Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Featured Articles
Constipation in the Elderly
There are many causes of constipation in the elderly, including poor diet, hormonal issues, diseases, medications, poor bowel habits, lack of exercise, and slow metabolism.
Frequency of Bowel Movement
What is the normal frequency of bowel movement? The answer varies from person to person, but a baseline consistency should apply in all circumstances. Learn why the quality of bowel movement may be more important than its quantity plus tips for recognizing healthy bowel movements.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatments
No cure has been found for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but many options are available to treat the symptoms. Your doctor will give you the best treatments available for your particular symptoms and encourage you to manage stress and make changes to your diet.
[ Read more » ]
IBS and Stress
Stress–feeling mentally or emotionally tense, troubled, angry, or overwhelmed–stimulates colon spasms in people with IBS.
[ Read more » ]
IBS Diagnosis
No particular test is specific for IBS. However, diagnostic tests may be performed to rule out other diseases. These tests may include stool or blood tests, x rays, or endoscopy (viewing the colon through a flexible tube inserted through the anus). If these tests are all negative, the doctor may diagnose IBS based on your symptoms: that is, how often you have had abdominal pain or discomfort during the past year, when the pain starts and stops in relation to bowel function, and how your bowel frequency and stool consistency are altered.
[ Read more » ]
Causes of IBS
What causes one person to have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and not another? No one knows. Symptoms cannot be traced to a single organic reason but there may be multiple causes of IBS. Research suggests that people with IBS seem to have a colon that is more sensitive and reactive than usual to a variety of things, including certain foods and stress. Some evidence indicates that the immune system, which fights infection, is also involved.
[ Read more » ]
Symptoms of IBS
Abdominal pain or discomfort in association with bowel dysfunction is the main symptom of IBS. Symptoms may vary from person to person.
[ Read more » ]
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder that interferes with the normal functions of the large intestine (colon). It is characterized by a group of symptoms–crampy abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.
[ Read more » ]
