Westcoast Integrative Health is one of the first private clinics in Canada to offer SIBO testing using Quintron’s Breath Tracker SC equipment and has provided patient direct testing for SIBO for the last 2 years.
SIBO is a condition that can wreck havoc on the gastrointestinal system, leading to localized symptoms of bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea, indigestion/heartburn, nausea, and cramping among many other uncomfortable stomach related concerns. The affects of SIBO can also impact our health in other ways, such as chronic fatigue, muscle aches, fibromyalgia, “brain fog”, breathing disturbances and bad breath, to name a few.
Healthy bacteria, when they overgrow, can affect our bodies by producing hydrogen (H+) and methane (CH4) gas. These gases lead to the localized stomach symptoms people experience with SIBO but also cause the systemic symptoms by creating toxicity for the liver, as well as hyperacidity in the body.
High levels of acidity results in localized and systemic low grade or frank metabolic acidosis. This acidity is hypothesized to be the cause of many symptoms people experience.
Causes of SIBO are thought to result from damage to the migrating motor complex in the small intestine. This slower intestinal movement is what results in the bacteria overgrowth. Damage to intestinal peristalsis may often result from a single food poisoning following infection from a number of pathogenic bacteria. Once the complex is damaged it can be very hard to repair but treatment needs to start with removing the overgrowth of bacteria.
Testing these bacterial gases is a critical step to the diagnosis and treatment of SIBO. Treatment can typically involve a fairly short course of one of several different antibiotics or herbs followed by supporting the motor complex to restore movement of the intestine so the bacteria do not grow back as quickly. Retesting immediately after antibiotics or herbal treatments is also important to make sure the bacteria are gone.
This is where Westcoast Integrative Health’s testing abilities work to increase treatment success by providing low cost testing to our clients right in the office using state of the art testing equipment.
Visit The SIBO Testing and Treatment Clinic website for further testing details or book an appointment now for further information.