Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Articles

Please feel free to visit each link and look around the site it is on. We do not have any affiliation with any of these sites, nor do we get paid any kind of commission, bonus, or whatever to provide these links. We are working to consolidate links of good sites on each invisible illness to take time and stress off you. Having a long list of "invisible Illnesses" myself and knowing all the time and stress I went through trying to find answers when the Doctors weren't able to provide answers for me, I did months of checking online for them. This is a service we are happy to provide for you. If you feel they are helpful and provide you with good information and you would like to help keep our site up and running with current informatioin for you and others in need, please feel free to donate to help keep the site running or visit our Awareness Store and pick out some items you would like to purchase. All monies from sales help keep the site running and current. Thank you! You will be taken from our site to the site the article is contained at whether it is the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Association site, or another Sister site.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome* (IBS) is a “syndrome,” meaning a group of symptoms. The most common symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain or discomfort often reported as cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and/or constipation. IBS affects the colon, or large bowel, which is the part of the digestive tract that stores stool. IBS is not a disease. It’s a functional disorder, meaning that the bowel doesn’t work, or function, correctly. The main symptoms of IBS are
abdominal pain or discomfort in the abdomen, often relieved by or associated with a bowel movement chronic diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both Other symptoms are
whitish mucus in the stool a swollen or bloated abdomen the feeling that you have not finished a bowel movement read more...

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. Abdominal pain, bloating, and discomfort are the main symptoms of IBS. However, symptoms can vary from person to person. Some people have constipation, which means hard, difficult-to-pass, or infrequent bowel movements. Often these people report straining and cramping when trying to have a bowel movement but cannot eliminate any stool, or they are able to eliminate only a small amount. If they are able to have a bowel movement, there may be mucus in it, which is a fluid that moistens and protect passages in the digestive system. Some people with IBS experience diarrhea, which is frequent, loose, watery, stools. People with diarrhea frequently feel an urgent and uncontrollable need to have a bowel movement. Other people with IBS alternate between constipation and diarrhea. Sometimes people find that their symptoms subside for a few months and then return, while others report a constant worsening of symptoms over time. read more...

Most individuals are surprised to learn they are not alone with symptoms of IBS. In fact, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects approximately 10–20% of the general population.* IBS is the most common disease diagnosed by gastroenterologists (doctors who specialize in medical treatment of disorders of the stomach and intestines) and one of the most common disorders seen by primary care physicians. Sometimes irritable bowel syndrome is referred to as spastic colon, mucous colitis, spastic colitis, nervous stomach, or irritable colon. read more...

"It's drastic. The symptoms are sometimes constant. There's diarrhea and abdominal pain or constipation and bloating. I can't commit to anything too far in advance or anything that is regularly occurring. It greatly affects my life and I'm grateful that there is someone to turn to for support and information." "... this group represents the real voice of the IBS sufferer, in a professional and dignified manner." read more...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a problem that affects the large intestine. It can cause abdominal cramping, bloating and a change in bowel habits. Some people with the disorder have constipation. Some have diarrhea. Some go back and forth between constipation and diarrhea. Although IBS can cause a great deal of discomfort, it does not harm the intestines. IBS is a common disorder and happens more often in women than men. No one knows the exact cause of IBS. There is no specific test for IBS. However, your doctor may run tests to be sure you don't have other diseases. These tests may include stool sampling tests, blood tests and x-rays. Your doctor may also do a test called a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Most people diagnosed with IBS can control their symptoms with diet, stress management and medicine. read more...

The FDA has approved the use of the constipation drug Amitiza to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in women aged 18 and older. Amitiza is the first FDA-approved prescription drug therapy for IBS-C. But it isn't a new drug. The FDA approved Amitiza in 2006 to treat chronic constipation in adults. The Amitiza dose used to treat IBS-C is lower than the dose used to treat chronic constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder characterized by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and distress to its sufferers, and it affects at least twice as many women as men. Amitiza works by increasing the secretion of intestinal fluid, which helps ease stool passage and constipation symptoms. read more...

There are many diseases which can easily be confused for IBS. Always consult your physician for a proper diagnosis of your symptoms. This diagnosis criteria is not intended for you to diagnosis yourself. Only your doctor can make that diagnosis. In 1978 Manning et al., found, from questionnaire data, that IBS sufferers reported four common symptoms. The Manning Criteria was established to distinguish organic causes for symptoms from those of IBS. In 1992 the Rome I Criteria was established by a multinational committee of specialists, which further refined the Manning Criteria. In 1998 the Rome Working Team proposed changes to the definition and diagnostic criteria for IBS to reflect new research data, and to improve clarity. They produced the Rome II Criteria. In 2006 this was further defined by the expanded Rome Working Team into what is now known as the Rome III Criteria. The diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome has relied on a diagnosis of exclusion. Because the symptoms of IBS share the symptoms of so many other intestinal illnesses, it sometimes takes years before a correct diagnosis is made to exclude the obvious, and not so obvious, conditions which present symptoms similar to IBS. read more...

Irritable bowel syndrome Irritable bowel syndrome sufferers - This site contains reviews of IBS therapies and medications written by the real experts on irritable bowel syndrome - the sufferers themselves. This site does not provide medical advice however. This website covers the following products and therapies: supplements such as fiber supplements and probiotics diet regimes including exclusion diets and the Eating for IBS diet therapies such as hypnotherapy and the IBS Audio Program 100 medications such as Lotronex, Zelnorm, anti-spasmodics and anti-depressants books on irritable bowel syndrome. read more...

Abdominal pain, bloating, and discomfort are the main symptoms of IBS. However, symptoms can vary from person to person. Some people have constipation, which means hard, difficult-to-pass, or infrequent bowel movements. Often these people report straining and cramping when trying to have a bowel movement but cannot eliminate any stool, or they are able to eliminate only a small amount. If they are able to have a bowel movement, there may be mucus in it, which is a fluid that moistens and protect passages in the digestive system. Some people with IBS experience diarrhea, which is frequent, loose, watery, stools. People with diarrhea frequently feel an urgent and uncontrollable need to have a bowel movement. Other people with IBS alternate between constipation and diarrhea. Sometimes people find that their symptoms subside for a few months and then return, while others report a constant worsening of symptoms over time. read more...

In gastroenterology, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits which are not associated with any abnormalities seen on routine clinical testing. It is fairly common and makes up 20–50% of visits to gastroenterologists. Lower abdominal pain, and bloating associated with alteration of bowel habits and abdominal discomfort relieved with defecation are the most frequent symptoms. The abdominal pain type is usually described in a patient as either diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D), constipation-predominant (IBS-C) or IBS with alternating stool pattern (IBS-A). In some individuals, IBS may have an acute onset and develop after an infectious illness characterised by two or more of the following: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or positive stool culture. This post-infective syndrome has consequently been termed "post-infectious IBS" (IBS-PI) and is acute onset Rome II criteria positive. This condition is more homogeneous, being mostly IBS-D and is drawing much clinical investigation. read more...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common problem with the intestines. In people with IBS, the intestines squeeze too hard or not hard enough and cause food to move too quickly or too slowly through the intestines. IBS usually begins around age 20 and is more common in women. IBS is also called functional bowel syndrome, irritable colon, spastic bowel and spastic colon. It's not the same as inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis. The symptoms may get worse when you're under stress, such as when you travel, attend social events or change your daily routine. Your symptoms may also get worse if you don't eat enough healthy foods or after you've eaten a big meal. Some people are bothered by certain foods. Women who have IBS may notice more frequent symptoms during their menstrual periods. read more...

Listen to Your IBS by Jini Patel Thompson Are you sick of having your bowels control your social life, your work life, and even wreck your sleep at night? Do you long to eat delicious, savory foods and dine out in restaurants without any pain, bloating, or worry about the consequences? read more...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common disorders that doctors see. Yet it's also one that many people aren't comfortable talking about because the signs and symptoms may be embarrassing. Some signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are: Abdominal cramping Bloating and gas Diarrhea, constipation or both As many as one in five American adults has irritable bowel syndrome. Most people with IBS find signs and symptoms improve as they learn to control the condition. Only a small percentage of people with irritable bowel syndrome have severe signs and symptoms. Fortunately, unlike more serious intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome doesn't cause inflammation or changes in bowel tissue or increase your risk of colorectal cancer. In many cases, you can control irritable bowel syndrome by managing your diet, lifestyle and stress. read more...

Play an Active Role Help Fight to Find a Cure

Would you like to donate to help in research to find a cure for IBS? But maybe you don't know how. You can use this button to make a donation. Please put in the Comment Section IBS Research. Thank you for donating!