Topic Overview
What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
Irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the intestines. It causes belly pain, cramping
or bloating, and diarrhea or constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome is a
long-term problem, but there are things you can do to reduce your symptoms.
Your symptoms may be worse or better from day to day, but your
IBS will not get worse over time. IBS does not cause more serious diseases,
such as
or cancer.
What causes IBS?
Doctors do not know exactly what
causes irritable bowel syndrome. In IBS, the movement of the
does not work as it should, but there
is no sign of changes in the intestines, such as inflammation or tumors.
Doctors think that IBS symptoms are related to problems with the signals sent
between the brain and the intestines. This causes problems with the way the
muscles of the intestines move.
For some people with IBS, certain
foods, stress, hormonal changes, and some antibiotics may trigger pain and
other symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptoms of
irritable bowel syndrome are belly pain with constipation or diarrhea. Other
common symptoms are bloating, mucus in the stools, or a feeling that you have
not completely emptied your bowels.
Many people with IBS go back
and forth between having constipation and having diarrhea. For most people, one
of these happens more often than the other.
IBS is quite common.
Most people's symptoms are so mild that they never see a doctor for treatment.
But some people may have troublesome symptoms, especially stomach cramps,
bloating, and diarrhea.
How is IBS diagnosed?
Most of the time, doctors
can diagnose irritable bowel syndrome from the symptoms. Your doctor will ask
you about your symptoms and past health and will do a physical exam.
In some cases, you may need other tests, such as stool analysis or a
sigmoidoscopy. A sigmoidoscopy lets a doctor look at the inside of the lower
part of the intestine (the
or colon). These tests can help your doctor rule out other
problems that might be causing your symptoms.
How is it treated?
Irritable bowel syndrome is a
long-term condition, but there are things you can do to manage your symptoms.
Treatment usually includes making changes in your diet and lifestyle, such as
avoiding foods that trigger your symptoms, getting regular exercise, and
managing your stress.
There are also medicines that may help with
your symptoms. If diet and lifestyle changes do not help enough on their own,
your doctor may prescribe medicines for pain, diarrhea, or constipation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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