IBS Symptoms and Causes

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a painful gastrointestinal disorder that affects one in five people in the United States, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Although IBS can be very painful, it does not permanently damage the intestines and can be controlled with a combination of medication and modifications in diet and lifestyle.

Causes

• The muscles in the intestine walls move food through the digestive tract by alternately contracting and relaxing. If you have IBS, the contractions may be stronger or last longer, forcing food through the intestines too quickly. In other cases, the food takes longer than necessary to travel through the intestines. Researchers think that female hormones may play a part in IBS, as the disorder occurs most often in women, starting before age 35 in 50 percent of all cases. Changes to the nerves that control contractions in the bowel may also be responsible.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of IBS include abdominal cramping, pain or bloating. If food is passing too quickly through the intestines and bowel, you will notice diarrhea and gas. If food is passing too slowly, constipation may result. Mucus may be present in the stool and you may feel that you still need to move your bowels even after having a bowel movement. Women may notice an increase in symptoms during their menstrual periods.

Diagnosis

• Your doctor will rely on your symptoms and medical history, in addition to an examination, in making an IBS diagnosis. Your doctor will probably use the Rome criteria, a set of diagnostic guidelines, to determine if you are suffering from IBS based on your symptoms. You will most likely be diagnosed with IBS if you have abdominal pain that has lasted for at least three months, mucus in the stool, bloating, a change in consistency of your stool or a change in number of times bowel movements occur. The doctor will also ask if you must strain in order to have a bowel movement or feel that your bowels aren't completely empty after a bowel movement.

Testing

• If your doctor wants to rule out other causes for your symptoms, he may suggest that you undergo a flexible sigmoidoscopy. During this test, a thin, flexible tube containing a camera is passed into the lower section of the colon. Your doctor sees images from the camera and can determine if there is a problem. Other common tests include colonoscopy, a procedure similar to sigmoidoscopy that is used to examine the entire colon; a computerized tomography (CAT) scan and a lactose intolerance test to determine if an intolerance to dairy products is causing your symptoms.

Treatment

• There are several medications that can help relieve the painful symptoms of IBS. Antispasmodic drugs reduce cramping and loperamide, commonly known as Imodium, can help relieve diarrhea. Sedatives or tranquilizers can be prescribed if anxiety is making your IBS worse.

  Diet is an important consideration in treating IBS. If certain foods seem to trigger flare-ups, it is recommended that you avoid these foods. Fiber supplements can help reduce both constipation and diarrhea, although doctors recommend that you add fiber to your diet gradually to reduce gas and bloating. Caffeine and food high in fats can cause intestinal contractions and cramping, and you may want to avoid foods containing these substances. Some types of fruit and vegetables, such as beans and cabbage, can also make IBS worse. Since stress and anxiety can cause IBS symptoms to worsen, doctors recommend that you develop good stress reduction techniques to lessen the incidence of flare-ups.