What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the large intestine that commonly causes cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation. And it’s a chronic condition that needs to be managed long term.
Almost everybody gets those symptoms at one time or another, though. How can you know if you have IBS?
The first thing to consider is how often you have these problems and whether they’re accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal pain or discomfort. If the answer is “more than once in awhile,” you should talk to a doctor about being checked for IBS.
For the most part, there aren’t any established tests for IBS. Because the symptoms are so common, doctors have to ask questions that may rule out other possibilities such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colon cancer, or celiac disease.
They should ask if you’ve had nausea, vomiting, fever, persistent pain, blood in the stool, or weight loss. They ask because these particular symptoms are not signs of IBS and may indicate other illnesses.
Your doctor may also order blood and stool tests, which can reveal infection or inflammation. They may ask for a breath test or ask you to temporarily eliminate dairy products from your diet to see if that has an effect.
Some doctors are starting to use a set of guidelines called the Rome III criteria to diagnose IBS. Under these criteria, you must have experienced symptoms for at least 6 months. The symptoms must be present for at least 3 days a month in 3 different months. And they must be associated with at least two of these results:
- A bowel movement relieves the ache and suffering.
- There’s a change in how often the stool comes out.
- The stool looks different.
Other symptoms may point to IBS, such as:
- Bowel movements feel uncontrollably urgent, difficult to pass, or incomplete
- Mucus comes out with the stool
- Bloating or abdominal distension
Two important things to remember: don’t be too embarrassed to talk with your doctor openly and honestly about your symptoms. They’ve seen and heard worse! And don’t be afraid. IBS, unlike ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which are forms of inflammatory bowel disease, doesn’t cause changes in bowel tissue or increase your risk of colorectal cancer.
Most people with IBS don’t have severe signs and symptoms, and some can control their symptoms by managing diet, lifestyle and stress. If you’re concerned about these symptoms in yourself or in someone you love, call your doctor right away for a consultation.
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