Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the world’s most common functional gastrointestinal disorder. It is a chronic condition that affects your large intestine, leading to uncomfortable symptoms like gas, bloating, cramping, constipation, and diarrhea. And while IBS is not a precursor to colon cancer or inflammatory disease, it can lower your quality of life. Explosive and sudden bouts of diarrhea, for instance, can make you reluctant to engage in certain social activities. Sometimes, IBS symptoms can signify a more serious underlying condition. This is why you should always schedule a Cypress irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) screening when you experience the following symptoms:
Abdominal Pain and Cramping
Cramping and abdominal pain are the symptoms most associated with IBS. When you are healthy, your brain and gut coordinate to control digestion through signals, nerves, and hormones produced by the “good” bacteria in your gut. IBS distorts this communication, causing painful and uncoordinated muscle tension in your digestive tract. This pain is often felt in the lower abdomen and may decrease after a bowel movement. It can also affect the entire abdomen but rarely the upper abdomen alone.
Constipation
About 35 percent of IBS cases are constipation-predominant. This means that the patients experience constipation more frequently than diarrhea. Like IBS-caused abdominal pain, this symptom is the result of distorted communication between your bowel and brain that increases or decreases the amount of time stool takes to travel through your gut. Slower still transit time results in the bowels absorbing more water from your stool, making it difficult to pass. In addition to this, you may also experience a feeling of incomplete bowel movement, which can cause you to strain unnecessarily.
Diarrhea
IBS can also cause diarrhea and, in this case, is called diarrhea-predominant IBS. According to a study of 200 patients, adults with this type of IBS experience an average of 12 bowel movements a week. This is more than double the amount for a healthy adult. IBS-related diarrhea is caused by increased stool transit time. Sometimes, the urge to have a bowel movement can be sudden and immediate, which can be stressful. Your stool may also contain mucus.
Bloating and Gas
Changing digestion patterns caused by IBS can increase gas production in your gut, leading to uncomfortable bloating. In fact, many IBS patients identify this as one of the peskiest and most persistent symptoms of the condition. A 2009 study found that 83 percent of participating IBS patients reported constant bloating.
Food Intolerance
About 8 in every 10 people with IBS say they experience IBS symptoms triggered by specific foods like gluten and lactose. Consequently, they avoid these foods and eliminate them from their diets altogether. It is important to note that IBS-related food intolerances are not food allergies and that these trigger foods do not significantly alter digestion.
Seek IBS Treatment Today
Symptoms of IBS, like diarrhea, bloating, and cramping can affect your quality of life, especially when they are severe and unrelenting. If you experience them for a prolonged period – usually 3 to 6 months – you should seek diagnostic services from your primary care doctor. They can perform tests to determine if you have IBS and rule out other conditions. They can also refer you to a digestive disease specialist or gastroenterologist, for specialized treatment and care. Call them today to learn more.
