Irritable Bowel Syndrome - A one in Five Prospect For All of Us.

Irritable bowel syndrome (or IBS) is not contagious, inherited, or cancerous. It is generally considered to belong to a group of chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms attributed to the small intestine and colon for which there is no underlying structural or biochemical explanation. About 20% of people have it at some time throughout their life and at any time about 5% of adults have symptoms consistent with IBS. It is mostly prevalent in the developed countries of the world, but notwithstanding the fact that there are many theories about its occurrence and development clear causes have not yet been established.

There is a lot of speculation about irritable bowel syndrome and generally speaking, it is commonly believed that irritable bowel syndrome is a group of disorders with similar symptoms but a range of causes. For instance, the symptoms of IBS result from what seems to be an imbalance in the interaction between the intestines, the brain, sensory function, and the nervous system that alters regulation of bowel movement (motor function).

Irritable bowel syndrome is called a functional disorder because there is no sign of disease when the colon is examined and it limits the ability of the gastrointestinal organs to function properly. IBS also know under various other names, such as:
- ColitisIrritable Colon
- Mucous Colitis
- Nervous Stomach
- Spastic Bowel
- Spastic Colon.

The Disease is characterized by a group of symptoms in which abdominal pain or discomfort is associated with a change in bowel movements, such as loose or more frequent bowel movements, diarrhea, and/or constipation.

Common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome include:
- Increased or less movement of the bowel causing either diarrhoea or constipation
- Stomach cramping or pain
- Inability to empty the bowel
- nausea, and
- Increased gas production which may result in abdominal bloating mucus in stools.

Other common symptoms are bloating, mucus in the stools, or a feeling of not completely emptied your bowels.

IBS is more common in women than menand symptoms often first begin in the late teens to early twenties. Symptoms of IBS may increase stress because of fear that the patient may perceive a more serious disease present.

Only a small percentage of people have severe signs and symptoms. Therefore any new symptoms, especially developing in later life after years of Irritable Bowel Syndrome should be evaluated by a doctor.

Treatment depends on the types of symptoms you have and severity, as well as how they affect your daily life, and will likely involve changes to your lifestyle. Treatment options may include:
- A modest increase in dietary fibre, together with plenty of clear fluids
- Reducing or eliminating common gas-producing foods, such as beans and cabbage
- Reducing or eliminating dairy foods, if lactose intolerance is a trigger
- Antidiarrhoeals, such as imodium or lomotil
- Pain-relieving medications - opiates such as codeine can provide effective pain relief.

A group of researchers has produced results of trials worldwide involving three treatments: fibre supplementation, antispasmodics and addition ofpeppermint oil. Treatment in today's medicine ranges from stress reduction and diet therapy to the use of antispasmodic drugs, antidepressants, and substances that regulate the amount of water in the intestines and thereby prevent constipation and diarrhea. Many believe that psychological reasons may cause IBS. It is important to rule out physical causes before assigning blame psychological sources but when tests are normal and treatment for physical problems is not producing positiveresults, this is when a biopsy may be helpful. Prescription medication is available for women with IBS whose primary problem is constipation.

As mentioned above, some doctors believe that psychological reasons may cause IBS. They argue that acutely stressful situations can be associated with transient changes in bowel function. There re however many observations which show that patients who are not depressed may benefit from taking antidepressants in smaller doses than what is typically used to treat depression. Many patients also understand that anxiety can alter proper function of the digestive system and a positive diagnosis together with a supportive therapeutic relationship may be all that is required. Meditation may be of assistance and learning to cope with life's stresses may be needed by some people. Relaxation therapy or self-hypnosis may also be useful.

Severe IBS causes a severe disruption of a patient's life. Although the causes are often unclear, some studies have identified causes or stimulants of IBS. For example, lactose intolerance may produce bloating, cramps and diarrhoea. Lactase deficiency is common, but its role in irritable bowel syndrome is uncertain and restriction of calcium intake especially in women needs monitoring because of the risks of osteoporosis. Occasionally, excessive wheat bran actually increases wind and bloating . Irritable Bowel Syndrome is often the result of food intolerance and can often flare up at times of stress.

IBS is more common in women than men. In fact, women are 2-3 times more likely than men to get irritable bowel syndrome. Menses may exacerbate irritable bowel syndrome symptoms in women.

In conclusion, irritable bowel syndrome is a common problem, but its cause is unknown. It is also known as Colitis, Irritable Colon, Mucous Colitis, Nervous Stomach, Spastic Bowel or Spastic Colon. Irritable bowel syndrome is a group of chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms attributed to the small intestine and colon for which there is no underlying structural or biochemical explanation and is generally classified as a "functional" disorder. It is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and discomfort accompanied by alterations in bowel function, diarrhea, constipation or a combination of both, typically over months or years.