Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an intestinal disorder that causes abdominal pain or discomfort,
ramping or bloating, and diarrhea or constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome is a long-term but manageable condition.
What causes IBS?
The cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not well understood. In IBS, the movement of the digestive tract is impaired, but doctors can find no change in physical structure, such as inflammation or tumors. The symptoms of IBS are thought to be related to faulty communication between the brain and the intestinal tract, which causes abnormal muscle contractions in the intestines.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are abdominal pain or discomfort that occurs along with constipation or diarrhea. Other common symptoms are bloating, mucus in the stools, or a sense that you have not completely emptied your bowels.
Many people with IBS have alternating periods of constipation and diarrhea, but often one problem is more common than the other. A given episode may be milder or more severe than the one before it, but the disorder itself does not become worse over time. Irritable bowel syndrome does not lead to more serious diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease or cancer.
IBS is one of the most common intestinal disorders. Most people's symptoms are so mild that they never see a doctor for treatment. However, some people may have troublesome symptoms, especially abdominal cramps, bloating, and diarrhea.
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