What to know about irritable bowel syndrome

FALLBROOK – Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a condition that people may be hesitant to discuss with someone, including a physician. IBS can be marked by symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation and changes in bowel movements. The difficulty in describing such symptoms compels some people to resist discussing them with their physicians, at least initially, but IBS is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders said that IBS is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder in the world, with worldwide prevalence rates in the range of 10% to 15%.

What is IBS?

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases notes that IBS is a group of symptoms that occur together. Repeated pain in the abdomen and changes in bowel movements, such as diarrhea and/or constipation, may be present without any visible signs of damage or disease in the digestive tract.

What is a functional GI disorder?

IBS is a functional GI disorder, which means it is related to problems with how the brain and gut work together. The NIDDK said that these problems can cause the gut to be more sensitive, changing how the muscles in the bowel contract and potentially leading to diarrhea, constipation or both.

What causes IBS?

The American Gastroenterological Association said that the cause of IBS remains unknown, though it's suspected that various factors can cause it. One such factor is dysmotility, a condition characterized by poor regulation of the muscle contracts of the GI tract. Visceral hypersensitivity, which is a greater sensitivity of the nerves attached to the GI tract, is another potential cause of IBS.

Can IBS be treated?

The good news for people with IBS is that various treatment plans have helped people with the condition feel better. The NIDDK said that there might be some trial and error as doctors try to determine the best course of treatment for each patient. But dietary and lifestyle changes, medicines, probiotics and mental health therapies are examples of IBS treatments that have helped people with the condition.

IBS symptoms can be uncomfortable to discuss with a physician. But people experiencing such symptoms should know that IBS is common and doctors have a host of treatment options at their disposal to make it easier to live with IBS.