What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is different from ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, so it is essential to get an accurate diagnosis from your doctor to ensure proper treatment.

IBS is a functional bowel disorder* characterized by chronic abdominal pain and discomfort and bloating that is typically associated with a change in the frequency, appearance, and/or urgency of bowel movements.

The onset of IBS is typically seen in patients from preadolescent to middle-aged adults and three times as many women suffer from IBS than men. With IBS, constipation or diarrhea may occur, and many people have both constipation and diarrhea in alternating bouts. It is estimated that as many as 20% of American patients may suffer from one of three types of IBS:

• IBS-D, or diarrhea-predominant symptoms
• IBS-C, or constipation-predominant symptoms
• IBS-A, or alternating stool patterns

Causes of IBS

It is still unknown precisely what causes IBS; however psychosocial factors such as traumatic stress may lead to the development of this bowel disorder in some patients.

Some researchers believe that a dysregulation of the brain-gut axis (the nerves that link the brain and the gut, which control intestinal muscle contractions and other normal gut functions) is one of the likely causes of the symptoms of IBS.

IBS is a Common and Complicated Problem

IBS is the most common bowel condition identified by gastroenterologists. Still, it may be hard for your doctor to tell whether or not IBS is causing your symptoms because:

• There are no visual signs of IBS
• Many of the symptoms caused by the condition are similar to those caused by other bowel problems

Many people with IBS go undiagnosed for several years and therefore do not receive the treatment they need.