Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common stomach disorders. It is a disease that interferes with the normal functions of the colon (large intestine). The symptoms of IBS are diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation and bloating. IBS is also referred to as irritable colon, nervous stomach, mucous colitis or spastic colon. IBS is treated as a functional disorder, which means that when a person suffers from this disorder there is no structural malfunctioning of any system in his body; it is just the physiological condition that has altered. People having IBS actually suffer from a disturbance in interaction between the intestines, the brain and the nervous system. This alters the regulation of bowel movements. Stress and unbalanced diet are the two main causes of IBS. According to experts, stress results in stimulation of the colon in a normal person (that is why when we are nervous we experience 'butterflies' in the stomach), but a person having IBS suffers from colon spasms when under stress. This is because in IBS, the colon becomes oversensitive. Though IBS makes a patient very uncomfortable, it doesn't cause any permanent damage to the intestines. The discomfort caused by IBS can be reduced by a balanced diet, stress management and appropriate medicines. Unlike many other stomach disorders, IBS may not be diagnosed in a traditional way by using X-rays or blood tests. The doctors often rely on medical history and the physical symptoms of a patient to diagnose IBS, if traditional tests do not work. Though IBS is not confined to any particular age group, it generally starts at the age of around 20 years. It is more prevalent among women than men. So far, research has shown that it doesn't lead to any other disease. |
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