Health · Medical Research · 1 day ago
Pain can become persistent in irritable bowel syndrome, specialists say
Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition involving changes in how the intestines work, and it can cause abdominal pain, discomfort and diarrhea.
Specialists Flavio Steinwurz and Arthur Danila discussed the condition on a Brazilian health program hosted by Dr. Kalil.
They said pain may start with intestinal problems and become persistent as the brain continues to process repeated signals.
Over time, a person may feel pain even without the original trigger, such as after eating.
This does not mean the pain is unreal, and specialists said both the gut-related and emotional aspects need to be recognized and treated.
Irritable bowel syndrome can sometimes cause gas-related swelling and pain that reaches the chest, but this is not common.
Digestive pain that more often resembles a heart attack is linked to the esophagus or stomach, the specialists said.
Irritable bowel syndrome can involve pain that becomes persistent as repeated signals are processed centrally by the brain, specialists say.
The condition is associated with abdominal discomfort, pain and diarrhea, without structural or biochemical changes.
Psychiatrist Arthur Danila said pain may begin with impaired intestinal function and later continue even without the original trigger.
He said it is important to recognize and treat both the gastrointestinal and emotional aspects of the condition.
Gastroenterologist Flavio Steinwurz said abdominal gas-related distension can sometimes cause pain that radiates to the chest, though this is not common.
- Who
- Gastroenterologist Flavio Steinwurz and psychiatrist Arthur Danila discussed the condition.
- What
- Specialists said pain from irritable bowel syndrome can become persistent and be processed by the brain.
- When
- The article was published on October 10, 2026. The discussion’s date is not stated.
- Where
- On CNN Sinais Vitais with Dr. Kalil. Danila is a psychiatrist at the Institute of Psychiatry at the University of São Paulo’s Hospital das Clínicas.
- Why
- Repeated pain signals can become chronic and centrally processed by the brain.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The pain can initially originate from a bowel function that is not adequate, and through a recurring stimulus it begins to become chronic and to be located centrally in the brain
This pain begins to have a life of its own within the brain
That does not mean the pain does not exist
Evidently, abdominal distension can eventually simulate other conditions
Pain may begin because the intestine is not functioning properly.
Repeated painful stimulation can become chronic and be processed centrally by the brain.
A patient may feel pain without the original stimulus, such as at night without having eaten.
- Condition
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Symptoms
- Abdominal discomfort, pain and diarrhea
- Pain process
- Repeated stimuli can lead to pain becoming chronic and centrally processed
- Specialist
- Arthur Danila, psychiatrist at the Institute of Psychiatry at the University of São Paulo’s Hospital das Clínicas
- Chest pain
- Gas-related distension can sometimes cause pain radiating to the chest, though this is not common
Sources
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