Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders affecting American adults. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, IBS affects 10% to 15% of the population. The condition can greatly reduce the quality of life for many sufferers, especially if it goes untreated.

IBS is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder: a term used for conditions where the digestive tract functions abnormally. This dysfunction causes a range of GI symptoms, but it does not cause any damage to the digestive system or lead to other conditions. There are no tests to formally diagnose IBS. Rather, it is diagnosed by ruling out other possible conditions.

There are three types of irritable bowel syndrome: IBS with constipation (IBS-C), IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D) and IBS-Mixed (constipation and diarrhea).

Symptoms can vary between patients and types of IBS, but they are usually persistent over a long period of time. Those symptoms include:

  • Abdominal bloating
  • Abdominal discomfort, pain or cramping
  • Changes in bowel movements (diarrhea, constipation or both)
  • Excessive gas
  • Mucus in stool

The cause of IBS is unknown. Although, research points to a number of factors, including GI tract hypersensitivity, motility issues with the muscles of the digestive tract, communication problems between the brain and the gut, changes in gut microbiome or bacterial overgrowth, and childhood trauma or stress.

What is known is that IBS affects more women than men, and it occurs more often in people under 50 years of age. Other factors that increase the risk for IBS include a family history of IBS; a personal history of abuse, anxiety or stress; or having suffered a bowel infection.

Treatment for IBS involves addressing the symptoms of the disorder. For patients with mild symptoms, treatment is usually focused on lifestyle changes. Symptoms are often triggered or made worse by stress, diet and poor gut health.

Lifestyle changes that can help control IBS symptoms include:

  • Avoiding trigger foods
  • Eating a balanced diet that provides enough fiber
  • Ensuring proper hydration
  • Daily physical activity/exercise
  • Getting good-quality sleep
  • Lowering or properly managing stress
  • Seeking help for anxiety or depression

There are common trigger foods for many IBS sufferers, such as gluten, dairy, gassy foods and FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols found in some fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy foods). However, it can be tricky to identify exactly which foods or drinks are triggering the IBS symptoms. Your doctor may recommend an elimination diet to identify trigger foods, often undertaken under the guidance of a dietitian.

For those with more severe symptoms or those who don’t respond to lifestyle changes, supplements and medications may help. These can include fiber supplements; antidiarrheal, antispasmodic and pain medications; and certain antidepressants that can help reduce pain even if you are not suffering from depression. If bacterial overgrowth is occurring, antibiotics may also be prescribed.

Some patients also find significant improvement from non-drug therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnotherapy.

Don’t suffer unnecessarily from IBS. If you are experiencing ongoing digestive tract symptoms that are not improving or getting worse, talk to your doctor.

The team at GastroIntestinal Specialists, A.M.C., treats multiple conditions and diseases of the GI tract. Our board-certified physicians have more than 150 years of combined experience in providing quality care you can trust. To schedule an appointment, call (318) 631-9121 or visit gis.md/appointment-request.