Frequently Asked Questions IBS

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Frequently Asked Qquestions
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health
http://www.womenshealth.gov
1-800-994-9662
TDD: 1-888-220-5446
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Q: What is irritable bowel syndrome
(IBS)?
A: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a collection
of symptoms such as cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. People with IBS have some of these symptoms - such as cramping and diarrhea or bloating and constipation - for at least 3 months.
IBS can be uncomfortable. But it does not lead to serious disease, such as cancer.
It also does not permanently harm the large intestine (colon).
Most people with IBS can ease symptoms
with changes in diet, medicine, and stress relief. For some people, IBS symptoms are more severe. They may get in the way of going to work or traveling,
even traveling short distances.
Q: What causes IBS?
A: The cause of IBS is not known. There is also no cure for IBS, but there are ways to treat the symptoms (see "What is the treatment for IBS?" ).
Q: Who gets IBS?
A: IBS is one of the most common disorders
diagnosed by doctors. Up to 20 percent
of U.S. adults have IBS symptoms.
Some people are more likely to have IBS including:Diagram of the digestive system showing large and small intestine, recrum, anus, sigmoid colon, stomach
• Women
• People younger than 50 (IBS usually begins before age 35)
• People with a family member who has IBS
Q: What are the symptoms of IBS?
A: IBS is defined as abdominal pain or discomfort,
along with a changed bowel habit (such as diarrhea or constipation), for 3 months or more. The abdomen is the same as the "stomach area."
The symptoms may be different from person to person and can include:
• Cramps or pain in the stomach area
• Constipation - infrequent stools that may be hard and dry
• Feeling like you haven't finished a bowel movement
• Diarrhea - frequent loose stools
• Alternating between diarrhea and constipation
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Fr equent l y As k e d Qqu e s t i o n s
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health
http://www.womenshealth.gov
1-800-994-9662
TDD: 1-888-220-5446
• Mucus in the stool
• Swollen or bloated stomach area
• Gas
• Discomfort in the upper stomach area or feeling uncomfortably full or nauseous
after eating a normal size meal
Women with IBS may have more symptoms
during their menstrual periods.
Q: How is IBS diagnosed?
A: See your doctor if you think you may have IBS. Your doctor will ask you questions about your health, ask about your symptoms, and examine you. He or she may even perform a rectal exam. There are no tests that can show for sure that you have IBS.
Your doctor may also perform medical tests to rule out other diseases if you have "red flag" symptoms such as:
• Rectal bleeding
• Weight loss
• Anemia (iron deficiency)
• Nighttime symptoms, like diarrhea that awakens you
• Family history of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or celiac
disease
Medical tests include a colonoscopy (KOH-lon-oss-koh-pee). The doctor
looks inside the large intestine by inserting a scope with a tiny camera to spot inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, and ulcers. People over age 50 with IBS symptoms should also have a colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer, even if they don't have any "red flag" symptoms.
A doctor may also perform a blood test to check for celiac disease if you have certain types of IBS. These types are IBS-D (mostly diarrhea) or IBS-M
(mixed type with diarrhea and constipation).
A doctor may also check for celiac disease if you have bloating or pass a lot of gas.
Lactose intolerance may also be a concern for some people, and can be checked with a breath test.
Q: What is the treatment for IBS?
A: There is no cure for IBS, but there are things you can do to feel better. Treatment may include:
• Changing your diet
• Taking medication
• Counseling and stress relief
Changing your diet
Foods do not cause IBS, but eating certain food may start some IBS symptoms.
You can ease the symptoms of IBS by changing some eating habits.
Find out which foods make your symptoms
worse by writing in a journal:
• What you eat during the day
• What symptoms you have
• When symptoms occur
You will want to limit or avoid these foods. Problem foods may be:
• Milk and milk products like cheese or ice cream
• Caffeinated drinks like coffee
• Carbonated drinks like soda, especially
those that contain artificial sweeteners (like sorbitol) or high-fructose corn syrup
• Alcohol
• Some fruits and vegetables
Other ways to ease symptoms are:
• Eating a healthy, balanced diet.
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Fr equent l y As k e d Qqu e s t i o n s
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health
http://www.womenshealth.gov
1-800-994-9662
TDD: 1-888-220-5446
• Eating more high-fiber foods such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables (especially for people with constipation). Add foods with fiber to your diet a little at a time to let your body get used to them. High-fiber diets may not help with pain or diarrhea, and may make gas and cramping worse. Check the information on foods such as cereals. You should aim to eat 20 grams of fiber per day.
• Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water a day (especially for people with diarrhea). It is unclear whether this helps IBS symptoms, but it can help treat dehydration that sometimes happens with diarrhea.
• Avoiding large meals, which can cause cramping and diarrhea in people with IBS. If this happens to you, try eating 4 or 5 small meals a day. Or, eat less at each of your usual 3 meals.
Taking medicine
Your doctor may give you medicine to help with symptoms:
• Fiber supplements such as psyllium
(Metamucil) to help control constipation.
• Anti-diarrheal medications, such as loperamide (Imodium), to help control diarrhea.
• Antispasmodic agents such as peppermint
oil or dicyclomine to slow contractions in the bowel, which may help with diarrhea and pain.
• Antidepressant medications such as a tricylcic antidepressant or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
(SSRI) if symptoms include pain or depression.
• IBS medication. A medication known as Lubiprostone is approved by the FDA for women with severe IBS-C (constipation).
Take your medicine exactly as your doctor tells you to. All drugs have side effects and may affect people differently. Tell your doctor about any over-the-counter medicines you take.
Counseling and stress relief
Many people who seek care for IBS also have anxiety, panic, or depression. Stress is also an issue for people with IBS because it can make the symptoms worse. Research shows that psychological
therapy can help ease IBS symptoms. Therapies that can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety include:
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a short-term treatment that mixes different types of therapies and behavioral strategies. The type of CBT used to treat IBS may focus on managing life stress. Or, it may focus on changing how a person responds to anxiety about IBS symptoms.
• Dynamic psychotherapy, an intensive, short-term form of talk therapy. It may focus on in-depth discussions about the link between symptoms and emotions. The therapy
may also help people identify and resolve interpersonal conflicts.
• Hypnotherapy, where people enter an altered state of consciousness. Visual suggestions are made to imagine
pain going away, for example.
General stress relief is also important. Exercising regularly is a good way to relieve stress. It also helps the bowel function better and improves overall health. Meditation, yoga, and massage may also help. n
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Fr equent l y As k e d Qqu e s t i o n s
For more informationFor more information on irritable bowel syndrome, call womenshealth.gov at 1-800-994-9662 or contact the following organizations:
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, NIDDK, NIH
Phone Number: (800) 891-5389
Internet Address: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
Phone Number: (847) 290-9184
Internet Address: http://www.fascrs.org
American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society
Phone Number: (734) 699-1130
Internet Address: http://www.motilitysociety.
org
American College of Gastroenterology
Phone Number: (301) 263-9000
Internet Address: http://www.acg.gi.org
American Gastroenterological Association
Phone Number: (301) 654-2055
Internet Address: http://www.gastro.org
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
Phone Number: (414) 964-1799; Toll-Free: (888) 964-2001
Internet Address: http://www.iffgd.org
Reviewed by:
Michael Camilleri, M.D.
Professor of Medicine
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic
All material contained in this FAQ is free of copyright restrictions, and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.
Content last updated April 14, 2010
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health
http://www.womenshealth.gov1-800-994-9662TDD: 1-888-220-5446