What is IBS?
Do you find yourself experiencing major abdominal pain after each meal? Do you alternate between going to the bathroom too often or too little? If you have severe discomfort or drastic changes in your bowel habits, you may have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, also known as IBS.
IBS affects women twice as often as men and is commonly found in 15% if the US population. This chronic condition occurs due to hypersensitivity of the nerves in the gastrointestinal tract, which disrupts the communication between the digestive system and the brain.
Some symptoms of IBS include mucus in stool, constipation, diarrhea, the feeling of incomplete evacuation, and severe bloating. Doctors also suggest that anxiety and stress may cause IBS, as the cause is not yet well known.
In order to treat IBS, dietary and lifestyle changes can be made to alleviate symptoms. Doctors recommend taking probiotics, medication, and adjusting dietary habits in order to prevent worsening of symptoms. As of now, there is no cure and it is documented that after stressful time periods pass, so do IBS symptoms.
Links:
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/irritable-bowel-syndrome
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs