Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom
There are an increasing number of people in industrialized nations, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States that are being diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. It is estimated that between 10 – 20% of the populations of these countries has the condition. The most common irritable bowel syndrome symptom is abdominal pain, and this is usually accompanied by bloating and abnormal bowel movements.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic digestive disorder, which presents with altered bowel habits, alternating between periods of constipation and diarrhea. Stools may be soft and watery or hard and lumpy and the frequency and the urgency of bowel movements are effected.
The cause of IBS is not known, although it is speculated that it is a neurotransmitter miscommunication between the bowel and the brain that may be causing the problem.
One thing that is known is those with IBS seem to be hypersensitive to diet or movements in the bowel, and there are generally abnormalities in the motor functions in the bowel.
The bowel is responsible for the formation and storage of stool so any abnormality to the functions it carries out can have adverse effects on the stool passage, frequency and consistency.
The condition is not a disease but a group of symptoms, and this is why it is referred to as a syndrome. The symptoms tend to be physical in nature although psychological methods of treatment should not be ruled out as they have shown to be helpful and effective.
The symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain or cramping, which is usually felt in the lower region of the bowel. This pain may be incessant or intermittent and can range from mild to severe. The onset usually occurs together with changes in bowel movement pattern.
There are three classifications of IBS, they are constipation predominant (IBS–C), diarrhea predominant (IBS-D) or if the person fluctuates between constipation and diarrhea, they are referred to as having alternating stool patterns (IBS-A). It is most common to be either constipation or diarrhea predominant and generally those symptoms will not change until the irritable bowel syndrome is relieved.
Often defecating can alleviate the crampy stomach pains and bloating. Interestingly, relaxation of the gut can also bring relief, which is why when a person is sleeping the symptoms generally do not occur. Gut motility (movement) is virtually absent during sleep and sudden bowel movement does not normally occur during sleep as muscles in the intestines are also relaxed.
Other, less common symptoms may appear; symptoms including nausea with the pain, vomiting with abdominal distension. If any of these symptoms continue, or any of the following symptoms occur then speak with your doctor immediately: blood in mucus upon stool passage and swollen and painful joints.
Due to its similarity to other conditions properly diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome becomes a process of elimination. All other possible causes of the symptoms must be investigated and eliminated one by one as there is no single diagnostic test that can immediately point to IBS.
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Although it is one of the most common disorders, several similar symptoms can be present in other more severe diseases, as well, which is why it is usually only diagnosed after all other tests and results have been negative.
It is worth pointing out that IBS has not been found to cause any damage to the gut, and once the triggers and therefore the symptoms are managed successfully, the chances of the condition reoccurring are reduced.
Irritable bowel syndrome symptom relief is available after diagnosis by following a plan that identifies triggers that cause symptoms, and alleviating the symptoms as they arrive. In this way both the causes and the effects of the condition can be managed.
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