SIBO Breath Testing, in Eatontown, Long Branch, Tinton Falls

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SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.  Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) occurs when there is an abnormal increase in the overall  bacterial population in the small intestine — particularly types of  bacteria not commonly found in that part of the digestive tract.   SIBO usually starts  when your small intestine doesn't move food along the way it should.  Bacteria grow and stick around too long. If the “good” bacteria that  help you digest food can't keep up with the harmful bacteria, the “bad”  germs can multiply too fast, leading to an imbalance. Most commonly, SIBO present with bloating and gas, which is often times foul smelling. It can also present with alternating constipation abdominal pain, food intolerances and nutritional deficiencies. 

Researchers suspect SIBO is caused by a combination of decreased pancreatic enzymes, bile acids and gut motility.

Consequently, certain health conditions or lifestyle choices may increase your risk of developing SIBO:

• Gastrointestinal infections: Such as post-infectious IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome)
• Prior intestinal surgeries such as bowel resection or gastric bypass and others.
• Chronic use of antacids: Long-term antacid use (such as omeprazole and other proton pump inhibitors)  reduces acid production in the stomach. Consistently low levels of  stomach acid can lead to bacterial overgrowth in the stomach and small  intestine.
• Immunodeficiency Syndrome: Disorders that can suppress our  immune system – such as AIDS and IgA antibody deficiency – provide an  ideal environment for harmful bacteria to thrive.
• Celiac disease: Celiac disease can disturb how food moves through the intestines, particularly if it  remains undiagnosed or is poorly managed. This leads to increased  bacterial growth in the gut .
• Aging: In general, older people are at increased risk for  SIBO because our digestive tract gets weaker with age. This is thought  to be caused by reduced physical activity, weight gain, ongoing medications or antibiotic exposure, large hernias containing loops of bowel, and general weakening of the gastrointestinal tract 
• Alcoholism: Chronic alcohol consumption appears to increase risk of SIBO .
• Gastroparesis: There is a strong overlap between symptoms, and it seems those with Gastroparesis (also known as delayed gastric emptying) are more likely to have SIBO.

Numerous other conditions are linked with increased SIBO risk, but more research is needed. These include Diabetes, connective tissue disorders such as scleroderma, hypothyroidism, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Parkinson’s disease and more. 

There are three types of SIBO, and each produce its own specific gas. Namely, hydrogen, methane and most recently discovered, hydrogen sulfide.

A SIBO breath testing can help you determine if your symptoms are caused by treatable conditions like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). 

Most traditional breath tests only check for Hydrogen and methane. The majority of GI practices use this method because they are financially invested in the equipment to detect these.

At Monmouth Digestive Health, in Tinton Falls, Eatontown, Long Branch area offers the most advanced breath SIBO test, call Trio-Smart which detects all three gases.  Trio-smart is  the only  SIBO breath test that measures all the primary  fermented gases produced in your gut: hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen  sulfide. This allows the treatment, which usually involves certain antibiotics, to be customized to the patient. This is why many patients who have been treated by their doctors do not achieve a complete response.