What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

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It is estimated that up to 1 in 5 Americans, nearly 54 million people, suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is the most frequent reason for visits to gastroenterologists and, other than the common cold, it is the most frequent cause of missed work. The health care system in the U.S. spends over $29 billion a year in IBS related costs.

What is irritable bowel syndrome?

IBS is a physical condition marked by gas, cramps, abdominal bloating & pain, diarrhea and constipation. The pain associated with IBS is not constant and generally goes away after a bowel movement only to return a few days or even weeks later.

The actual cause of IBS is still unknown as there have been no physical, chemical or biological markers associated with it. In fact, for years most in the medical community believed it was a psychological condition.

Types of IBS

There are generally 3 recognized types of IBS.

- IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D): as the name implies, the symptoms are frequent loose stools, or diarrhea. There are typically no episodes of constipation

- IBS with constipation (IBS-C): again, as the name implies, the symptoms are frequent hard stools. There are typically no episodes of diarrhea.

- Alternating IBS (IBS-A): alternating episodes of diarrhea and constipation.

There are similar numbers of people with each type of IBS and it is possible to alternate between the 3 types.

Large intestine dysfunction

The symptoms of IBS are a result of the large intestine (colon) not operating properly. Most medical experts do agree that IBS includes both muscle spasms and sensitivity in the colon. This results in the stool either moving too quickly, or not quickly enough, through the colon causing either diarrhea (too quickly) or constipation (too slowly).

IBS is often mistaken for colitis and is also commonly referred to as spastic colon. However, neither of these terms is correct. Colitis, for example, means that the colon is inflamed, and IBS does not cause inflammation.

If you are experiencing the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome you should visit your doctor for suggestions in managing the condition.

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