What is Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS, is an uncomfortable gastrointestinal (GI) disorder. IBS also referred as spastic or nervous colon. It’s a functional disorder of gut and brain interaction. People with IBS has several common symptoms including abdominal pain, gas, cramping, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and sometime both constipation and diarrhea. Common syndrome found with IBS peoples are anxiety or major depression. IBS is not responsible for serious diseases or not the cause of changes in bowel tissues. Here, in this blog, you will get perfect information on Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms and sign to identify whether you have IBS or not.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms and Signs

Almost 10-15% Americans have IBS but only 7-8% are concerned to receive diagnosis. The reason is many people doesn’t care enough of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms, even they thought it’s usual.

1. Abdominal pain or cramping

The most common Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom is lower abdominal pain or cramping specially with bowel movement. As this is gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, poor signal coordination between intestines (gut) and the brain can changes digestive process, resulting pain in lower abdomen or cramping. Changing food habit or eating only one food at a time can improve this pain.

2. Diarrhea

It’s 2nd most common symptom for IBS people. Diarrhea-predominant IBS is known as IBS-D. Most of the time poop may contain mucus and watery. People with IBS-D may face sudden onset diarrhea. If this happen frequently, may be you have IBS-D.

3. Constipation

Constipation may happen for many reasons but almost half of the people with IBS faces constipation. This type is known as IBS-C. Anyone can easily feel the difference between normal constipation (functional) and IBS-C.  Frequently feeling pain in abdomen at the time of constipation indicates IBS-C.  Maximum time poop stay hard and lumpy.

4. Constipation and Diarrhea Mixed or Alternating

This Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom indicates IBS-M type. Approximately 15-20% IBS people have this symptom. Pain is the common feeling with bowel movements and on the same day you may notice both loose and watery bowel movements and hard and lumpy movements. 

5. Gas and Bloating

Though this nagging symptom may happen many reason but it is one of the most common in IBS people. Gas may produce in abdomen for your food habit too. But if you feel frequently this symptom after whatever you eat, even identify bloating, that means you have IBS. Study found that 75-80% IBS people has both symptom of gas, bloating and constipation with pain.

6. Food Intolerance

Particular food may work as a trigger for above Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom. Different people has different food intolerance, but there are some common gas producing food. Many IBS patient avoid to take multiple food at a time. FODMAP may help and provide remarkable benefits for digestive disorders.  

7. Fatigue and disturbed sleep

Though fatigue may happen for many reason like lack of sleep, being overweight or obese, periods of emotional stress, taking certain medications, lack of physical activity and so on. But study with IBS people found in every 2 people with IBS one reported Fatigue and nearly 15% reported disturbed sleep quality. Even people with IBS felt less refreshed after taking longer rest/sleep than those without IBS.

8. Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression is interrelated with IBS. Some study shows people with IBS may face mood disorder or depression and some study shows anxiety and depression may liable for IBS.

Don’t be frightened if you find out above Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms with you. Keep in mind IBS is not life threatening and can be control by changing food habit and treatment. But there’s no cure for IBS.