Irritable bowel syndrome (patient information)

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What is Irritable bowel syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder characterized most commonly by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, but it does not permanently harm the intestines and does not lead to a serious disease, such as cancer. Most people can control their symptoms with diet, stress management, and prescribed medications. For some people, however, IBS can be disabling. They may be unable to work, attend social events, or even travel short distances.

As many as 20 percent of the adult population, or one in five Americans, have symptoms of IBS, making it one of the most common disorders diagnosed by doctors. It occurs more often in women than in men, and it begins before the age of 35 in about 50 percent of people.

What are the symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome?

Symptoms range from mild to severe, however most people have mild symptoms. IBS symptoms may be worse in patients with underlying stress or mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, but it is important to understand that these conditions do not cause IBS. Symptoms may include:

• Abdominal distention
• Abdominal fullness, gas, bloating
• Abdominal pain or tenderness that:

• Comes and goes
• Goes away after a bowel movement
• Occurs after meals

• Chronic and frequent constipation, usually accompanied by pain
• Chronic and frequent diarrhea, usually accompanied by pain
• Emotional distress
• Depression
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting

What are the causes of Irritable bowel syndrome?

Researchers have yet to discover any specific cause for IBS. One theory is that people who suffer from IBS have a colon, or large intestine, that is particularly sensitive and reactive to certain foods and stress. The immune system, which fights infection, may also be involved.

• Normal motility, or movement, may not be present in the colon of a person who has IBS. It can be spasmodic or can even stop working temporarily. Spasms are sudden strong muscle contractions that come and go.
• The lining of the colon called the epithelium, which is affected by the immune and nervous systems, regulates the flow of fluids in and out of the colon. In IBS, the epithelium appears to work properly. However, when the contents inside the colon move too quickly, the colon loses its ability to absorb fluids. The result is too much fluid in the stool. In other people, the movement inside the colon is too slow, which causes extra fluid to be absorbed. As a result, a person develops constipation.
• A person’s colon may respond strongly to stimuli such as certain foods or stress that would not bother most people.
• Recent research has reported that serotonin is linked with normal gastrointestinal (GI) functioning. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, or chemical, that delivers messages from one part of your body to another. Ninety-five percent of the serotonin in your body is located in the GI tract, and the other 5 percent is found in the brain. Cells that line the inside of the bowel work as transporters and carry the serotonin out of the GI tract. People with IBS, however, have diminished receptor activity, causing abnormal levels of serotonin to exist in the GI tract. As a result, they experience problems with bowel movement, motility, and sensation—having more sensitive pain receptors in their GI tract.
• Researchers have reported that IBS may be caused by a bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract. Studies show that people who have had gastroenteritis sometimes develop IBS, otherwise called post-infectious IBS.
• Researchers have also found very mild celiac disease in some people with symptoms similar to IBS. People with celiac disease cannot digest gluten, a substance found in wheat, rye, and barley. People with celiac disease cannot eat these foods without becoming very sick because their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. A blood test can determine whether celiac disease may be present.

When to seek urgent medical care

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome or if you notice a persistent change in your bowel habits.

Where to find medical care for Irritable bowel sydrome

Directions to Hospitals Treating Irritable bowel syndrome

Sources

• http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibs/
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/irritablebowelsyndrome.html
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000246.htm