Irratable Bowel Syndrome

Irratable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a problem that affects mainly the bowel, which is also called the large intestine. The bowel is the part of the digestive system that makes and stores stool. The word syndrome means a group of symptoms. IBS is a syndrome because it can cause several symptoms. For example, irratable bowel syndrome causes cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation.

Irratable bowel syndrome is not a disease. It's a functional disorder, which means that the bowel doesn't work as it should. With Irratable bowel syndrome, the nerves and muscles in the bowel are extra-sensitive. For example, the muscles may contract too much when you eat. These contractions can cause cramping and diarrhea during or shortly after a meal. Or the nerves can be overly sensitive to the stretching of the bowel (because of gas, for example). Cramping or pain can result. Irratable bowel syndrome can be painful. But it does not damage the bowel or cause any other diseases

Does stress cause irratable bowel syndrome?

Emotional stress will not cause a person to develop IBS. But if you already have IBS, stress can trigger symptoms. In fact, the bowel can overreact to all sorts of things, including food, exercise, and hormones.

Foods that tend to cause symptoms include milk products, chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks, and fatty foods. In some cases, simply eating a large meal will trigger symptoms. Women with IBS often have more symptoms during their menstrual periods.

Irratable bowel syndrome symptoms

The main symptoms of IBS are:

• crampy pain in the stomach area (abdomen)
• painful diarrhea or constipation

• mucus in the stool
• swollen or bloated abdomen
• the feeling that you have not finished a bowel movement

Irratable bowel syndrome diagnosis

The doctor will suspect that you have IBS because of your symptoms. But the doctor may do medical tests to make sure you don't have any other diseases that could cause the symptoms.

Medical tests for irratable bowel syndrome are:

• Physical exam
• Blood tests
• X ray of the bowel: This x-ray test is called a barium enema or lower GI (gastrointestinal) series. Barium is a thick liquid that makes the bowel show up better on the x ray. Before taking the x ray, the doctor will put barium into your bowel through the anus.
• Endoscopy: The doctor inserts a thin tube into your bowel. The tube has a camera in it, so the doctor can look at the inside of the bowel to check for problems.

Irratable bowel syndrome treatment

IBS has no cure, but you can do things to relieve symptoms. Treatment may involve diet changes, medicine and stress relief. You may have to try a combination of things to see which works best for you.

Some foods make irratable bowel syndrome worse, these foods include fatty foods like french fries, milk products like cheese or ice cream, chocolate, alcohol, caffeine (found in coffee and some sodas) and carbonated drinks like soda. If certain foods cause symptoms, you should eat less of them or stop eating them.

Some foods make irratable bowel syndrome better, these foods include apples, peaches, broccoli, raw cabbage carrots, raw peas, kidney beans, lima beans, whole-grain bread and whole-grain cereal. Add foods with fiber to your diet a little at a time to let your body get used to them. Too much fiber all at once might cause gas, which can trigger symptoms in a person with irratable bowel syndrome. Fiber is found in bran, bread, cereal, beans, fruit, and vegetables.

Points to remember

• Irratable Bowel Syndrome is a functional disorder in which the bowel doesn't work as it should.
• Irratable Bowel Syndrome can cause cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation.
• Irratable Bowel Syndrome doesn't damage the bowel.
• The doctor will diagnose IBS based on your symptoms. You might have some medical tests to rule out other diseases.
• Stress doesn't cause IBS, but it can trigger symptoms.
• Fatty foods, milk products, chocolate, caffeine, carbonated drinks, and alcohol can trigger symptoms.
• Eating foods with fiber and eating smaller meals can reduce symptoms.
• Treatment for IBS may include medicine, stress relief, or changes in eating habits.