Intestinal spasms occur when the muscle of the gut contracts in an uncoordinated manner. As the movement, or motility, of the gut is regulated by muscles and nerves, emotional factors such as anxiety and stress can affect its function and may lead to intestinal spasms. Physical exercise, diet and certain drugs can also cause changes in gut movement. A common cause of spasms is the condition known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), in which abdominal pain and bloating may be associated with diarrhea or constipation. Problems in which the gut is blocked, such as severe constipation, or the disorder known as intestinal pseudo-obstruction can also lead to spasms.
Normally, food is moved along the intestines by regular waves of contractions occurring in the muscles that make up the gut wall. When a problem causes the contractions to become excessive or abnormal, symptoms such as pain, bloating and intestinal spasms may be experienced. Depending on the specific cause, diarrhea or constipation may also occur. Drugs such as laxatives and some antidepressants can disturb the normal movement of the gut, and thyroid disorders may also affect gut motility. Stress can also have an effect, causing food to move more rapidly through the intestines.
IBS is a common cause of altered gut motility and, when people are emotionally upset or stressed, symptoms are more likely to flare up. The disorder is not dangerous and is not associated with any damage to the intestines, but its cause remains unknown. Intestinal spasms are associated with symptoms of cramping abdominal pain, wind and an urgent need to open the bowels. Episodes of diarrhea, constipation or both may be experienced, and IBS tends to occur in phases which last for a few days. While no single effective treatment exists, lifestyle changes and drugs which relax muscle and prevent spasms can be helpful.
Intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a rare disorder associated with intestinal spasms. The gut fails to contract effectively so that food is not moved along normally, even though there is no actual blockage. Abdominal pain and swelling, nausea and tiredness may be experienced together with diarrhea or constipation.
Imaging scans show that the gut leading up to the immobile section is swollen, as it would be in the case of a real obstruction. Pain may be due to the gut being stretched or it could result from an intestinal spasm. Treatment can involve drugs, procedures which remove gas from the gut and, in severe cases, surgery.