Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is one of the most prevalent problems involving the digestive system.
It is a long-term condition that can develop at any age and in any person, but is more commonly seen in women aged 15 to 40.
The sad thing with such syndrome is that it is commonly misdiagnosed, or neglected.
Some people have it for years before they seek medical help.
This is because symptoms are fairly common and could easily be mistaken as simple diarrhea, constipation or something else.
Thus, it is very important to know IBS symptoms and causes, so that people would be more aware of it and can therefore seek medical help immediately.
Do not suffer longer than you should.
Here are the common IBS symptoms and causes.
Symptoms The most common symptom of irritable bowel syndrome is abdominal pain.
It could range from a slight discomfort to severe pain, which might be alleviated or aggravated by eating, passing gas or having a bowel movement.
IBS is primarily a functional disorder of the digestive system, which means that the digestive tract is not working properly.
This leads to abnormal digestion, mixing, transportation and absorption in the various organs in the digestive system.
If the transportation is too fast, the person with IBS suffers from diarrhea; while an abnormally slow transportation of wastes results in constipation.
Both conditions are present in IBS sufferers.
They suffer from chronic constipation, chronic diarrhea, or alternating diarrhea and constipation.
For some people, each episode is more severe than the previous one.
You may feel that you have not finished eliminating your wastes after a bowel movement, further complicating the discomfort you feel.
White mucus might also be found in your stool.
Further, such syndrome sufferers often feel bloated or swollen in the abdomen area.
For some women, their symptoms are usually seen during the time they have their menstruation.
Causes So far, none of the studies on IBS have found a conclusive cause for such syndrome.
There are theories however on what may cause them, as well as a list of triggers that predisposes a person to develop such syndrome.
For one, gastrointestinal infections have been known to increase the likelihood that a person would develop this syndrome almost six fold.
People taking antibiotics over a long period of time have also been more likely to develop such syndrome.
Other studies have proposed a link between such syndrome and the body's immune response and other physiological factors like too much flora, protozoal infections, blastocystis, and other types of harmful bacteria.
Contrary to popular belief, stress has not been pinpointed to cause such syndromes.
Along with changes in diet and lifestyle, stress management is a recommended course to help manage the pain associated with these syndromes.
This does not mean that stress causes irritable bowel syndrome, it is because IBS can make you feel more stressed.
There is currently no cure for irritable bowel syndrome.
The most that people who suffer from IBS can do is to manage the symptoms.
It is very helpful to know these symptoms and causes so that you know when to get help.
It can also help you avoid wrongfully self medicating yourself.