Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common, uncomfortable condition resulting in cramps, bloating, excessive gas and extremes of bowel movements, ranging from diarrhea to constipation.

What is irritable bowel syndrome?

IBS is a chronic condition.. The symptoms range in severity, and most people can control their symptoms with dietary adjustments and stress management. However, if you have severe IBS symptoms, you may benefit from medication and counseling.

What causes IBS?

Doctors and medical researchers haven’t identified the exact cause of IBS. However, many factors contribute to the condition, including:

• Muscle contractions or spasms in your large intestine
• Nervous system malfunction that leads to an overreaction to normal digestive functions
• Inflammation and immunologic responses
• Infection
• Abnormal microflora in your gut
• Stress

How is IBS diagnosed?

Unfortunately, there’s no single test to identify IBS, so your doctor might run some diagnostics to rule out other conditions such as those listed above.

How is IBS treated?

Your doctor provides customized treatment for IBS depending on the severity of your symptoms. For example, you may find relief by changing your diet. Sometimes the condition is caused by too many or the wrong type of bacteria in your intestine. You may also benefit from stress management techniques such as exercise and meditation.

However, if your symptoms are severe, your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce the muscle contractions in your colon or increase fluid secretion in your small intestine.