Everything You Need to Know About Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms
Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is a chronic medical disorder that affects the large intestine. Even though IBS is common, most people never go to a doctor because of the mild symptoms. Here is everything you need to know about Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a gastrointestinal disorder that is caused by irregular movements of your intestines. It is estimated that around 1 in every 10 people suffers from IBS, all over the world. Even though this is a long term condition, it does not cause any serious diseases like cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. It is not a progressive disease, in other words, it will not become worse over a period of time. However, the Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms may be better or worse from one day to another. Although the exact cause of IBS is not known, it is possible that the cause is different for different individuals. Some people with IBS may have sensitive intestines, while others may have problems digesting specific foods. Certain foods, some antibiotics, stress, and hormonal changes may trigger pain and other Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms in some people. The doctors generally diagnose most cases of IBS by asking about your medical history and conducting a physical exam. Only in some rare cases, other diagnostic tests such as blood tests, colonoscopy, and stool analysis, may need to be used. As it is quite unclear what causes IBS, the treatment plan mainly focuses on relieving your Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms so that your quality of life is not greatly reduced. You can effectively manage the mild symptoms by making certain dietary modifications, lifestyle changes, and learning to manage the stress. When the Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms are severe, your doctor may prescribe medications like anti-diarrheal medicines, antibiotics, antidepressants, fiber supplements, and antispasmodic medicines.