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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Overview:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is considered to be the most common disorder of the gastrointestinal system. Twice as many women as men are affected, and it usually starts in early adulthood. Although the condition is painful and disruptive to your daily life, it does not lead to serious disease.
Signs and Symptoms:
Irritable bowel syndrome is characterised by digestive symptoms such as those below, particularly when their presence is related to stress, depression or anxiety:
* Altered bowel habits
* Constipation and/or diarrhoea
* Cramping pain in the bowel area (i.e. lower abdomen)
* Flatulence
* Abnormal bowel movements (e.g. watery stools, food particles visible in stools)
* Presence of blood or mucus in the stool
* Urgency
* Symptoms generally, but not always, occur soon after eating or drinking
Causes and Organs Affected:
As part of the digestive process, the intestines move food through the intestinal tract by muscular bowel contractions called peristalsis. Irritable bowel syndrome occurs when peristalsis develops inconsistencies such as abnormal muscle movement or spasm of the lower part of the colon.
Sometimes the spasm delays the bowel movement, causing constipation. At other times it may lead to more rapid passage of the bowel movement, resulting in diarrhoea, or smaller stools, which are less well-formed. It is common for sufferers to need to empty their bowels more frequently than normal, and to feel that their bowel movement is incomplete.
Risk Factor:
Many people have occasional signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, but you're more likely to have IBS if you're young and female. IBS begins before the age of 35 for 50 percent of people. Overall, about twice as many women have the condition. Genetics or heredity also may play a role.
Treatment:
Because it's not clear what causes irritable bowel syndrome, treatment focuses on the relief of symptoms so that you can live your life as normally as possible.
In most cases, you can successfully control mild signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome by learning to manage stress and making changes in your diet and lifestyle. But if your problems are moderate or severe, you may need more than lifestyle changes alone can offer.
Other Information:
In many cases, simple changes in your diet and lifestyle can provide relief from irritable bowel syndrome. Although your body may not respond immediately to these changes, your goal is to find long-term, not temporary solutions.