What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is as common as any bowel syndrome can be. You can guess from the name what is Irritable Bowel Syndrome disorder about. But it helps to know more. It has affected many people all over the world already.

IBS is a chronic disorder. This means progression in gradual, it may even span more than six months. It's primary focus is patient's bowel movement. It is difficult to become aware of the disorder as the symptoms of the syndrome are not that obvious during its progression. There are times when the symptoms go untreated because they are not obvious and are overlooked.

The question "What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?" doesn't have one definite answer. It is more important to understand the symptoms of IBS to answer What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

IBS symptoms affect the bowel and large intestine

Bowel is part of our body that stores and produces end product (stools) of all that passes our digestive system. Lot of people think IBS is a psychological disorder. The fact is, it is not. It is a physical disorder. Studies show that IBS can affect anyone between 15 to 40 years age. IBS disorder can begin at any age and can afflict anyone. There is no perfect cure for IBS but there are methods to alleviate the symptoms of IBS.

Undergoing self-treatment may be dangerous as you may be doing more harm to yourself that curing the symptoms. It is good to be better educated about the symptoms of IBS. This way if you feel that you have the symptoms you can get help.

People with IBS usually have watery and very loose stools. Their digestive system processes food way faster than it normally should, which explains watery stools. Constipation and Diarrhea are the primary symptoms. These symptoms are like opposite sides of the coin.

People with Diarrhea have urgency to empty bowels soon after eating, Specially after breakfast. Most people also have stomach pain along with Diarrhea. Their digestive system processes food faster than normal hence the urge to empty the bowels soon after eating.

People with Constipation have opposite symptoms than Diarrhea. In this case the digestive system processes food slower than normal. Hence the bowel movement is very constricted. Constipated people find it very difficult to excrete bowels.

Most people also have stomach pain along with these symptoms. Stomach Pain is experienced more by women. It often gets mistaken for the menstruation pain. The pain can be mild or severe.

There are more symptoms as well: depression, back pain, nausea, groin pain, indigestion, sleep disturbances and vomiting. If you have experienced one or more of these for a while you should get help.