as exacerbate VH. It can alter several mechanisms including gut-brain mechanism, neurochemical changes, stress response and immune system activation.
