Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Facts, Symtpoms and Treatment

Having a sensitive stomach may be a sign of something more serious. If your stomach seems to be upset at the slightest change in food or drink, then there is a huge chance that you have irritable bowel syndrome. While you may not take it seriously at first, irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a disease that causes stress and discomfort. There are several ways to tell if you have IBS.

Some of the IBS symptoms include stomach cramping, pain, diarrhea, constipation, or bloating. While these may seem to be regular signs of abdominal discomfort, extreme versions of these symptoms may signify that you have IBS. Note, however, that the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can be different from one person to another. Most people report that they have severe constipation, which indicates a clogged and a stressed colon. When they do move their bowels, they only excrete a small amount and still feel bloated after. One the other hand, there are those who experience diarrhea or loose stools. Then, there are those who have diarrhea one week and then constipation the next. Symptoms of IBS can be a bit confusing especially since they can appear and reappear every couple of months. However, one thing that distinguishes IBS symptoms from other gastro-intestinal disease or illness is that the symptoms stay for 12 or more weeks.

Although a bit painful and uncomfortable, IBS is not at all life threatening. The alarming thing, however, is that a lot of people do not realize that they are suffering from IBS and do not have it treated. Almost 70% of people who have IBS do not know that they suffer from the disease. If you think you have IBS, do not despair. There is treatment for irritbale bowel syndrome which you can use to relieve yourself of any discomfort. Usually, those who have constipation that is related to IBS are given fiber supplements or laxatives to ease constipation. On the other hand, those who have diarrhea may be given some loperamide or any kind of medicine for diarrhea. Apart from these medications, those who have the disease could also take antispasdomics to help their stomach muscles get relaxed a a bit.

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