Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a digestive disorder that affects the large intestine. Common symptoms include abdominal cramping and bloating, gas, diarrhea and/or constipation. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), up to 20 percent of adults in the United States have IBS symptoms, making it one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders. Treatment for IBS aims to manage or prevent digestive disadvantages.
Abdominal Pain and Cramping
Abdominal pain and cramping are common digestive disadvantages of IBS. Pain may result from inflammation of the large intestine during digestion, from emotional stress, or as a result of eating certain foods, such as fatty, greasy or spicy foods. According to the NDDIC, abdominal pain or discomfort that totals at least three months out of the previous 12 months is one diagnostic criteria for IBS. (The three months of pain or discomfort need not be consecutive.) Pain and cramping often occur in affiliation with other IBS symptoms, such as constipation and diarrhea.
Gas
Bodily gas develops as a result of swallowing air, or as a result of standard breakdown of undigested foods in the large intestine. Since IBS negatively affects normal function of the large intestine, recurrent or excessive gas are common disadvantages. While gas is a normal part of healthy body function, excessive amounts can lead to physical discomfort and social embarrassment. Since people with IBS react differently to certain foods and emotional triggers, the specific triggers for gas problems vary among individuals.
Diarrhea and/or Constipation
Diarrhea (loose, frequent stools) and constipation (difficult or infrequent bowel movements) commonly affect individuals with IBS. People may find that they are only able to eliminate small amounts of waste product, or that their feces contains mucus--fluid the body produces to protect passageways in the digestive tract. People with diarrhea or constipation may experience frequent urgency to have a bowel movement, whether or not they are able, or need to. When diarrhea exacerbates, dehydration and loss of nutrients becomes a risk. In many cases, people with IBS experience bouts of constipation alternately with diarrhea. They may also experience time periods in which both symptoms alleviate or flare up in response to various food, lifestyle or emotional triggers.
