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What Is Irritable Bowel
Syndrome?
Those who suffer from irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS) rarely talk about it. It is a common
disorder of the intestines that leads to cramping pain,
gassiness, bloating and changes in bowel habits. IBS can be
mild, but for some people it can be painful and embarrassing.
IBS can also be disabling, depending on the severity of
symptoms. It can cause constipation, diarrhea or both.
Sometimes the person with IBS has a crampy urge to move the
bowels but cannot do so. IBS does not cause inflammation,
intestinal bleeding, permanent harm or a serious disease such
as cancer. It should not be confused with another disorder,
ulcerative colitis. The cause is unknown and there is no
cure.
IBS affects the colon (large intestine). It is called a
functional disorder because there is no evidence of disease
when the colon is examined. The function of the colon is to
absorb water and salts from the two quarts of liquid matter
that enter the right side of the colon from the small
intestine each day. After the fluid and salts are absorbed,
contractions of the muscles of the colon move the remaining
waste to left side of the colon, where it is stored until a
bowel movement occurs. Eventually, strong muscle contractions
of the colon move the material out of the body. It is
important to realize that normal bowel movements range from
as many as three stools a day to as few as three a week. A
normal movement is one that is formed but not hard, contains
no blood and is passed without cramps or pain.
The symptoms of IBS (cramping pain, gassiness, bloating and
changes in bowel habits) are caused by muscle spasms of the
colon muscles. Researchers have found that the colon muscle
of a person with IBS begins to spasm after only mild
stimulation such as eating, distention from gas, or some
foods or medicines. The person with IBS seems to have a colon
that is more sensitive and reactive than usual, so it
responds strongly to stimuli that would not bother most
people.
Children with IBS tend to have either diarrhea or pain. IBS
with diarrhea is most common in children under age 3. The
diarrhea is usually painless and alternates with bouts of
constipation. These children usually have fewer than five
stools a day, and the stools tend to be watery and soft. IBS
marked by pain mainly affects children over age 5. In the
younger children, the pain tends to occur around the navel
area, and in older children, in the lower left part of the
abdomen. The pain is crampy and gets worse with eating and
better after passing stool or gas.
In addition to the symptoms described above, children with
IBS may also have headache, nausea or mucus in the stool.
Weight loss may occur if a child eats less to try to avoid
pain. Some children first develop symptoms after a stressful
event, such as teething, a bout with the flu, school problems
or problems at home. Stress does not cause IBS, but it can
trigger symptoms.
Other factors that may trigger symptoms include:
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Certain medicines and foods. Chocolate,
milk products and caffeine are common triggers. Beans,
cabbage and certain fruits, all foods that produce gas,
may trigger symptoms. Fats in any form (saturated or
unsaturated) can trigger symptoms. Large amounts of
alcohol often are a trigger.
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Infectious disorders, such as gastritis, during a
stressful period.
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Hormonal influences. Increased estrogen
seems to affect bowel activity; women's symptoms
worsen during menstruation.
Symptoms
The common symptoms of IBS
include:
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Bloating and gas
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Constipation
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Diarrhea, especially after eating or first thing in the
morning; some people have alternating diarrhea and
constipation
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Feeling like you need to have a bowel movement after
already having one
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Abdominal pain and cramping that may go away after a bowel
movement
Not all people with IBS experience all
the symptoms.
The symptoms may get worse when you're under stress, such as
when you travel or change your daily routine; eat an unhealthful
diet or after a big meal.
Keeping a diary of what you eat and your symptoms for a few
weeks can help you determine if a food bothers you.
Symptoms can occur from a few times a week to once a month. IBS
can also go away for years and suddenly return.
Diagnosis and treatment
No test screens for IBS. Instead, your
doctor will ask questions about your symptoms; if they have a
certain pattern over time, the doctor will know you have the
condition.
A healthy, high-fiber diet may lessen symptoms. Avoid foods that
make you feel worse. Eat smaller more frequent meals or smaller
portions. Learn how to reduce your reaction to things that cause
you stress.
Drug therapy also is available. Talk to your doctor to see if
such therapy might be appropriate for you.
Sometimes people with IBS pass mucus with their bowel movements.
Bleeding, fever, weight loss and persistent severe pain are not
symptoms of IBS but may indicate other problems. See your health
care provider if you have these symptoms.
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