Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Signs and symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS is a chronic condition that you'll need to manage long term.
Only a small number of people with IBS have severe signs and symptoms. Some people can control their symptoms by managing diet, lifestyle and stress. More-severe symptoms can be treated with medication and counseling.
IBS doesn't cause changes in bowel tissue or increase your risk of colorectal cancer.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of IBS vary but are usually present for a long time. The most common include:
Other symptoms that are often related include bloating, increased gas or mucus in the stool.
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you have a persistent change in bowel habits or other signs or symptoms of IBS. They may indicate a more serious condition, such as colon cancer. More-serious signs and symptoms include:
Causes
The precise cause of IBS isn't known. Factors that appear to play a role include:
Triggers
Symptoms of IBS can be triggered by:
Risk Factors
Many people have occasional signs and symptoms of IBS. But you're more likely to have the syndrome if you:
Complications
Chronic constipation or diarrhea can cause hemorrhoids.
In addition, IBS is associated with:
Diagnosis & Treatment
Diagnosis
There's no test to definitively diagnose IBS. Your doctor is likely to start with a complete medical history, physical exam and tests to rule out other conditions, such as celiac disease.
After other conditions have been ruled out, your doctor is likely to use one of these sets of diagnostic criteria for IBS:
Your doctor will also likely assess whether you have other signs or symptoms that might suggest another, more serious, condition. These signs and symptoms include:
If you have these signs or symptoms, or if an initial treatment for IBS doesn't work, you'll likely need additional tests.
Additional Tests
Your doctor may recommend several tests, including stool studies to check for infection or problems with your intestine's ability to take in the nutrients from food (malabsorption). You may also have a number of other tests to rule out other causes for your symptoms.
Diagnostic procedures can include:
Laboratory tests can include:
Treatment
Treatment of IBS focuses on relieving symptoms so that you can live as normally as possible.
Mild signs and symptoms can often be controlled by managing stress and by making changes in your diet and lifestyle. Try to:
Your doctor might suggest that you eliminate from your diet:
A dietitian can help you with these diet changes.
If your problems are moderate or severe, your doctor might suggest counseling — especially if you have depression or if stress tends to worsen your symptoms.
In addition, based on your symptoms your doctor might suggest medications such as:
Care at Chartwell Hospital
At Chartwell Digestive Health we have a team of experienced gastroenterology specialists, dedicated to providing the best possible care for all of our patients.
We diagnose and treat common abdominal symptoms such as rectal bleeding, change in bowel habit and abdominal pain which can be distressing for patients. In most cases, the symptoms are due to underlying health problems. However, for more serious cases, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment is key to recovery.
Our specialist team use comprehensive examinations and testing to diagnose various conditions. In addition to testing blood and stool samples, our Consultant Gastroenterologists may use other diagnostic tools including colonoscopy, gastroscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, MRI, X-rays, and CT scans.
Doctors & Departments
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Gastroenterology
Doctors
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