While you might not know people with irritable bowel syndrome, this is a common health condition that affects up to 14 percent of the world’s population. This condition affects the large intestine, causing a variety of unpleasant symptoms. This condition doesn’t damage the lining of your stomach or increase your risk of gastrointestinal cancer. But the symptoms can be debilitating and decrease the quality of your everyday life.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a lifelong condition. However, you can manage the symptoms to improve your overall well-being. Below are 6 symptoms that can indicate that you have irritable bowel syndrome. If you've been experiencing these symptoms, it is now time to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist.
1. Pain and cramps
Abdominal aches and spasms are the most common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. With the help of hormones, nerves, and bacteria, your brain and gut work together to ensure proper digestion. Irritable bowel syndrome can disrupt this connection and lead to gut discomfort and abdominal muscle spasms. The pain and cramps related to IBS tend to ease after bowel movements. Discomfort is usually felt in the lower abdomen.
For the treatment of abdominal pain and cramps, the doctor may recommend you take bowel relaxants. Diet modifications may also be recommended to ease symptoms.
2. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is another common symptom of irritable bowel syndrome. Because of the poor connection between your brain and gut, the muscles in the gut contract more than they need to. When the food moves too fast through your digestive tract, the intestine cannot absorb the water from it. This results in loose stool and diarrhea. In irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea is often accompanied by painful abdominal cramps.
3. Constipation
Just like IBS causes diarrhea due to too frequent contractions, it can cause constipation when the contractions are too slow. Constipation is often accompanied by pain in the pelvic region that eases after bowel movements. You may also experience a sensation of an incomplete bowel movement after visiting a restroom. Taking probiotics and drinking more water can help you ease constipation.
Some people may experience only constipation or diarrhea. While others may have both of these conditions. This type of IBS affects about 20 percent of patients and tends to cause more severe symptoms.
4. Gas and bloating
Although disrupted bowel function contributes to constipation, diarrhea, and pain, it can cause excessive gas formation. This can result in uncomfortable bloating, one of the most persistent and unpleasant symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Over 80 percent of people with IBS experience these symptoms. What’s more, these symptoms are more common for women rather than men.
Avoiding certain products and taking gas relieving medications usually help ease these symptoms. Your doctor may also recommend that you take IBS medications to treat both bloating and other similar symptoms.
5. Food intolerance
Over 70 percent of people with irritable bowel syndrome report worsening of the symptoms after eating particular foods. For this reason, about two-thirds of IBS patients have to exclude one or several products from their diet. It isn’t clear why these foods trigger symptoms. They usually don’t disrupt digestion, but make a significant difference in IBS symptoms.
While each person has their own food triggers, doctors recommend avoiding FODMAPs (short-chain carbohydrates found in certain foods), lactose, and gluten to everyone.
6. Fatigue and insomnia
More than half of the people with IBS experience fatigue. This is extreme tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest and sleep. Partially, this can be due to insomnia, another symptom caused by irritable bowel syndrome. You may experience difficulty falling asleep and frequent night wakings. This creates a cycle because insomnia contributes to more severe IBS symptoms.
The bottom line
If you have symptoms of IBS that interfere with your daily routine, it is important to consult your primary care doctor. The doctor can help you treat these symptoms and improve overall well-being.