irritable bowel syndrome and ibs symtoms

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Your Journey into Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a disorder characterized most commonly by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.

As its name indicates, Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a syndrome. That is, IBS is a combination of signs and symptoms, but not a disease. IBS is classified as a functional disorder. A functional disorder refers to a condition where the primary abnormality is an altered physiological function (the way the body works), rather than an identifiable inflammatory, infectious, structural, or biochemical cause.

Research also indicates that IBS is a multi-faceted disorder. For example, the symptoms of IBS result from what seems to be a disturbance or imbalance in the interaction between the intestines, the brain, sensory function, and the autonomic nervous system that alters regulation of bowel motility (motor function).

The articles on this site are provided to help you to better understand Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and your options for relief of these symptoms.

Click Here right arrow For a Special Report on the causes and treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Gut feeling: irritable bowel syndrome affects up to 20 percent of Americans. Herbs, supplements, nutrition, and hypnosis can get your insides back on track


Author: Natural Health

IT'S 2005, AND WE'LL TALK about anything. From fetishes to toenail fungus, maximum frankness pervades chat shows and chat rooms. Yet only about half of Americans with irritable bowel syndrome discuss their symptoms with their doctors, says gastroenterologist G. Richard Locke, M.D., professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn. When they do, it's because the constipation, diarrhea, or pain has gotten so disruptive that it's affecting their ability to function on the job, dine out, or exercise.

"Some people don't find their IBS symptoms bothersome or unusual, and some may be a little shy about talking to a doctor about bowel problems," Locke says. These silent sufferers remain unaware there's a growing array of strategies to help them achieve inner peace.

do you have IBS?

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME is a combination of symptoms that may consist of abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, flatulence, mucus in the stools, food intolerances, and constipation or diarrhea (often alternating between the two). The diagnostic criteria include having abdominal pain or discomfort for at least 12 weeks out of the previous 12 months, not necessarily consecutively. Generally, pain is relieved after a bowel movement; the frequency of bowel movements alters when pain or discomfort begins; and/or there are changes in the form or appearance of the stool.

"For most people, symptoms occur now and then, a couple of days a week or so," says Locke. "To meet the definition of IBS, you have to have the symptoms 25 percent [or more] of the time."

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Risk Factors for IBS

The main risk factors for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) include:

  • Sex
  • Family History

For example, you are far more likely to have IBS if you're young and female. In fact, two to three times as many women as men have the condition.

In addition, IBS does seem to run in families, possibly suggesting a genetic cause for the condition.

However, at the current time, the precise cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is not known.

New Irritable Bowel Information

  • Abdominal Pain and IBS
    Abdominal Pain and IBS One of the symptoms that are well known in IBS is related to abdominal pain. Mild to severe cramps may be a part of the problems that you are having. For some, this particular symptom will be more dominant than in others. By knowing why this abdominal pain occurs, as well as what you can do about it, will help with minimizing the affects of IBS on your life. Abdominal pain and cramping can be associated with IBS or as a symptom outside of the major problems of I ...
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  • Chronic Diarrhea and IBS
    Chronic Diarrhea and IBS Having chronic diarrhea can be a cause of many things. If you have consistent diarrhea problems and don't find that it is associated with any other symptoms, it may be a result of IBS. By knowing why your digestive tract is responding this way, as well as knowing possible solutions to slow down the bowel movement, you will be able to ease the symptoms of diarrhea in relation to IBS. Diarrhea is not considered part of IBS unless it is consistent for twelve or mo ...
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  • Common Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    Common Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, will have specific symptoms that are defined as part of the disorder. These symptoms will all affect your functioning as well as discomfort levels. By knowing these symptoms, you will be able to take a first step to being able to solve the problem. Defining the symptoms to IBS is an important step in beginning to solve the problem. The major discomfort that will occur with IBS is from abdominal pain that is ...
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    IBS in the News


    12/22/2011
    $6.75M Awarded To Case Western Reserve To Study IBD
    Investigators at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine received a $6.75 million Program Project Grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to study the role of innate immunity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)...

    more IBS info


    12/01/2011
    Risk Factors For Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency Are Similar To Risk Factors For Developing Multiple Sclerosis: UB Study
    Summary: A vascular condition called chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI), which has attracted global attention as possibly being correlated with MS has, for the first time, been studied for the presence of risk factors in subjects who do not have a neurological disease...

    more IBS info


    11/22/2011
    Probiotics For Gut Health: VSL#3 Has Designations For Specific GI Issues
    As clinical studies continue to validate the use of probiotics to help promote general gastrointestinal health, a growing U.S. market1 for probiotics indicates that the U.S. healthcare community and consumers alike are recognizing the value of these beneficial microorganisms...

    more IBS info


    11/02/2011
    Targeted Antibiotic Drug Safest Among Recommended Treatments For Irritable Bowel Disease
    Among the most commonly used treatments for irritable bowel syndrome which affects as many as 20 percent of the United States population a targeted antibiotic was shown to be the safest in a new study by Cedars-Sinai researchers, based on an analysis of 26 large-scale clinical trials. The study, for presentation at the American College of Gastroenterology annual meeting in Washington, D.C...

    more IBS info


    11/01/2011
    Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea Responds To Probiotics
    'Good bugs' look promising as anti-inflammatory agent for patients with ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, chronic fatigue syndrome In four different studies presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 76th Annual Scientific meeting in Washington, DC, researchers explored the effectiveness of probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea; as an anti-inflammat...

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  • 10 Step Detox Program By Dr. Janet Hull
    Detoxification program for Radiation, Heavy Metals, Mercury, and Food Chemicals such as Aspartame!

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