Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a term used to describe discomfort in the bowel (the colon, or large intestine). Symptoms of IBS may include crampy pain, bloating, gas, mucus in the stool, and changes in bowel habits. Some people with IBS have constipation—infrequent stools that may be hard, dry and painful. Others have diarrhea—frequent loose stools. Some people having alternating constipation and diarrhea. Sometimes a person with IBS has a crampy urge to move the bowels but cannot do so.

You may have heard IBS referred to as "spastic colon" or "spastic bowel." Sometimes IBS is confused with inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis. But IBS is not a disease and does not cause inflammation, bleeding, damage to the bowel, or cancer or other serious diseases. It is called a functional disorder, which means that there is no sign of disease when the colon is examined, but the bowel doesn't work as it should. The cause of IBS is not known, and as yet there is no cure.

Often IBS is just a mild annoyance, but for some people it can be disabling. They may be unable to go to social events, to go out to a job, or to travel even short distances. Most people with IBS, however, are able to control their symptoms through diet, stress management, and medicines.

IBS is a common problem, affecting up to one in five people. However, estimates of the number of people with IBS vary. The majority of people with IBS (perhaps 75 percent) are women. IBS often begins in the teen years or young adulthood but can affect people of any age.