What is IBS?

IBS is a group of symptoms

• Abdominal pain
• Constipation and/or
• Diarrhea

The main symptom is abdominal pain or discomfort. Along with constipation or diarrhea, often there's bloating too.

The IBS symptoms take place over a long-term. They either

• don't go away, or
• do go away for awhile but keep coming back

What causes the symptoms?

It's not yet known for sure what causes IBS. There are a number of suspected reasons and it may be several things working together. The symptoms result from a problem with the way bowel muscles and nerves are working. These muscles normally contract and relax to move whatever you've swallowed through the colon. When the muscles move too much or too little, stool can become watery and loose or dry and hard.

When bowel nerves are too sensitive, pain is felt too easily at levels lower than normal. In IBS the pain or discomfort can be felt even when the bowel stretches or moves normally as anything passes through - solid, liquid or gas. People without IBS feel nothing, but people with IBS do. It might happen with meals, or at any time without warning.

Nerves in the brain and in the bowel have an effect on how much pain we feel. The brain and bowel interact without our even thinking about it. Things that act on one also influence the other - and can have an affect on IBS symptoms. This is sometimes called, "the brain-gut connection."

How do I know if I have IBS?

IBS can be diagnosed by a doctor, mainly based on a known pattern of symptoms. There is no test for IBS. Sometimes tests are done to make sure something else isn't causing the symptoms.

Does IBS lead to other serious disease?

No, IBS does not lead to other serious disease. Having IBS does not put you any more at risk than anyone else for getting cancer, colitis, or malnutrition. It does not get worse with age. People with IBS have no greater need of preventive checkups than other people.

Does diet cause IBS?

No, diet does not cause IBS. But sometimes eating can make symptoms worse. In IBS the bowel may over-react to stimuli. Just the act of eating, and not a specific food, can sometimes bring on or worsen symptoms.

It is important to eat a healthy diet. And it usually helps to eat less of foods that would stimulate the bowel in anyone - like fried foods or high fat foods.

You can usually find out if certain foods are a problem for you. Here is some help to figure this out.

What's the cure for IBS?

There is no cure for IBS yet. It's a long-term condition. But there are treatments to help control the symptoms or ways to manage the condition.