What
Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the
intestines that leads to crampy pain, gassiness, bloating,
and changes in bowel habits. Some people with IBS have constipation
(difficult or infrequent bowel movements); others have diarrhea
(frequent loose stools, often with an urgent need to move
the bowels); and some people experience both. Sometimes
the person with IBS has a crampy urge to move the bowels
but cannot do so.
Through the years, IBS has been called by many names--colitis,
mucous colitis, spastic colon, spastic bowel, and functional
bowel disease. Most of these terms are inaccurate. Colitis,
for instance, means inflammation of the large intestine
(colon). IBS, however, does not cause inflammation and should
not be confused with another disorder, ulcerative colitis.
The
cause of IBS is not known, and as yet there is no cure.
Doctors call it a functional disorder because there is no
sign of disease when the colon is examined. IBS causes a
great deal of discomfort and distress, but it does not cause
permanent harm to the intestines and does not lead to intestinal
bleeding of the bowel or to a serious disease such as cancer.
Often IBS is just a mild annoyance, but for some people
it can be disabling. They may be unable to go to social
events, to go out to a job, or to travel even short distances.
Most people with IBS, however, are able to control their
symptoms through medications prescribed by their physicians,
diet, and stress management.
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