Irritable Bowel Syndrome

General Information on Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive disorder that causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. The symptoms of IBS vary from person to person in the severity of the case. The symptoms of IBS typically subside once the person has had a bowel movement. In IBS, the digestive system is extremely sensitive to many different foods and beverages as well as stress, hormones, drugs, diets, and other things and can lead to flare-ups. In these flare-ups, the contractions in the digestive tract occur more frequently and are stronger causing all of the symptoms of IBS. These flare-ups typically only occur while the person is awake and not while the person is sleeping. About twenty percent of the population in the United States is affected by IBS, but many of these people learn to control the condition. IBS is typically a chronic condition. However, the severity of the IBS tends to go through bouts of lessening and the worsening. IBS, unlike many other digestive diseases and disorders, does not cause inflammation, increase the risk of colorectal cancer, or change the bowel tissue itself.

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Some of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may be:

Abdominal pain
Abdominal cramps
Diarrhea – typically seen right after eating too much or too quickly
Constipation
Bloating
Gas
Nausea
Mucus in the stool
Fatigue
Depression
Headaches
Difficulty concentrating
Anxiety

Treatments For Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is aimed more or less at relieving the symptoms. This is due to the fact that the cause can differ from person to person and is not always known. Mild cases are typically managed through diet and lifestyle changes such as exercise. In moderate or severe cases anti-diarrheal medications, fiber supplements, anticholinergic medications, antispasmodic medications, and antidepressants may be recommended by your doctor in addition to a change in diet and lifestyle.

Personal Experience

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - personal experiences