Digestive Disorders

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Ask the Expert

Get answers to your Inflammatory Bowel Disease questions.

Note: This is for informational purposes only. Doctors cannot provide a diagnosis or individual treatment advice via e-mail. Please consult your physician about your specific health care concerns.

Please install flash player to see this video.

Hospital Virtual Tour

Related Content

What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an intestinal disorder that causes:

crampy pain
gassiness
bloating
changes in bowel habits

IBS has inaccurately been called by many names:

colitis
mucous colitis
spastic colon
spastic bowel
functional bowel disease

IBS is called a functional disorder because there is no sign of disease when the colon is examined. Because physicians have been unable to find an organic cause, IBS often has been thought to be caused by emotional conflict or stress. While stress may worsen IBS symptoms, research suggests that other factors also are important.

IBS often causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, but it is not believed to:

cause permanent harm to the intestines.
lead to intestinal bleeding of the bowel.
lead to a serious disease such as cancer.

It has not been shown to lead to serious, organic diseases nor has a link been established between IBS and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

How does IBS occur?

Colon motility is contraction of intestinal muscles and movement of its contents. It is controlled by nerves and hormones, and by electrical activity in the colon muscle. Movements of the colon propel the contents slowly back and forth toward the rectum, and several times a day strong muscle contractions move down the colon pushing fecal material ahead of them,which can result in a bowel movement.

The person with IBS has a colon that is more sensitive and reactive than usual, so it responds strongly to stimuli that would not affect others. The colon muscle of a person with IBS begins to spasm after only mild stimulation or ordinary events such as:

eating
distention from gas or other material in the colon
certain medicines
certain foods

Women with IBS seem to have more symptoms during their menstrual periods, suggesting that reproductive hormones can increase IBS symptoms.

What are triggers for IBS?

The most likely triggers for IBS are diet and emotional stress. Scientists have some clues as to why this happens.

diet
Eating causes contractions of the colon, normally causing an urge to have a bowel movement within 30 to 60 minutes after a meal. With IBS, the urge may come sooner, accompanied by cramps and diarrhea.

stress
Stress stimulates colonic spasm in people with IBS. Although not completely understood, it is believed to be because the colon is partly controlled by the nervous system. Counseling and stress reduction techniques can help relieve the symptoms of IBS, however this does not mean IBS is the result of a personality disorder. It is at least partly a disorder of colon motility.

What are the symptoms of IBS?

The following are the most common symptoms for IBS, however, each individual may experience symptoms differently.

IBS symptoms usually include:

crampy abdominal pain
painful constipation and/or diarrhea.
alternating constipation and diarrhea
mucus may be in the bowel movement

Bleeding, fever, weight loss, and persistent severe pain are not symptoms of IBS, but indicate other problems. The symptoms of IBS may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Treatment for IBS:
Specific treatment will be determined by your physician(s) based on:

your age, overall health, and medical history
extent of the disease
your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the disease
your opinion or preference

Treatment may include:

changes in diet
Eating a proper diet can lessen IBS symptoms. Keeping a list of foods that cause distress and discussing the findings with a physician or registered dietitian can help.

medication
Physicians may prescribe fiber supplements or occasional laxatives, and some prescribe antispasmodic drugs or tranquilizers or antidepressants to relieve symptoms.

The major concerns with medications for IBS are the potential for drug dependency and the effects the disorder can have on lifestyle. In an effort to control their bowels or reduce stress, some people become dependent on laxatives or tranquilizers.

This page was last updated on: November 7, 2008.

For patient inquiries, call 1-800-492-5538 or click here to make an appointment.