Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Introduction

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a disorder mainly affecting your large intestine, causes abdominal pain, bloating (feeling of fullness), cramps, constipation (hard stools) and diarrhea (loose stools with frequency).

The most common theory for occurrence of IBS suggests an over sensitive colon or large intestine that reacts typically to certain foods or substances. In severe cases IBS pain can hamper day to day activities or even limit movement.

What are the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms?

A functional disorder, IBS can contribute towards abdominal pain often with marked unhealthy changes in bowel movements. IBS causes increased discomfort but seldom harms your intestines or results in potent disease.

Symptoms and signs of irritable bowel syndrome can vary among affected individuals. Some patients complain about cramping and straining of intestines accompanied by constipation. Others experience irritable bowel syndrome signs in the form of diarrhea and have frequent bowel movements.

Symptoms for Irritable Bowel Syndrome can include:

• Bloating
• Gas
• An urgency to perform bowel movement
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain (that often wanes following a bowel movement)
• Cramping and straining during or after bowel movement
• Incomplete evacuation from the bowel
• Presence of mucus in stools

In some cases IBS may subside temporarily (perhaps for few months) before recurring. There may be a gradual worsening of symptoms in others.

Almost all sufferers of IBS have irregular bowel movement of some type. Symptoms can display in a short time of eating food, if you have had problems such as gas, bloating, fullness or abdominal pain in excess of over six months.

On feeling pain in the abdominal area following a meal (for instance, lunch) you may feel like avoiding dinner. Moreover, symptoms may suddenly build and subside, decrease or fade away following a bowel movement.

Your symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome may become a bit severe so as to interfere with daily tasks.

Nonetheless, you can control irritable bowel syndrome symptoms through a healthy diet, prescribed medications and stress management.