IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)

IBS is the most commonly diagnosed gut condition causing abdominal pain and altered bowel habits such as constipation and/or diarrhea.
10 to 20 percent of people in the general population experience symptoms of IBS.
IBS usually begins in young adulthood.
Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with IBS in the United States.

CAUSES

Many researchers THINK that IBS is caused by increased sensitivity of the intestines to normal sensations so that even  normal amounts of gas or movement are perceived as excessively  painful.

SYMPTOMS 

Abdominal pain 
Abdominal pain is typically crampy, varying in intensity, and located in the lower left abdomen.
Some IBS patients notice an association between pain episodes and their menstrual cycle.

Altered bowel habits 
These include diarrhea, constipation, or alternating diarrhea and constipation.
Diarrhea-often with mucus, is often preceded by a sense of extreme urgency and followed by a feeling of incomplete evacuation.

DIAGNOSIS 

There is no single diagnostic test for IBS.
A comprehensive medical history, physical exam and simple blood tests are done to rule out Colitis.

TREATMENT 

Try eliminating foods that may aggravate IBS.
Avoid lactose containing products , gas-producing foods are legumes (such as beans) and cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli) to see if it helps.
Increasing dietary fiber can relieve symptoms in  those with who have constipation.

Medications 
Many drugs are available primarily  to relieve symptoms.
Antidepressants relieve pain and depression in many IBS patients.
Anticholinergic (Dicyclomine (Bentyl) and hyoscyamine (Levsin) help to reduce severe cramps and irregular contractions of the colon.
Lubiprostone (Amitiza) is available for treatment of severe constipation and irritable bowel syndrome in women >18 years who have not responded to other treatments. It works by increasing intestinal fluid secretion.

Commonly used drugs
Hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Levbid, Levsin/SL, Levsinex, Levsin, NuLev)
Dicyclomine ( Bentyl)

For more information , please see

      www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html
      www.niddk.nih.gov/
      www.cdc.gov/
      www.gastro.org
      www.acg.gi.org
      www.iffgd.org