Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic condition that involves pain in the abdominal region and sometimes recurrent diarrhea or other elimination problems. The condition does not always have a known cause, but many people have specific triggers.

Genetic Makeup

• Doctors do not fully understand the causes of irritable bowel syndrome, but it is suspected that a person's genetic makeup plays a role in susceptibility to the condition.

Stress

• Many studies have tied psychological factors, such as stress and anxiety, to irritable bowel syndrome in some individuals. People with the condition may notice flareups during stressful life circumstances.

Common Food Triggers

• In some people, foods such as coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, or carbonated drinks may aggravate irritable bowel syndrome.

Other Known Triggers

• Medications such as Tylenol or aspirin may be triggers in some cases, and the condition might also flare up during other illnesses such as flu or gastrointestinal infections.

Considerations

• If you suspect you have irritable bowel syndrome, see a doctor to rule out other diagnoses, such as inflammatory bowel syndrome or food allergies. The symptoms of these conditions can be very similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome, but the the treatments differ, so it is a good idea to have a solid diagnosis.

Treatment

• Treatments may include diet changes, prescription drugs to relax the digestive muscles, anti-depressants or counseling.