Irritable Bowel Syndrome
What I need to know about Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
- What causes IBS?
- What are the symptoms of IBS?
- How is IBS diagnosed?
- How is IBS treated?
- Does stress cause IBS?
- Points to Remember
- For More Information
What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
Irritable bowel syndrome* (IBS) is a “syndrome,” meaning a group of symptoms. The most common symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain or discomfort often reported as cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and/or constipation. IBS affects the colon, or large bowel, which is the part of the digestive tract that stores stool.
IBS is not a disease. It’s a functional disorder, meaning that the bowel doesn’t work, or function, correctly.
What causes IBS?
Doctors are not sure what causes IBS. The nerves and muscles in the bowel appear to be extra sensitive in people with IBS. Muscles may contract too much when you eat. These contractions can cause cramping and diarrhea during or shortly after a meal. Or the nerves may react when the bowel stretches, causing cramping or pain.
IBS can be painful. But it does not damage the colon or other parts of the digestive system. IBS does not lead to other health problems.
What are the symptoms of IBS?
The main symptoms of IBS are:
- abdominal pain or discomfort in the abdomen, often relieved by or associated with a bowel movement
- chronic diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both
Other symptoms are:
- whitish mucus in the stool
- a swollen or bloated abdomen
- the feeling that you have not finished a bowel movement
Women with IBS often have more symptoms during their menstrual periods.
How is IBS diagnosed?
The doctor may suspect that you have IBS because of your symptoms. Specific symptoms, called the Rome criteria, can be used to more accurately make this diagnosis. Medical tests may also be done to make sure you don’t have any other health problems that cause the same symptoms.
Medical Tests for IBS
In addition to a physical exam and blood tests, the following tests might be done to diagnose IBS:
- Lower gastrointestinal (GI) series. This test uses x rays to diagnose problems in the large intestine. It is also called a barium enema x ray. Before you have the x ray, the doctor will put barium into your large intestine through the anus—the opening where stool leaves the body. Barium is a thick liquid that makes your intestines show up better on the x ray.
- Colonoscopy. For this test the doctor inserts a long, thin tube, called a colonoscope, into your anus and up into your colon. The tube has a light and tiny lens on the end. The doctor can view the inside of your colon on a big television screen. In some cases, a shorter tube, called a flexible sigmoidoscope, is used to look at just the lower portion of the colon.