What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that affects the body’s intestines. People who suffer with IBS often feel stomach pain, cramping, bloating, and experience constipation or diarrhea. This disorder typically affects people for the long term, however it can be managed to control the symptoms.
Irritable bowel syndrome usually does not get worse over time; however the severity of your symptoms can vary from day to day. Having IBS does not put you at a higher risk of developing other diseases such as colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease.
Doctors and researchers are not clear on what causes irritable bowel syndrome. What is known is IBS causes the digestive tract to work improperly, while the intestines remain unchanged. It is thought that IBS may be an issue of disrupted or incorrect signals between the brain and the intestines. This results in problems with how the muscles of the intestines move and contract. Other people have associated their IBS with stress, hormonal changes or fluctuations, certain types of medication, and even certain types of food.
Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by persistent pain in the stomach area, with constipation or diarrhea. Many IBS sufferers fluctuate between being constipated and having diarrhea, although one usually occurs more frequently than the other. Other typical symptoms include: bloating, the feeling that you have not completely emptied your bowels, or mucus in the stool.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a very common condition, but most people are not bothered by it enough to seek treatment from a healthcare professional. Individuals with more severe symptoms, especially those suffering with cramps or bloating should be evaluated by a professional.
Doctors are usually able to diagnose IBS through asking a series of simple questions. These questions will include the type of symptoms you are encountering, the duration of your symptoms, and some general health questions. A brief physical exam may also be conducted.
It is sometimes requires that other tests be carried out as well. These tests may include a stool analysis or a sigmoidoscopy. A sigmoidoscopy is a procedure that allows the doctor to view the inside of the lower intestine (also known as the colon). These tests allow the doctor to rule out more severe problems that could cause similar symptoms.
When you have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, there several ways it can be treated. Most common forms of treatment include making changes to your diet and lifestyle, such as getting regular exercise, learning how to handle stress, and eliminating foods that could cause aggravation. In other cases, or when these changes do not work, medication may be prescribed to manage symptoms.
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