What Are the Signs & Symptoms of IBS?

According to the The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), IBS sufferers number up to 20% of American adults. From their statistics, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the most diagnosed conditions by U.S. doctors. It is a condition defined by symptoms and the exclusion of other illnesses.

Rome II Guidelines

• There are official diagnostic signs for IBS called the Rome II Guidelines. The specific diagnostic criteria set forth calls for at least three days every month of recurring stomach pain which lasts for three successive months and two of the next three signs: the pain gets better after a bowel movement, the pain came with bowel movement frequency or the pain came with bowel movement appearance changes. If a patient goes through diagnostic procedures and there is no other attribution for these symptoms, a ruling of IBS is generally made.

Identification

• IBS is identified through the Rome II Guidelines and symptoms that cannot be attributed to other conditions. Signs and symptoms typically include bloating, stomach discomfort and abdominal pain. There can be signs of constipation or diarrhea. Nausea and heartburn are two signs that can also occur. There can be a remission of symptoms, so if signs go away this doesn't mean the patient is cured; rather, he merely is in a state of remission. A person's symptoms can come back at any time.

Facts

• Half of all the cases of Irritable Bowel Syndrome will have their symptoms begin before 35 years of age. Most of these sufferers will treat their illness with medication, stress reduction or by diet changes. While it is bothersome and unpleasant to have, it will not progress into colon or rectal cancers.

Misconceptions

• There are some things that will aggravate symptoms in someone with IBS that are at times attributed to causing IBS. These triggers are things like stress, caffeine, alcohol and some foods. While the heightened sensitivity of IBS sufferers makes these triggers bring on harsher symptoms, they do not cause IBS in someone that doesn't already suffer from the condition. Also, this is a condition that is not related to ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. It is a separate condition.

Gender

• IBS is a condition that is seen in more women than men. It can flare up (show increased frequency and intensity in symptoms) around menstruation. There are women that can only suffer IBS signs during the hormonal flux of PMS. Also, women have a higher chance of having interstitial cystitis, chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia, and those conditions have a very high risk of being seen in those individuals that get diagnosed with IBS as well.